Patent Publication Number: US-2018054322-A1

Title: Household apparatus, communication adapter, control method, and recording medium

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to technology for appropriately determining an uncontrollable state and causing a household apparatus to transition to a safe operation state. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     In recent years, popular home systems, such as energy management systems or the like, use a predetermined communication standard to connect to various types of electrical apparatuses and/or home apparatuses (referred to hereinafter collectively as “household apparatuses”) disposed within a household. Various types of household appliances, such as an air conditioner, a lighting apparatus, a rice cooker, an induction heating-type cooking apparatus, a dehumidifier, a circulation fan, and a hot water heater, for example, are connected in a communication-capable manner by such a home system, and the home system appropriately manages, that is, monitors and/or controls, each of the household apparatuses. 
     Recently a user while away from home is able to use a communication terminal, such as a smart phone or the like, to access such a home system from outside the home and to remotely operate the household apparatus. However, in practice communication may be interrupted due to worsening of a communication environment in the vicinity of the communication terminal, draining of a battery of the communication terminal, or the like, and remote operation may be disabled. Although under such circumstances generally the household apparatus continues to operate on the basis of the last received command of remote operation, allowing such operation to continue unconditionally may be unsafe. 
     As a leading technology of such a home system. Patent Literature 1, for example, discloses a home system that, upon disablement of remote operation, provides notification of the disablement within the home, and causes the household apparatus to transition to a safe operation state when an operation is not obtained from within the home. 
     CITATION LIST 
     Patent Literature 
     Patent Literature 1: Unexamined Japanese Patent Application Kokai Publication No. 2015-35647 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
     In the home system described in the aforementioned Patent Literature 1, the household apparatus is determined to be in the uncontrollable state based on detection of interruption of communication with the communication terminal, and the household apparatus is made to transition to the safe operation state. However, in recent home systems, the functions of the controller controlling the overall system are satisfactory, and appropriate control of the household apparatus is possible in response to a change in conditions 24 hours a day, regardless of whether the change occurs during the day or late at night. For example, the controller is capable of comprehensive control of the household apparatuses by, in addition to collecting information from the household apparatus (such as an operation state, power consumption, various types of alerts, and the like), collecting information from various types of sensors inside and outside the home (information such as temperature, humidity, illumination, vibration sensing, smoke sensing, gas sensing, intruder alert, and the like, for example). Thus even if there is an interruption in communication with the communication terminal, as long as communication is possible between the controller and the household apparatus, recently safe control of the household apparatus is still thought to be possible. 
     Further, in such home systems, the products of different manufacturers may be intermixed due to unification of communication standards or the like. For example, in a case in which the household apparatus and the controller are products of different manufacturers, even though the controller detects an interruption in communication with the communication terminal, there may be an inability to transmit to the household appliance the occurrence of the interruption. Thus appropriate determination by the household apparatus of the uncontrollable state is desired. 
     In consideration of the aforementioned circumstances, an objective of the present disclosure is to appropriately determine the uncontrollable state and to cause the household apparatus to transition to the safe operation state. 
     Solution to Problem 
     In order to attain the aforementioned objective, the household apparatus of the present disclosure controlled by a remote operation via a network includes a state control unit configured to, when communication with a management apparatus requesting or mediating a remote operation is interrupted in a remote operation state, cause transition of the household apparatus to a predetermined safe operation state, the remote operation state being a state in which the remote operation is performed. 
     Advantageous Effects of Invention 
     According to the present disclosure, the uncontrollable state can be appropriately determined, and the household apparatus can be made to transition to the safe operation state. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic drawing illustrating an example of overall configuration of a home system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating an example of configuration of a household apparatus; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic drawing for description of an operation state of the household apparatus; 
         FIG. 4  is a block diagram illustrating an example of configuration of a communication adapter; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic drawing illustrating an example of outside-home operation management information stored in a storage of the communication adapter; 
         FIG. 6  is a block diagram illustrating an example of configuration of a controller; 
         FIG. 7  is a flow chart illustrating an example of state management processing executed by the household apparatus; 
         FIG. 8  is a flow chart illustrating an example of communication management processing executed by the communication adapter; 
         FIG. 9  is a flow chart for description of overall operation of the home system; 
         FIG. 10  is a flow chart for description of overall operation of the home system, including accessing from another apparatus; 
         FIG. 11  is a flow chart for description of the overall operation of the home system, including an in-home operation from a remote control unit; and 
         FIG. 12  is a block diagram illustrating an example of configuration of a household apparatus according to another embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Embodiments of the present description are described below in detail in reference to figures. In the figures, components that are the same or equivalent are assigned the same reference signs. Although the present disclosure below describes as a specific example the case of application to a household apparatus or the like in a home system, the present disclosure can similarly be applied to apparatuses in other systems. That is to say, the embodiment described below is for explaining the present disclosure, and does not limit the scope of the present disclosure. Thus although one skilled in the art can use embodiments replacing various or all elements by equivalents, such modified embodiments are included in the scope of the present disclosure. 
     Embodiment 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic drawing illustrating an example of overall configuration of a home system  1  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. This home system  1  is a system in which a user operates a communication terminal  50  from an outside location or the like (outside-home) and can remotely operate (an outside-home operation) a household apparatus  10  disposed in a home H (in-home). As illustrated, the home system  1  includes the household apparatus  10 , a remote control unit  10   a , a communication adapter  20 , a controller  30 , a server  40 , and the communication terminal  50 . Further, the communication adapter  20  and the controller  30  are interconnected via an in-home network  80  in a communication-capable manner. Also, the communication adapter  20  and the household apparatus  10  are connected via a connecting cable, a connecting connector, and the like. Further, the server  40  and the controller  30  are communicably interconnected through an external network  90 . For ease of description in  FIG. 1  a case is illustrated in which one unit each of the household apparatus  10 , the controller  30 , and the like are disposed in the home H; although actually multiple units of the household apparatus  10 , the controller  30 , and the like may be disposed in the home H. 
