HOUSEWORK POINT CALCULATION METHOD, INFORMATION PROCESSING DEVICE, AND COMPUTER-READABLE RECORDING MEDIUM RECORDING A PROGRAM

An information processing device performs: acquiring use information indicating a use situation of an appliance or a facility; collecting household job data of a user on the basis of the use information; acquiring third party coefficient information indicating a third party coefficient set by a third party different from the user; and calculating, on the basis of the household job data and the third party coefficient information, a household job point that is commensurate with a household job amount of the user.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to a household job point calculation method, an information processing device, and a computer-readable recording medium recording a program.

BACKGROUND ART

Patent Literature 1 discloses a user management method including expressing a full use level in connection with an appliance at a numeric value and providing a user having a higher full use level with a predetermined service to give the user an incentive to make full use of the appliance.

However, the user management method disclosed in Patent Literature 1 fails to consider appropriate giving of a household job point that is commensurate with a household job amount to a user with an aim of giving the user an incentive to do a household job.

Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Publication No. 6161624

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This disclosure has an object of providing a household job point calculation method, an information processing device, and a computer-readable recording medium recording a program for appropriately giving a user a household job point that is commensurate with a household job amount of the user and that meets a request from a third party.

A household job point calculation method according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes: by an information processing device, acquiring use information indicating a use situation of an appliance or a facility; collecting household job data of a user on the basis of the use information; acquiring third party coefficient information indicating a third party coefficient set by a third party different from the user; and calculating, on the basis of the household job data and the third party coefficient information, a household job point that is commensurate with a household job amount of the user.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Knowledge Forming the Basis of the Present Disclosure

A group, such as a family, involves jobs like household jobs to be shared and executed among a plurality of users. In a general family, it is difficult to accumulate a household job amount about the household job execution by each of the users as data, and thus, the amount is less likely to be visualized. Under the circumstances without the visualization of the household job amount, each user can grasp only his/her own household job amount, and thus, the users may feel stress resulting from distrust or unfairness thereamong. An improvement in the visualization of the household job amount is expected to reduce the stress feeling of each user. The improvement in the visualization of the household job amount is further expected to give each user a reward that is commensurate with the household job amount of the user as a household job point, resulting in exerting an effect of giving the user an incentive to do the household job.

In addition, a manufacturer of an appliance or a facility has a request or demand for wide spreading of its own products.

To meet the expectation and the demand or overcome the drawbacks, the present inventors have obtained the knowledge that a household job point that is commensurate with a household job amount of a user and a third party coefficient can be appropriately given to the user by collecting household job data of the user on the basis of use information about an appliance or a facility and calculating the household job point on the basis of the household job data and the third party coefficient, the third party coefficient being set in connection with a third party like a manufacturer of the appliance or the facility in advance. The present inventors have conceived of a feature of the disclosure with this knowledge.

FIG.13is a schematic view of a feature of the disclosure. Each of a plurality of users serving as household job executers is given a third party coefficient in connection with a third party different from each household job executer. InFIG.13, each human shape indicates a user, and a building shape indicates a third party, and each arrow extending from the third party to the user indicates setting of the third coefficient in connection with the third party for each user. The third party includes a manufacturer of an appliance or a facility. Alternatively, the third party includes a data analysist or a marketer. A household job point for the user is calculated on the basis of household job data of the user and the third party coefficient.

Hereinafter, features of the present disclosure will be described.

A household job point calculation method according to a first feature of the present disclosure includes: by an information processing device, acquiring use information indicating a use situation of an appliance or a facility; collecting household job data of a user on the basis of the use information; acquiring third party coefficient information indicating a third party coefficient set by a third party different from the user; and calculating, on the basis of the household job data and the third party coefficient information, a household job point that is commensurate with a household job amount of the user.

In the first feature, a household job point that is commensurate with a household job amount of a user and that meets a request from a third party can be appropriately given to the user.

With a household job point calculation method according to a second feature of the disclosure, in the first feature, the third party may include a manufacturer of an appliance or a facility.

The second feature enables use of the third party coefficient in connection with the manufacturer of an appliance or a facility in the calculation of the household job point.

With a household job point calculation method according to a third feature of the disclosure, in the second feature, the information processing device may further set a third party coefficient for a user who uses an appliance or a facility manufactured by a specific manufacturer to be larger than a third party coefficient for a user who uses an appliance or a facility manufactured by another manufacturer.

The third feature enables wide spreading of an appliance or a facility manufactured by a specific manufacturer.

With a household job point calculation method according to a fourth feature of the disclosure, in the second or third feature, the information processing device may further set a third party coefficient for a user who uses a first number of appliances or facilities manufactured by the specific manufacturer to be larger than a third party coefficient for a user who uses a second number of appliances or facilities manufactured by the specific manufacturer, the second number being smaller than the first number.

The fourth feature enables further wide spreading of an appliance or a facility manufactured by the specific manufacturer.

With a household job point calculation method according to a fifth feature of the disclosure, in any one of the second to fourth features, the information processing device may further set a third party coefficient for a user who uses an appliance or a facility manufactured by the specific manufacturer on a first manufacture date to be larger than a third party coefficient for a user who uses an appliance or a facility manufactured by the specific manufacturer on a second manufacture date earlier than the first manufacture date.

The fifth feature enables wide spreading of a new product of an appliance or a facility manufactured by the specific user.

With a household job point calculation method according to a sixth feature of the disclosure, in any one of the first to fifth features, the information processing device may further acquire user coefficient information indicating a user coefficient for a user, and calculate the household job point on the basis of the household job data, the third party coefficient information, and the user coefficient information.

In the sixth feature, a household job point that is commensurate with a household job amount of the user can be appropriately given to the user.

With a household job point calculation method according to a seventh feature of the disclosure, in any one of the first to sixth features, the information processing device may further acquire attribute coefficient information indicating an attribute coefficient in connection with an attribute of a user, and calculate the household job point on the basis of the household job data, the third party coefficient information, and the attribute coefficient information.

In the seventh feature, a household job point that is commensurate with an attribute of the user can be appropriately given to the user.

With a household job point calculation method according to an eighth feature of the disclosure, in any one of the first to seventh features, the information processing device may further acquire, from a specific user, change information indicating a change in the third party coefficient, and change the third party coefficient on the basis of the change information.

The eighth feature enables an appropriate change in the third party coefficient by the specific user.

With a household job point calculation method according to a ninth feature of the disclosure, in the eighth feature, the information processing device may further set the specific user on the basis of household job data of a plurality of users in a predetermined period.

The ninth feature permits a user having the largest household job amount in a predetermined period to have a change authority to change the third party coefficient.

An information processing device according to a tenth feature of the present disclosure includes: an acquisition part; and a processing part. The acquisition part acquires use information indicating a use situation of an appliance or a facility, the processing part collects household job data of a user on the basis of the use information, the acquisition part acquires third party coefficient information indicating a third party coefficient set by a third party different from the user, and the processing part calculates, on the basis of the household job data and the third party coefficient information, a household job point that is commensurate with a household job amount of the user.

In the tenth feature, a household job point that is commensurate with a household job amount of the user and that meets a request from a third party can be appropriately given to the user.

A computer-readable recording medium recording a program according to an eleventh feature of the present disclosure causing an information processing device to serve as an acquisition part and a processing part. The acquisition part acquires use information indicating a use situation of an appliance or a facility, the processing part collects household job data of a user on the basis of the use information, the acquisition part acquires third party coefficient information indicating a third party coefficient set by a third party different from a user, and the processing part calculates, on the basis of the household job data and the third party coefficient information, a household job point that is commensurate with a household job amount of the user.

In the eleventh feature, a household job point that is commensurate with a household job amount of the user and that meets a request from a third party can be appropriately given to the user.

This disclosure can be realized as a program for causing a computer to execute each distinctive feature included in such a method or a device described above, or realized as a system caused to operate by the program. Additionally, it goes without saying that the computer program is distributable as a non-transitory computer readable storage medium like a CD-ROM, or distributable via a communication network like the Internet.

Embodiment of the Present Disclosure

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The elements given the same reference numerals in different drawings are defined to be the same or corresponding elements. Further, constituent elements, arrangement and connection of the constituent elements, an operation order, and the like shown in the embodiment described below are mere examples, and do not intend to limit the present disclosure. The present disclosure is defined by the scope of claims. Moreover, constituent elements which are not recited in the independent claims each showing the broadest concept among the constituent elements in the embodiment are not indispensable to achieve the object of the present disclosure but are described as selectable constituent elements.