     The household apparatus  10  is a home electric apparatus and/or home apparatus disposed in the home H, and specific examples of the household apparatus  10  include an air conditioner, a lighting apparatus, a rice cooker, an induction heating (IH) cooking heater, a dehumidifier, a circulation fan, a water heater, and the like. Further, some of the hot water heaters and the like described as apparatuses included in the household apparatuses  10  can be disposed outside the home H. The household apparatus  10  is furnished with, for example, the remote control unit  10   a , and can receive operation commands from the remote control unit  10   a . An example of configuration of the household apparatus  10  is described below in reference to  FIG. 2 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the household apparatus  10  includes a control unit  11 , a storage  12 , a timer  13 , an inputter  14 , an outputter  15 , and an interface  16 . 
     The control unit  11  includes, for example, a central processing unit (CPU), a read only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), and the like (all not illustrated), and performs overall control of the household apparatus  10 . The control unit  11  includes functions of a timer control module  11   a , a state control module  11   b , and a main function control module  11   c . These functions are achieved by the CPU using the RAM as a working memory and appropriately executing various types of programs stored in the ROM, for example, such as a below-described program for the state management processing and the like. 
     The timer control module  11   a  controls operation of the timer  13  in response to various types of commands supplied from the inputter  14  and the interface  16 . Further, the interface  16  supplies, as described below, an operation command by the outside-home operation, a notification command (explained below in detail, command for notification of normal communication), and the like. On the other hand, the inputter  14  supplies, as described below, an operation command by an in-home operation. 
     For example, when the operation command by the outside-home operation is supplied from the interface  16 , the timer control module  11   a  causes the timer  13  to operate and start counting. Further, as described below in detail, the timer  13  during operation counts from an initial value up until a reference value is exceeded (timing-out). Further, upon the interface  16  supplying a notification command during counting by the timer  13 , the timer control module  11   a  resets the count. That is to say, the timer control module  11   a  returns the count of the timer  13  to the initial value and causes the counting operation to continue. Further, upon the inputter  14  or the like supplying the operation command by the in-home operation during counting by the timer  13 , the timer control module  11   a  causes the counting by the timer  13  to stop. That is to say, the timer control module  11   a  causes a halt of operation of the timer  13 . 
     The state control module  11   b  controls the operation state of the household apparatus  10 . Further, the household apparatus  10  is, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , in one of the operation states such as an in-home operation state  12   a , an outside-home operation state  12   b , or a safe operation state  12   c . Further, a stopped state (power OFF and the like) is omitted from  FIG. 3 . The in-home operation state  12   a  indicates the state of undergoing the in-home operation by the remote control unit  10   a . The outside-home operation state  12   b  indicates the state of undergoing the outside-home operation by the communication terminal  50 . The safe operation state  12   c  indicates the state in which a safe operation (suitable for safety) is performed, the safe operation being determined in response to the household apparatus  10 , that is, in response to the type of apparatus or the like. Specifically, when the household apparatus  10  is the air conditioner, the safe operation is determined to be air blowing or stoppage. Further, when the household apparatus  10  is the hot water heater, the safe operation is determined to be stoppage. Further, when the household apparatus  10  is the circulation fan, the safe operation is determined to be low-power operation. Further, when the household apparatus  10  is the rice cooker, the safe operation is determined to be warming or stoppage. Further, each of such safe operations is an example, and the safe operation can be changed appropriately in response to the actual household apparatus  10 . 
     In response to a received operation command, timing out of the timer  13 , or the like, the state control module  11   b  sets (causes a transition of) the state of the household apparatus  10  to the in-home operation state  12   a , the outside-home operation state  12   b , or the safe operation state  12   c . For example, in the outside-home operation state  12   b , upon operation by the in-home operation, the state control module  11   b  causes a transition to the in-home operation state  12   a . Conversely, in the in-home operation state  12   a , upon operation by the outside-home operation, the state control module  11   b  causes a transition to the outside-home operation state  12   b . Further, upon detection of the interruption of communication in the outside-home operation state  12   b  (case of occurrence of timing-out of the timer  13 ), the state control module  11   b  causes a transition to the safe operation state  12   c.    
     Again in reference to  FIG. 2 , the main function control module  11   c  controls main functions of the household apparatus  10  in response to the operation command supplied from the inputter  14  or the interface  16 ; the main function being, for example, cooling, heating, dehumidifying, or the like in the case of the air conditioner, and being freezing, refrigerating, or the like in the case of the refrigerator. Further, when the safe control module  11   b  is in the safe operation state  12   c , that is, when the timer  13  starts counting and then times out, the main function control module  11   c  controls the main function of the household apparatus  10  so that the household apparatus  10  is in the safe operation state. 
     The storage  12  is formed, for example, from memory such as non-volatile semiconductor memory and stores information concerning the household apparatus  10 , an example of the information being the aforementioned operation state illustrated in  FIG. 3 . Further, the storage  12  also stores information such as programs executed by the control unit  11 . 