FIG.1is a simplified diagram showing an overall configuration of a home control system1in an embodiment of the present disclosure. The home control system1includes; an information processing device11; a communication device17; and an appliance13, a facility14, a sensor15, and an integrated controller16each provided in the smart home2. A plurality of appliances13, facilities14, and sensors15may be provided. In the description below, the smart home2is defined to include a plurality of appliances13, a plurality of facilities14, and a plurality of sensors15provided therein. AlthoughFIG.1shows only one smart home2for simplified explanation, a plurality of smart homes2may be included. The present disclosure is applicable to an indoor facility, such as an office, a restaurant, and a commercial facility, without limitation to a residence like the smart home2. This disclosure may be further applicable to a space including an indoor space and an outdoor space without limitation to such an indoor facility.

The smart home2includes a plurality of spaces or rooms including a room or chamber, a bathroom, a toilet room, an entrance, and a hallway, where the appliances13and the facilities14are arranged. The appliances13include an electric cooker, a refrigerator, a washing machine, and a toilet cleansing device. The facilities14include water supply equipment, like a tap or faucet, and a shower device, provided in a kitchen or the bathroom.

The smart home2is further provided with the plurality of sensors15. The sensors15include a microphone, an infrared sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, a fingerprint sensor, an iris sensor, or a camera. Each sensor15may be included in the appliance13or the facility14, or may be provided independently of the appliance13or the facility14. The sensor15detects an execution situation of a household job in the smart home2, and sends sensing information obtained through the detection to the information processing device11via the communication network12. The communication network12includes an appropriate communication network, such as a special circuit network or a public switched telephone network. The sensing information includes information for specifying a user using the appliance13or the facility14. For instance, when the sensor15is a camera, the sensing information includes image data of the user captured by the camera. The information processing device11includes a processing part202that specifies a user using an appliance13or a facility14by collating a face image of the user contained in the sensing information with a template image of a face of each of a plurality of users stored in a storage part112in advance. The information processing device11or the sensor15may specify the user on the basis of the sensing information. When use information20to be described later includes user information23in accordance with a preliminary input of a user ID in use of the appliance13or the facility14, the acquisition of the sensing information from the sensor15is excludable.

The smart home2is further provided with the integrated controller16to control an operation of an appliance13or a facility14to be controlled among the appliances13or the facilities14. The integrated controller16can perform data communication with the appliance13or the facility14to be controlled via the communication network12or a wireless LAN in the smart home2.

The communication device17includes smart phones respectively owned by users living in the smart home2.

The information processing device11includes a cloud server or an edge server to manage an entirety of the home control system1. The information processing device11can perform data communication with the communication device17, the integrated controller16, the appliance13, the facility14, or the sensor15via the communication network12. The integrated controller16may include the functions of the information processing device11.

The information processing device11includes a controller111, the storage part112, and a communication part113. The controller111includes a processor, such as a CPU. The storage part112includes an HDD, an SSD, a flush memory, or other memory. The communication part113includes a communication module suitable for the communication protocol of the communication network12, such as the IP.

The controller111operatively includes an acquisition part201, a processing part202, an output part203, and a manufacturer coefficient setting part204each coming into effect when a CPU executes a program read to a ROM or a RAM from a storage part112. In other words, the program causes the information processing device11to serve as the acquisition part201, the processing part202, the output part203, and the manufacturer coefficient setting part204. The acquisition part201acquires use information20indicating a history of a use situation of an appliance13or a facility14from the appliance13or the facility14via the communication network12and the communication part113. The acquisition part201further acquires, from the storage part112, manufacturer coefficient information50indicating a manufacturer coefficient in connection with a manufacturer of the appliance13or the facility14. The manufacturer coefficient information50is set by the manufacturer coefficient setting part204in advance, and stored in the storage part112. The processing part202collects household job data31of each of a plurality of users on the basis of management information to be described later and on the basis of the use information20acquired by the acquisition part201. The processing part202further calculates a household job point that is commensurate with a household job amount of each of the users on the basis of the household job data31and the manufacturer coefficient information50acquired by the acquisition part201to generate household job point information42. The output part203outputs the household job point information42generated by the processing part202. The household job point information42output by the output part203is stored in the storage part112and transmitted to the communication device17via the communication part113and the communication network12.

FIG.2is a flowchart schematically showing a sequence of a process executed by the controller111.