     The timer  13  includes components such as, for example, a quartz oscillator, a counter, or the like, and counts a non-communication time (time of non-communication between the communication adapter  20  and the controller  30 ) in order to detect the interruption of communication occurring in the outside-home operation state (aforementioned outside-home operation state  12   b  of  FIG. 3 ). That is to say, the timer  13  operates on the basis of the command of the aforementioned timer control module  11   a  and counts from the initial value until the reference value is exceeded, that is, until timing out. Specifically, in the case of the reference value being determined to be 24 hours, the timer  13  times out upon the count exceeding 24 hours. Further, this reference value is an example, and the reference value can be changed appropriately in response to the actual household apparatus  10 . 
     Due to the timer  13  timing out in this manner, the interruption of communication is detected in the outside-home operation state. Thereafter, the aforementioned main function control module  11   c  or the like is notified of the detected interruption of communication. Further, the timer  13  resets the count in response to the command from the aforementioned timer control module  11   a  (in the case of sending of the notification command from the communication adapter  20  as described below), and the timer  13  stops the count (in the case of sending of the operation command by in-home operation as described below). 
     The inputter  14  includes, for example, an infrared receiver unit or the like, and receives the operation command, that is, the operation command by the in-home operation, sent from the remote control unit  10   a . Further, in the case in which the household apparatus  10  is not furnished with the remote control unit  10   a , the inputter  14  includes a plurality of input switches and the like, and receives the operation command in response to the user pressing down the switches. Whatever the configuration, the inputter  14  receives the operation command by the in-home operation and supplies the operation command to the control unit  11 . 
     The outputter  15  includes, for example, a liquid crystal panel or the like, and displays the operation state or the like of the household apparatus  10 . 
     The interface  16  includes, for example, an exterior-connection unit or the like, and connects to the communication adapter  20  via components such as the connecting cable and/or connecting connector. The interface  16  allows sending and receiving of various types of information between the interface  16  and the connected communication adapter  20 . For example, the interface  16  receives the operation command and/or the notification command sent from the communication adapter  20  and supplies the operation command and/or the notification command to the control unit  11 . Further, the operation commands sent from the communication adapter  20  includes the operation command by the outside-home operation from the communication terminal  50 . Further, the interface  16  transmits to the communication adapter  20  state change information supplied from the control unit  11 . For example, in the case of a change by the state control module  11   b  from the outside-home operation state to the in-home operation state (case of the in-home operation by the remote control unit  10   a  in the outside-home operation state  12   b  of  FIG. 3 ), the interface  16  transmits to the communication adapter  20  the state change information indicating change from the outside-home operation state to the in-home operation state. 
     Again in reference to  FIG. 1 , the communication adapter  20  is an adapter for appending communication functions to the household apparatus  10 . That is to say, by appending, that is, by connecting the communication adapter  20  to the household apparatus  10 , the household apparatus  10  can communicate via the in-home network  80 . An example of configuration of such a communication adapter  20  is described below in reference to a block diagram of  FIG. 4 . As illustrated in the figure, the communication adapter  20  includes a control unit  21 , a storage  22 , an interface  23 , and a communication unit  24 . 
     The control unit  21  includes, for example, a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like (all not illustrated), and performs overall control of the communication adapter  20 . The control unit  21  includes functions of a message processing module  21   a , a registration module  21   b , and a command transmission module  21   c . These functions are achieved by the CPU using the RAM as a working memory and appropriately executing various types of programs stored in the ROM, for example, such as a below-described program for the communication management processing and the like. Further, the control unit  21  accesses the household apparatus  10  via the interface  23  periodically at a predetermined period, such as 1 minute, for example, and collects various types of information concerning the household apparatus  10 , that is, causes storage of the various types of information in the storage  22 . 
     The message processing module  21   a  processes the message, such as a communication frame, received from the communication unit  24 , and if required, generates a reply message and causes transmission of the reply message by the communication unit  24 . For example, the message processing module  21   a  processes the message of an operation request (the outside-home operation or the in-home operation) and generates the operation command for the household apparatus  10 . Further, the message processing module  21   a  processes the message of a state acquisition request (state referral of the household apparatus  10 ), and generates a message of a state acquisition request reply from information concerning the household apparatus  10  stored in the storage  22 . Thereafter, the message processing module  21   a  causes the message of the generated state acquisition request reply to be returned by the communication unit  24 . Further, in the case in which the message of the processed state acquisition request is sent from the controller  30  via remote operation in the outside-home operation state (more specifically, in the case of matching an address of below-described management apparatus information), the message processing module  21   a  generates the notification command providing notification of normal communication to the household apparatus  10 . 
     In the case in which the operation request processed by the message processing module  21   a  is by the outside-home operation from the communication terminal  50 , the registration module  21   b  generates the management apparatus information for retaining the controller  30  mediating remote operation as the management apparatus, and the registration module registers the generated management apparatus information in the storage  22 . Specifically, the registration module  21   b  generates management apparatus information  221  as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . This management apparatus information  221 , for example, includes address information and a state classification. The address information is the address information of the controller  30  actually mediating remote operation, and even if a plurality of controllers  30  is assumed to exist on the in-home network  80 , one of the controllers  30  can be identified to act as the management apparatus. Further, in addition to the address information, the management apparatus information  221  may further include intrinsic information such as a MAC address and the like. Further, the state classification indicates the operation state, such as the outside-home operation state, of the household apparatus  10 . Further, upon the household apparatus  10  via the interface  23  sending the state change information indicating a prior change to the in-home operation state from the outside-home operation state, the registration module  21   b  may revise the state classification or may delete the management apparatus information  221  from the storage  22 . 