First, in step SP101, the acquisition part201acquires use information20indicating a use situation of an appliance13or a facility14from the appliance13or the facility14via the communication network12and the communication part113. Specifically, the use information20stored in the storage part112represents a database including a plurality of records, and the acquisition part201acquires each record associated with each manipulation of the appliance13or the facility14. The record of the use information20may be acquired in real time, or at equal time intervals. The acquisition part201stores the acquired record of the use information20in the storage part112.

FIG.3is a table showing an example of simplified use information20. The use information20includes appliance information21, operating information22, and the user information23. AlthoughFIG.3shows use information20about appliances13, this is similarly applicable to facilities14. The use information20represents a database including a plurality of records, and each record is associated with once manipulation of the appliance13or the facility14. Each record includes a filed for the appliance information21, a field for the operating information22, and a field for the user information23.

The appliance information21includes an appliance ID for individually identifying each of the appliances13. In a case where there is only one appliance13to be managed, the appliance information21may be omitted.

The operating information22includes operation date and time information, operation mode information, and electric power amount information. The operation date and time information includes, for example, information indicating a year, a date, and a time to start an operation of the appliance13or the facility14(to be “ON”, “OPEN”), and information indicating a year, a date, and a time to finish the operation of the appliance13or the facility14(to be “OFF”, “CLOSE”). The operation mode information exemplifies setting information at operation, and includes household job mode information (first use information) indicating a household job mode associated with use of the appliance13or the facility14accompanied by execution of the household job and use mode information (second use information) indicating a use mode associated with use of the appliance13or the facility14unaccompanied by the execution of the household job. For instance, regarding a shower device in a bathroom, use of the shower device for cleaning the bathroom is directed to the household job mode, and use of the shower device at taking a bath is directed to the use mode. Distinction between the household job mode and the use mode may be made in accordance with an input from the user for a mode setting in use of the appliance13or the facility14, or may be automatically made by the processing part202of the information processing device11on the basis of timeframe information or a result of detection from the sensor15. The use information20only about the household job mode of the household job mode and the use mode is collected for use in generating the household job data31,32to be described later. The electric power amount information exemplifies operation strength information, and includes a degree of strength or weakness of the appliance13or the facility14, or a power consumption amount thereof. The processing part202included in the controller111may acquire the electric power amount information from the appliance13or the facility14, or may calculate the electric power amount information on the basis of information acquired from the appliance13or the facility14. For instance, the processing part202of the controller111calculates the power consumption amount on the basis of an operating time and an operating wattage.

The user information23includes a user ID for individually identifying each of the users. Distinction among the users each executing a household job may be made in accordance with an input of a user ID from an associated user in use of the appliance13or the facility14, or may be automatically made by the information processing device11on the basis of a result of detection from the sensor15. Alternatively, the communication device17or the integrated controller16may be used for a text input or a voice input to receive the input of the user ID after the use.

Subsequently, in step SP102, the processing part202collects household job data31of each of the users on the basis of management information defining a correspondence between a kind of the appliance13or the facility14and a content of a household job and on the basis of the use information20acquired in step SP101. The management information may include, for example, a household job of washing associated with an appliance ID of an appliance13of a washing machine, and a household job of cleaning associated with an appliance ID of another appliance13of a cleaner. The processing part202uses an appliance ID as key information to associate a household job shown in the management information with a user shown in the use information20to calculate a job amount of each user for each household job.

FIG.4is a table showing simplified household job data31in a first example. In the household job data31, a household job amount of each of the users in a predetermined period (e.g., one week, one month, or a couple of months) is calculated as a household job execution frequency. For instance, total values of execution frequencies about a user UA having a user ID of “UA” indicate twelve times for cooking, seven times for washing, and five times for cleaning respectively. The processing part202counts one execution frequency when a predetermined time period or longer continuously elapses without use of an appliance13or a facility14after a finish of the use of the appliance13or the facility14accompanied by execution of a household job. Examples of the predetermined time period include ten minutes, thirty minutes, and one hour. In detection of use of a certain appliance13or a certain facility14by a plurality of users in a certain timeframe, the processing part202may distribute the execution frequency of a relevant household job to the users. For instance, in detection of one execution frequency of a household job using the same appliance13or facility14by each of the users UA and UB in the morning, the processing part202calculates the execution frequency as ½ for each of the users UA and UB.

In the example shown inFIG.4, the frequency of cooking may be calculated independently for breakfast, lunch, and supper on the basis of timeframe information. Besides, the frequency of cleaning may be calculated on the basis of position information about a cleaner for each room or chamber. Furthermore, when the household job point is calculated on the basis of household job data in step SP104to be described later, a coefficient which is different depending on a timeframe may be multiplied, or a coefficient which is different depending on a chamber may be multiplied. For instance, a larger coefficient may be set for a timeframe or a chamber with a smaller execution frequency of the household job.

FIG.5is a table showing simplified household job data32in a second example. In the household job data32, a household job amount of each of the users is calculated as an execution time (minute) of a household job in a predetermined time period. For instance, total values of execution time about the user having the user ID of “UA” indicate 140 minutes for cooking, 75 minutes for washing, and 45 minutes for cleaning. The processing part202can calculate, as a once execution time period, an elapsed time period from an operation start time to an operation finish time contained in the operation date and time information in the use information20.

FIG.6is a table showing an example of simplified household job point information41generated only on the basis of the household job data31. Regarding the household job point information41, the household job point for each user is calculated by simple addition of an execution frequency of a household job included in household job data31per user. For instance, in the household job data31inFIG.4, total values of execution frequencies about a user UA having a user ID of “UA” indicate twelve times for cooking, seven times for washing, and five times for cleaning respectively. In this respect, regarding the household job point information41shown inFIG.6, a household job point for the user having the user ID of “UA” is calculated to be 12+7+5=24.

Next, in step SP103, the acquisition part201acquires, from the storage part112, manufacturer coefficient information50indicating a manufacturer coefficient set by a manufacturer of the appliance13or the facility14.

FIG.7is a table showing an example of simplified manufacturer coefficient information50. The manufacturer coefficient setting part204sets the manufacturer coefficient information50for each user. In the example shown inFIG.7, manufacturer coefficients are given to respective users in the manner of: “1.0” for the user having the user ID of “UA”, referred to as the “user UA” as well; “1.5” for a user having a user ID of “UB”, referred to as the “user UB” as well; “1.2” for a user having a user ID of “UC”, referred to as the “user UC” as well; and “2.0” for a user having a user ID of “UD”, referred to as “user UD” as well.

As a first example, the manufacturer coefficient setting part204sets a manufacturer coefficient in connection with a manufacturer of an appliance13or a facility14. The manufacturer of the appliance13or the facility14sets a manufacturer coefficient for a user who uses the appliance13or the facility14manufactured by the manufacturer (referred to as a “specific manufacturer” as well) to be larger than a manufacturer coefficient for a user who uses an appliance13or a facility14manufactured by another manufacturer. In other words, a user who uses a product of the manufacturer is given a manufacturer coefficient which is larger than a manufacturer coefficient for a user who does not use a product of the manufacturer.

As a second example, the manufacturer coefficient setting part204sets a manufacturer coefficient in accordance with a use product number of appliances13or facilities14manufactured by a specific manufacturer. The manufacturer of an appliance13or a facility14sets a manufacturer coefficient for a user who uses a first product number of appliances or facilities manufactured by the specific manufacturer to be larger than a manufacturer coefficient for a user who uses a second product number of appliances or facilities manufactured by the specific manufacturer, the second product number being smaller than the first product number. In other words, a user who uses a larger number of products of the specific manufacturer is given a larger manufacturer coefficient.

As a third example, the manufacturer coefficient setting part204sets a manufacturer coefficient in accordance with a manufactured date of an appliance13or a facility14manufactured by a specific manufacturer. The manufacturer of an appliance13or a facility14sets a manufacturer coefficient for a user who uses an appliance or a facility manufactured by the specific manufacturer on a first manufacture date to be larger than a manufacturer coefficient for a user who uses an appliance or a facility manufactured by the specific manufacturer on a second manufacture date earlier than the first manufacture date. In other words, a user who uses a newer product of the specific manufacturer is given a larger manufacturer coefficient.

As a result of adopting at least one of the first to third examples, manufacturer coefficients “1.0”, “1.5”, “1.2”, and “2.0” are set respectively for the users UA, UB, UC, and UD.

In the example shown inFIG.7, a user is targeted for a manufacturer coefficient to be given, and thus, the manufacturer coefficient is reflected on household job data associated with all the household jobs executed by the user. A target for giving a manufacturer coefficient may be an appliance13or a facility14without limitation to this example. In this case, the manufacturer coefficient may be reflected only on household job data associated with a household job executed by each user who uses the appliance13or the facility14.