     Again in reference to  FIG. 4 , the command transmission module  21   c  transmits to the household apparatus  10  via the interface  23  the operation command or the notification command generated by the message processing module  21   a.    
     The storage  22  includes, for example, non-volatile semiconductor memory, and stores various types of information. For example, the storage  22  stores various types of information such as the aforementioned management apparatus information  221  illustrated in  FIG. 5  or information concerning the household apparatus  10 . Further, programs or the like executed by the control unit  21  are stored in the storage  22 . 
     The interface  23 , for example, includes an exterior-connection unit and the like, and connects to the household apparatus  10  via the connecting cable, connecting connector, or the like. The interface  23  causes exchange of various types of information with the connected household apparatus  10 . 
     The communication unit  24  includes, for example, a communication unit such as a wired local area network (LAN), a wireless LAN, or the like, is under control by the control unit  21 , and performs communication via the in-home network  80 . For example, the communication unit  24  receives the message of the operation request (the outside-home operation or the in-home operation), or receives the message of the state acquisition request and transmits the message of the state acquisition request reply. 
     Again in reference to  FIG. 1 , the controller  30 , for example, is a home energy management system (HEMS) controller controlling the household apparatus  10 . The controller  30  functions as a gateway mediating remote operation (the outside-home operation) from the communication terminal  50 . An example of configuration of the controller  30  is described below in reference to the block diagram of  FIG. 6 . As illustrated in the figure, the controller  30  includes a control unit  31 , a storage  32 , an inputter  33 , an outputter  34 , an in-home communication unit  35 , and an outside-home communication unit  36 . 
     The control unit  31 , for example, includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like (all not illustrated), and performs overall control of the controller  30 . For example, upon receipt of the message of the operation request sent from the communication terminal  50  by the outside-home communication unit  36 , the control unit  31  performs processing such as appending to the message the classification indicating the outside-home operation, and the control unit  31  causes transmission of the processed message from the in-home communication unit  35  to the communication adapter  20 . Further, the control unit  31 , as a periodic operation (for example, every 10 minutes), generates the message of the state acquisition request and causes transmission of the generated message from the in-home communication unit  35  to the communication adapter  20 . 
     The storage  32  includes, for example, a non-volatile semiconductor memory, and stores various types of information. For example, the storage  32  stores information such as address information required for accessing the communication adapter  20  and/or the server  40 . Further, programs or the like executed by the control unit  31  are stored in the storage  32 . 
     The inputter  33  includes a plurality of input switches and the like, and receives the operation command in response to the user pressing down the switches. 
     The outputter  34  includes, for example, a liquid crystal panel or the like, and displays the operation state or the like of the controller  30 . 
     The in-home communication unit  35  includes, for example, a communication unit such as a wired LAN or wireless LAN, undergoes control by the control unit  31 , and performs communication via the in-home network  80 . 
     The outside-home communication unit  36  includes, for example, an asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL) modem, a cable modem for connection to the internet using an optical cable circuit, or the like, undergoes control by the control unit  31 , and performs communication via the external network  90 . 
     Again in reference to  FIG. 1 , the server  40  is a server computer capable of communication with the communication terminal  50  and/or the controller  30  via the external network  90 . The server  40 , for example, stores various types of information for identifying a user under contract, examples of such information being names of registered users, registered passwords, identification information of the communication terminal  50 , identification information of the controller  30 , and the like. Further, after performance of a predetermined verification processing between the server  40  and the communication terminal  50 , the server  40  establishes a communication connection with the controller  30  on the basis of information such as set connection information. In this state, the server  40  transmits to the household apparatus  10  (communication adapter  20 ) via the controller  30  the message (such as the operation request by the outside-home operation) sent from the communication terminal  50 . 
     The communication terminal  50  is a mobile-type communication terminal, for example, such as a smart phone, and is used by the user at a location such as an outside location, that is, an outside-home location. The communication terminal  50  includes components such as a communication interface capable of connecting to the external network  90 , and transmits the message (such as the operation request by the outside-home operation) to the household apparatus  10  (the communication adapter  20 ) via the server  40  and the like. For example, the communication terminal  50  accesses the server  40  on the external network  90 , and after performing a predetermined identification processing, causes establishment of a communication connection between the server  40  and the controller  30 . In this state, the communication terminal  50  transmits the message to the household apparatus  10  (the communication adapter  20 ) via the server  40  and the controller  30 . That is to say, the communication terminal  50  makes possible remote operation (the outside-home operation) of the household apparatus  10  from outside the home in this manner. 
     Operation of the home system  1  configured in this manner is described below in reference to  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8 .  FIG. 7  is a flow chart illustrating an example of the state management processing executed by the household apparatus  10  (control unit  11 ). Further.  FIG. 8  is a flow chart illustrating an example of communication management processing executed by the communication adapter  20  (control unit  21 ). Firstly, the state management processing of  FIG. 7  is described. 
     Firstly, the control unit  11  of the household apparatus  10  determines whether there is prior reception of a command (step S 101 ). That is to say, the control unit  11  determines whether there is prior reception of the command from the inputter  14  or the interface  16 . Upon determination that there is no prior reception of the command (NO in step S 101 ), the processing of the control unit  11  advances to a below-described step S 112 . 
     On the other hand, in the case of determination that there is prior reception of the command (YES in step S 101 ), the control unit  11  determines whether the received command is an operation command (step S 102 ). Upon determination that the received command is the operation command (YES in step S 102 ), the control unit  11  determines whether the operation command is by the outside-home operation (step S 103 ). 