Moreover, a manufacturer of an appliance13or a facility14may give a reward to a business or management operator of the system1in exchange for more preferential transaction for products of the manufacturer than transaction for products of another manufacturer depending on a setting of a manufacturer coefficient. An upper limit value of a settable manufacturer coefficient may be determined in accordance with an amount of the reward.

A manufacturer of an appliance13or a facility14may acquire, from the information processing device11, data of use information20acquired in use of a product of the manufacturer. In this case, it is preferable to confirm approval or disapproval from a user about data provision in conformity with terms of use or other rules. The manufacturer of the appliance13or the facility14may set a manufacturer coefficient for a user having approved of data provision to be larger than a manufacturer coefficient for a user having disapproved of data provision.

Next, in step SP104, the processing part202calculates a household job point that is commensurate with a household job amount of each of the users on the basis of the household job data31and the manufacturer coefficient information50to generate household job point information42.

FIG.8is a table showing an example of simplified household job point information42generated on the basis of the household job data31and the manufacturer coefficient information50. The processing part202multiplies the manufacturer coefficient shown inFIG.7by the household job point included in the household job point information41shown inFIG.6to calculate the household job point for each user. For instance, regarding the user UB, the processing part202multiplies the manufacturer coefficient “1.5” shown inFIG.7by the household job point “10” shown inFIG.6to calculate the household job point as “15”.

The output part203outputs the household job point information42generated by the processing part202. The household job point information42output by the output part203is stored in the storage part112and transmitted to the communication device17via the communication part113and the communication network12. The user can obtain privileges described below in accordance with the given household job point.

As a first example, the user can download software from a website of a manufacturer of a specific home appliance which has been already purchased to the home appliance in accordance with the household job point that the user has, and thus can extend the functionality of the home appliance.

As a second example, the user can purchase a new product of software or hardware prior to general release thereof in accordance with the household job point that the user has.

As a third example, the user can try test use of a new product of software or hardware prior to general release thereof in accordance with the household job point that the user has.

In the embodiment, calculation of a household job point based on the household job data31and the manufacturer coefficient information50leads to achievement in appropriate giving of a household job point that is commensurate with the household job amount of each user and the manufacturer coefficient.

First Modification

A first modification may permit a specific user defined in advance to determine or change a manufacturer coefficient. The specific user having a change authority inputs change information indicating a change content of the manufacturer coefficient from a communication device17or an integrated controller16. An acquisition part201acquires the change information via a communication network12. A manufacturer coefficient setting part204changes the manufacturer coefficient on the basis of the change information acquired by the acquisition part201, and stores the changed manufacturer coefficient information50in a storage part112. Thereafter, calculation of a household job point is executed by using the changed manufacturer coefficient information50.

The specific user may change the manufacturer coefficient of each user unconditionally or within a range in which a total value of manufacturer coefficients of all the users or the household job points for the users reaches an upper limit or lower. For instance, a manufacturer coefficient larger than usual may be set for a user having executed a household job in response to an irregular event, such as a sudden visit of an unexpected visitor. The manufacturer coefficient setting part204may set, as the specific user, a user having the largest household job amount within the most recent predetermined period (e.g., one week, one month, or a couple of months) on the basis of the household job data31about the predetermined period. A processing part202included in an information processing device11may transmit a change notification to a communication device17owned by a target user whose manufacturer coefficient has been changed to cause the communication device17to display, on a screen thereof, such a message as to motivate the user to do the household job.

Second Modification

In a second modification, a user may not be limited to an individual and may represent a group such as a family. In this case, a manufacturer coefficient setting part204sets an identical manufacturer coefficient per group.

Third Modification

In a third modification, a processing part202may calculate a household job point further on the basis of a user coefficient in addition to the manufacturer coefficient.

FIG.9is a simplified diagram showing an overall configuration of a home control system1in the third modification. A controller111includes an acquisition part201, the processing part202, an output part203, a manufacturer coefficient setting part204, and a user coefficient setting part205. The user coefficient setting part205sets a user coefficient for each of a plurality of users to create user coefficient information51, and stores the created user coefficient information51in a storage part112.