     Upon determination that the operation command is by the outside-home operation (YES in step S 103 ), the control unit  1  refers to the storage  12 , and determines whether the present operation state is the in-home operation state (step S 104 ). Upon determination that the present operation state is the in-home operation state (YES in step S 104 ), the control unit  11  changes the operation state to the outside-home operation state, and causes a start of counting by the timer  13  (step S 105 ). That is to say, the timer control module  11   a  operates the timer  13  and causes the start of counting of the non-communication time in order to detect the interruption of communication during the outside-home operation state. 
     On the other hand, in the case of determination that the present operation state is not the in-home operation state, that is, upon determination that the present operation state is the outside-home operation state (NO in step S 104 ), the control unit  11  resets the count of the timer  13  (step S 106 ). That is to say, due to in-progress running of the timer  13 , the timer control module  11   a  causes the count of the timer  13  to return to the initial value, and causes continuation of the counting operation. 
     In the aforementioned step S 103 , in the case of determination that the operation is not the outside-home operation, that is, in the case of determination that the operation is the in-home operation (NO in step S 103 ), the control unit  11  determines whether the present operation state is the outside-home operation state (step S 107 ). Upon determination that the present operation state is not the outside-home operation state, that is, upon determination that the present operation state is the in-home operation state (NO in step S 107 ), processing by the control unit  11  proceeds to a below-described step S 109 . 
     On the other hand, in the case of determination that the present operation state is the outside-home operation state (YES in step S 107 ), the control unit  11  causes a change of the operation state to the in-home operation state, and causes the counting to stop (step S 108 ). That is to say, the timer control module  11   a  causes operation of the timer  13  to stop. 
     The control unit  11  controls the main functions in response to the operation command (step S 109 ). That is to say, in response to the operation command supplied from the inputter  14  or the interface  16 , the main function control module  11   c  controls the main function of the household apparatus  10 ; the main function being, for example, cooling, heating, dehumidifying, or the like in the case of the air conditioner, and being freezing, refrigerating, or the like in the case of the refrigerator. 
     In the case of determination in the aforementioned step S 102  that the received command is not the operation command (NO in step S 102 ), the control unit  11  determines whether the received command is a communication-normal notification, that is, a command for notification of normal communication (step S 110 ). Upon determination that there is no communication-normal notification (NO in step S 110 ), processing by the control unit  11  proceeds to a below-described step S 112 . 
     On the other hand, in the case of determination that the received command is the communication-normal notification (YES in step S 110 ), the control unit  11  resets the counter of the timer  13  (step S 111 ). That is to say, the timer control module  11   a  causes a return of the count of the timer  13  to the initial value, and causes continuation of the counting operation. 
     The control unit  11  determines whether the present operation state is the outside-home operation state (step S 112 ). Upon determination that the present operation state is not the outside-home operation state, that is, upon determination that the present operation is the in-home operation state (NO in step S 112 ), processing of the control unit  11  returns to the aforementioned step S 101 . 
     On the other hand, in the case of determination that the present operation state is the outside-home operation state (YES in step S 112 ), the control unit  11  determines whether the timer  13  is timed out (step S 113 ). Upon determination that the timer  13  is not timed out (NO in step S 113 ), processing of the control unit  11  returns to the aforementioned step S 101 . 
     On the other hand, in the case of determination that the timer  13  is timed out (YES in step S 113 ), the control unit  11  causes a transition to the safe operation state (step S 114 ). That is to say, due to the detection of the interruption of communication during the outside-home operation state, the main function control module  11   c  causes the main function of the household apparatus  10  to transition to the safe operation state. 
     Communication management processing of  FIG. 8  executed by the communication adapter  20  (control unit  21 ) is described below. 
     Firstly, the control unit  21  of the communication adapter  20  determines whether there is prior reception of the message (step S 201 ). Further, upon determination that there is no reception of the message (NO in step S 201 ), the control unit  21  repeats the determination until reception of the message. 
     On the other hand, in the case of determination that there is prior reception of the message (YES in step S 201 ), the control unit  21  determines whether the received message is the operation request (step S 202 ). Upon determination that the received message is the operation request (YES in step S 202 ), the control unit  21  determines whether the message is by the outside-home operation (step S 203 ). Upon determination that the message is not received by the outside-home operation, that is, determination that the message is by the in-home operation (NO in step S 203 ), processing of the control unit  21  proceeds to the processing of a below-described step S 205 . Further, in the case in which the management apparatus information (management apparatus information  221  as illustrated in  FIG. 5 ) is recorded in the storage  22 , the management apparatus information is erased from the storage  22 , or alternatively, rather than erasing the management apparatus information, the state classification of the management apparatus information  221  as illustrated in  FIG. 5  may be changed from the outside-home operation state to the in-home operation state. 
     On the other hand, upon determination that the message is received by the outside-home operation (YES in step S 203 ), the control unit  21  records the management apparatus information in the storage  22  (step S 204 ). That is to say, the registration module  21   b  generates the management apparatus information in order to retain the controller  30  mediating remote operation as the management apparatus, and the registration module  21   b  records the management apparatus information in the storage  22 . Further, when the management apparatus information is previously recorded in the storage  22 , the control unit  21  overwrites the management apparatus information. 
     The control unit  21  generates the operation command (step S 205 ). That is to say, the message processing module  21   a  generates the operation command in response to the message of the operation request (the outside-home operation or the in-home operation). 
     In the case of determination in the aforementioned step S 202  that the received message is not the operation request (NO in step S 202 ), the control unit  21  determines whether the received message is the state acquisition request (step S 206 ). Upon determination that the received message is not the state acquisition request (NO in step S 206 ), processing of the control unit  21  returns to the aforementioned step S 201 . 
     On the other hand, in the case of determination that the received message is the state acquisition request (YES in step S 206 ), the control unit  21  generates and transmits a reply message (step S 207 ). That is to say, the message processing module  21   a  processes the message of the state acquisition request and generates the message of the state acquisition request reply from information concerning the household apparatus  10  stored in the storage  22 . Then the message processing module  21   a  causes the communication unit  24  to reply by transmitting the message of the generated state acquisition request reply. 
     The control unit  21  refers to the storage  22  and determines whether the household apparatus  10  is in the outside-home operation state (step S 208 ). Upon determination that the household apparatus  10  is not in the outside-home operation state (NO in step S 208 ), processing of the control unit  21  returns to the aforementioned step S 201 . 
     On the other hand, in the case of determination that the household apparatus  10  is in the outside-home operation state (YES in step S 208 ), the control unit  21  determines whether the transmission source of the message matches the address of the management apparatus information (step S 209 ). That is to say, the control unit  21  determines whether the address of the transmission source of the processed message of the state acquisition request matches the address information of the management apparatus information, that is, the management apparatus information  221  illustrated in  FIG. 5 , recorded in the storage  22 . Upon determination of non-matching of the address of the management apparatus information (NO in step S 209 ), processing of the control unit  21  returns to the aforementioned step S 201 . 
     On the other hand, in the case in which there is determined to be matching of the address of the management apparatus information (YES in step S 209 ), the control unit  21  generates the notification command indicating normal communication (step S 210 ). 
     The control unit  21  transmits the generated command to the household apparatus  10  (step S 211 ). That is to say, the command transmission module  21   c , via the interface  23 , transmits to the household apparatus  10  the operation command generated in step S 205  or step S 210 . 
     Then processing of the control unit  21  returns to the aforementioned step S 201 . 
     Overall operation in the home system  1  including such processing is described below in reference to flow charts of  FIG. 9  to  FIG. 11 . Firstly, conditions from the detection of the interruption of communication until the transition to the safe operation state are described in reference to the flow chart of  FIG. 9 . 
     Firstly, the communication terminal  50  transmits the message of the operation request to the server  40  (step S 301 ). Thereafter, the server  40  transmits the message of the operation request to the controller  30  (step S 302 ). 
     The controller  30  sends to the communication adapter  20  the message of the outside-home operation request obtained by processing the message of the operation request (step S 303 ). That is to say, upon reception of the message of the operation request by the outside-home communication unit  36 , the control unit  31  of the controller  30  performs processing such as the appending to the message of a classification indicating the outside-home operation, and the control unit  31  of the controller  30  causes transmission of the processed message (message of the outside-home operation request) from the in-home communication unit  35  to the communication adapter  20 . 
     The communication adapter  20  retains the management apparatus information (step S 304 ). That is to say, the control unit  21  of the communication adapter  20  generates and records in the storage  22  the management apparatus information (management apparatus information  221  as illustrated in  FIG. 5 ) for retention of the controller  30  mediating remote operation as the management apparatus. 
     The communication adapter  20  transmits the outside-home operation request (operation command) to the household apparatus  10  (step S 305 ). That is to say, the control unit  21  of the communication adapter  20  generates the operation command in response to the outside-home operation request and transmits the generated operation command to the household apparatus  10  via the interface  23 . 
     The household apparatus  10  starts counting (step S 306 ). That is to say, the control unit  11  of the household apparatus  10  causes the timer  13  to operate and start to count the non-communication time in order to detect the interruption of communication in the outside-home operation state. 
     The controller  30  transmits the message of the state acquisition request to the communication adapter  20  (step S 311 ). That is to say, the control unit  31  of the controller  30 , as a periodic operation, generates the message of the state acquisition request and causes transmission of the generated message from the in-home communication unit  35  to the communication adapter  20 . 
     The communication adapter  20  transmits the message of the state acquisition reply to the controller  30  (step S 312 ). That is to say, the control unit  21  of the communication adapter  20  generates the message of the state acquisition request reply from information concerning the household apparatus  10  stored in the storage  22 , and causes the generated message to be returned to the communication unit  24 . 
     Further, the communication adapter  20  transmits the communication-normal notification (notification command) to the household apparatus  10  (step S 313 ). That is to say, the control unit  21  of the communication adapter  20 , after confirming that the address of the transmission source of the message of the processed state acquisition request matches the address information of the management apparatus information (management apparatus information  221  illustrated in  FIG. 5 ) stored in the storage  22 , generates the notification command indicating normal communication and transmits the generated notification command via the interface  23  to the household apparatus  10 . 
     The household apparatus  10  resets the count (step S 314 ). That is to say, the control unit  11  of the household apparatus  10  returns the count of the timer  13  to the initial value and causes continuation of the counting operation. 
     The processing of these steps S 311  to S 314  may be performed periodically (for example, every 10 minutes) when communication is possible between the controller  30  and the communication adapter  20 . Thus due to periodic resetting of the count by the timer  13  of the household apparatus  10  in step S 314 , the timer  13  does not time out. 
     On the other hand, when communication between the controller  30  and the communication adapter  20  is not performed for some reason, the timer  13  of the household apparatus  10  afterward times out (step S 321 ). Upon the occurrence of the time-out, the household apparatus  10  transitions to the safe operation state (step S 322 ). That is to say, due to detection of the interruption of communication during the outside-home operation state, the control unit  11  of the household apparatus  10  causes the main function of the household apparatus  10  to transition to the safe operation state. 