FIG.10is a table showing an example of simplified user coefficient information51. In the example shown inFIG.10, user coefficients “1.0”, “1.5”, “1.2”, and “2.0” are set respectively for users UA, UB, UC, and UD. The user coefficient setting part205sets the user coefficient information51in advance. The user coefficient setting part205sets the user coefficient information51on the basis of, for example, household job data31,32about a plurality of users in a predetermined period. As a first example, the user coefficient setting part205may set a larger user coefficient for a user having a larger household job amount within the most recent one month in accordance with a household job amount. This attains an improvement in a motivation of a user having a larger household job amount. As a second example, the user coefficient setting part205may set a larger user coefficient for a user having a smaller household job amount within the most recent one month in accordance with a household job amount. This attains an improvement in a motivation of a user having a smaller household job amount. Here, all the users may have different user coefficient values from each other, or a part of the users may have an identical user coefficient value.

The processing part202multiplies the manufacturer coefficient shown inFIG.7and the user coefficient shown inFIG.10by the household job point included in the household job point information41shown inFIG.6to calculate the household job point for each user.

Fourth Modification

In a fourth modification, a processing part202may calculate a household job point further on the basis of an attribute coefficient in addition to the manufacturer coefficient.

FIG.11is a simplified diagram showing an overall configuration of a home control system1in a fourth modification. A controller111includes an acquisition part201, the processing part202, an output part203, a manufacturer coefficient setting part204, and an attribute coefficient setting part206. The attribute coefficient setting part206sets an attribute coefficient for each of a plurality of different kinds of attributes to create attribute coefficient information52, and stores the created attribute coefficient information52in a storage part112.

FIG.12is a table showing an example of simplified attribute coefficient information52. The attribute coefficient information52includes a plurality of different kinds of attributes Z1to Z5. Each of the attributes Z1to Z5has a priority rank. The kinds of attributes include a gender, an age, a generation, a weekly day off, a family configuration, a hobby, or a residential area. For instance, the kind of attribute Z1indicates the generation, and the generation includes a plurality of categories of teens or lower, twenties, thirties, forties, fifties, and sixties or higher.FIG.12shows attribute coefficients respectively for users UA, UH, UI, UJ, and UK belonging to the same category of the generation. In this example, attribute coefficients “1.5”, “1.5”, “1.2”, “2.0”, and “1.2” are set respectively for the users UA, UH, UI, UJ, and UK. The attribute coefficient setting part206sets the attribute coefficient information52in advance. The attribute coefficient setting part206sets the attribute coefficient information52on the basis of, for example, household job data31,32about a plurality of users in a predetermined period. As a first example, the attribute coefficient setting part206may set a larger attribute coefficient for a user having a larger household job amount within the most recent one month in accordance with a household job amount. This attains an improvement in a motivation of a user having a larger household job amount. As a second example, the attribute coefficient setting part206may set a larger attribute coefficient for a user having a smaller household job amount within the most recent one month in accordance with a household job amount. This attains an improvement in a motivation of a user having a smaller household job amount. Here, all the users may have different attribute coefficient values from each other, or a part of the users may have an identical attribute coefficient value.

The attribute coefficient setting part206may set the attribute coefficient for each category of the plurality of categories included in the attribute. In this case, the attribute coefficient setting part206sets an identical attribute coefficient for the users belonging to the same category. For instance, regarding the attribute Z1of the generation, the attribute coefficient is set for each age range, and an identical attribute coefficient is set for users belonging to the same age range. The attribute coefficient setting part206may set a larger attribute coefficient for an age range having a larger average value of household job amounts in a collecting period, or may set a larger attribute coefficient for an age range having a smaller average value of household job amounts in the collecting period. The attribute coefficient setting part206selects, in accordance with a kind of attribute, either a first way of setting different attribute coefficients among users belonging to the same category or a second way of setting different attribute coefficients among a plurality of categories included in an attribute. Information about the selection is included in the attribute coefficient information52. The first way is selected in connection with the weekly day off, the family configuration, or the hobby, and the second way is selected in connection with the gender, the age, the generation, or the residential area.

The processing part202multiplies the manufacturer coefficient shown inFIG.7and the attribute coefficient shown inFIG.12by the household job point included in the household job point information41shown inFIG.6to calculate the household job point for each user. The processing part202may multiply the manufacturer coefficient shown inFIG.7, the user coefficient shown inFIG.10, and the attribute coefficient shown inFIG.12by the household job point included in the household job point information41shown inFIG.6to calculate the household job point for each user.

The present disclosure is particularly useful for a home control system including a smart home adopting the IoT technologies.