     Conditions in the case of the presence of a plurality of controllers  30  on the in-home network  80  are described below in reference to the flow chart of  FIG. 10 . Further, another apparatus N in  FIG. 10  indicates the controller  30  that does not mediate the outside-home operation from the communication terminal  50 . Further, the controller  30  in  FIG. 10  indicates the controller  30  mediating the outside-home operation from the communication terminal  50 . 
     In a manner similar to  FIG. 9 , beginning in  FIG. 10  with the operation request (transmission of the operation request message) from the communication terminal  50  in step S 301 , the count by the timer  13  of the household apparatus  10  starts in step S 306 . 
     Further, in a manner similar to  FIG. 9 , the processing of the steps S 311  to S 314  is performed periodically when communication is possible between the controller  30  and the communication adapter  20 . After confirming that the address of the transmission source of the processed message of the state acquisition request matches the address information of the management apparatus information stored in the storage  22 , the control unit  21  of the communication adapter  20  in step S 313  transmits the communication-normal notification (notification command) to the household apparatus  10 . 
     Thus even when the other apparatus N (that is, the controller  30  not mediating the outside-home operation from the communication terminal  50 ) transmits to the communication adapter  20  the message of the state acquisition request (step S 331 ), although the communication adapter  20  replies by sending the message of the state acquisition reply (step S 332 ), the communication adapter  20  does not transmit the communication-normal notification (notification command) to the household apparatus  10 . 
     By this means, even if communication is performed between the other apparatus N and the communication adapter  20 , when communication is not performed between the controller  30  (that is, the controller  30  mediating the outside-home operation from the communication terminal  50 ) and the communication adapter  20 , the timer  13  of the household apparatus  10  times out in step S 321  similarly to  FIG. 9 , and the household apparatus  10  in step S 322  transitions to the safe operation state. 
     Conditions in the case of performance of the in-home operation are described next in reference to the flow chart of  FIG. 11 . 
     In  FIG. 11 , beginning with the operation request (transmission of the operation request message) from the communication terminal  50  in step S 301  similarly to  FIG. 9 , counting by the timer  13  of the household apparatus  10  starts in step S 306 . 
     Further, similarly to  FIG. 9 , the processing of steps S 311  to S 314  is performed periodically when communication is possible between the controller  30  and the communication adapter  20 . Thus the timer  13  does not time out. 
     When the in-home operation request (operation command) from the remote control unit  10   a  is sent to the household apparatus  10  in this state (step S 341 ), the household apparatus  10  stops the count by the timer  13  (step S 342 ). That is to say, due to performing of the in-home operation in the outside-home operation state, the control unit  11  of the household apparatus  10  causes a stoppage of operation of the timer  13 . 
     Further, although  FIG. 11  illustrates the case in which the in-home operation is performed from the remote control unit  10   a , the household apparatus  10  stops the count of the timer  13  similarly to step S 342  also in the case in which the operation command by the in-home operation is sent through the communication adapter  20  from any of the apparatuses on the in-home network  80 . 
     In this manner, in response to communication conditions with the controller  30  mediating the outside-home operation, the household apparatus  10  is able to determine the interruption of communication. That is to say, whatever the communication condition with the communication terminal  50  performing the outside-home operation, the interruption of communication with the controller  30  (controller  30  mediating the outside-home operation) capable of stably controlling the household apparatus  10  is determined, and there is a transition to the safe operation state. As a result, the uncontrollable state is appropriately determined, and the household apparatus  10  can be made to transition to the safe operation state. 
     Other Embodiments 
     Although in the above embodiment the case is described in which the household apparatus  10  performs communication through the communication adapter  20 , the household apparatus  10  may have a communication function without using the communication adapter  20 . A household apparatus  60  having the communication function is described below in reference to  FIG. 12 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 12 , the household apparatus  60  includes a control unit  61 , a storage  62 , the timer  13 , the inputter  14 , the outputter  15 , and a communication unit  64 . Further, the timer  13  through the outputter  15  components are configured similarly to such components of the aforementioned household apparatus  10  of  FIG. 2 . 
     The control unit  61 , for example, includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like, all not illustrated, and performs overall control of the household apparatus  60 . The control unit  61  includes functions of the timer control module  11   a , the state control module  11   b , the main function control module  11   c , the message processing module  21   a  and the registration module  21   b . These functions are achieved by the CPU using the RAM as a working memory and appropriately executing, for example, various types of programs stored in the ROM. 
     The timer control module  11   a  through the main function control module  11   c  components are configured similarly to the aforementioned household apparatus  10  of  FIG. 2 . Further, the timer control module  11   a  controls the operation of the timer  13  in response to the message (operation request or state acquisition request) processed by the message processing module  21   a . Further, the state control module  11   b  controls the operation state of the household apparatus  10  in response to the message (operation request) processed by the message processing module  21   a , timing out of the timer  13 , or the like. Further, the main function control module  11   c  controls the main function of the household apparatus  10  in response to the message (operation request) processed by the message processing module  21   a.    
     On the other hand, the message processing module  21   a  and the registration module  21   b  are configured in the same manner as the aforementioned communication adapter  20  of  FIG. 4 . Further, the message processing module  21   a  processes the message (operation request message or state acquisition request message) received by the communication unit  64 . In the case in which the message of the operation request is processed, the message processing module  21   a  controls the main function control module  11   c  in response to the operation request. 
     In addition to storage of the aforementioned information stored by the storage  12  of the household apparatus  10 , the storage  62  stores information such as the aforementioned management apparatus information  221  illustrated in  FIG. 5 . 
     The communication unit  64  includes, for example, a communication unit such as the wired LAN, the wireless LAN, and the like, undergoes control by the control unit  61 , and performs communication via the in-home network  80 . For example, the communication unit  64  receives the message of the operation request (the outside-home operation or the in-home operation) and/or the message of the state acquisition request, and transmits the message of the state acquisition request reply. 
     The household apparatus  60  configured in this manner determines interruption of communication, the determination being in response to the communication state with the controller  30  mediating the outside-home operation. That is to say, whatever the condition of communication with the communication terminal  50  performing the outside-home operation, the interruption of communication with the controller  30  (controller  30  mediating the outside-home operation) capable of stable control of the household apparatus  10  is determined, and the operation state transitions to the safe operation state. As a result, the uncontrollable state can be appropriately determined, and the household apparatus  10  can be made to transition to the safe operation state. 
     Although a case is described in the aforementioned embodiments in which the communication connection of the communication terminal  50  with the controller  30  is established through the server  40 , the communication terminal  50  may establish the communication connection directly with the controller  30  without using the server  40  in this manner. 
     Although a case is described in the aforementioned embodiments in which the sending of the operation request (the outside-home operation) from the communication terminal  50  is a required condition for recording of the management apparatus information and the determination of the interruption of communication, sending of operation requests entirely through the in-home network  80 , rather than just the outside-home operation, may be the required condition for recording of the management apparatus information and determining the interruption of communication. Although a case is described below in which the household apparatus  10  performs communication through the communication adapter  20 , the aforementioned household apparatus  60  having the communication function can be also used appropriately in a similar manner. 
     Firstly, a case is described in which the communication adapter  20  receives the message of the operation request. In this case, the control unit  21  performs the aforementioned communication management processing of  FIG. 8  except for change of only a portion of the processing. Upon determination in step S 202  that the received message is the operation request (YES in step S 202 ), the control unit  21  skips the determination of step S 203 , and in step S 204 , generates the management apparatus information (management apparatus information  221  illustrated in  FIG. 5 ) and records the generated management apparatus information in the storage  22 . That is to say, the registration module  21   b  generates and records in the storage  22  the management apparatus information for retaining as the management apparatus the controller  30  requesting or mediating remote operation. 
     Further, the control unit  21  generates the operation command in step S 205 . At this time, even in the case in which the operation request is by the in-home operation, the message processing module  21   a  unconditionally generates the operation command by the outside-home operation. Thereafter, the control unit  21  in step S 211  transmits the generated command (operation command) to the household apparatus  10 . 
     On the other hand, the household apparatus  10  (control unit  11 ) can execute the aforementioned state management processing of  FIG. 7  as is. Further, all the operation commands sent from the communication adapter  20  are the operation commands entirely by the outside-home operation, and only the operation commands sent from the remote control unit  10   a  are the operation commands by the in-home operation. Thus when the operation command is sent from the communication adapter  20 , the control unit  11  in step S 105  of  FIG. 7  causes the change of the operation state to the outside-home operation state and causes the start of the count by the timer  13 . That is to say, due to detection of the interruption of communication in the remote operation state, the timer control module  11   a  causes operation of the timer  13  and causes the counting of the non-communication time to start. 
     Next, the case is described in which the communication adapter  20  receives the message of the state acquisition request. In this case, upon determination in step S 206  of  FIG. 8  that the received message is the state acquisition request (YES in step S 206 ), the control unit  21  in step S 207  produces the reply message, sends the produced message in reply, and in step S 209 , determines whether there is a match between the transmission source of the message and the address of the management apparatus information. That is to say, the control unit  21  determines whether there is a match between the address of the transmission source of the message of the state acquisition request and the address information of the management apparatus information (that is, the controller  30  requesting or mediating remote operation) recorded in the storage  22 . Thereafter, in the case in which the determination is that there is a match (YES in step S 209 ), in step S 210 , the control unit  21  generates the notification command and transmits the generated notification command to the household apparatus  10  in step S 211 . 
     On the other hand, upon receiving the notification command sent from the communication adapter  20 , the household apparatus  10  (control unit  11 ) in step S 110  of  FIG. 7  determines whether the notification command is the communication-normal notification (notification command) (YES in step S 110 ), and resets the timer  13  in step S 111 . Further, in the case in which there is no sending of the notification command from the communication adapter  20 , as in the above manner, the timer  13  afterward times out. In this case, upon determination of timing-out in step S 113  (YES in step S 113 ), the control unit  11  in step S 114  causes transition to the safe operation state. That is to say, due to detection of the interruption of communication in the remote operation state, the main function control module  11   c  causes the main function of the household apparatus  10  to transition to the safe operation state. 
     In this manner, there is determined to be an interruption of communication with the management apparatus (controller  30 ) requesting or mediating the remote operation, including the in-home operation such as an operation sent to the household apparatus  10  disposed in a separate room and not limited to the outside-home operation when the operation request is sent via the in-home network  80 . Then upon interruption of communication with the management apparatus in this manner, the household apparatus  10  transitions to the safe operation state. As a result, the uncontrollable state can be appropriately determined, and the household apparatus  10  can be made to transition to the safe operation state. 
     Although the aforementioned embodiments describe the case in which dedicated household apparatuses  10  and  60  are used, by using an existing personal computer, information terminal apparatus, or the like to run an operational program stipulating operation of these household apparatuses  10  and  60 , the personal computer or the like can be made to function as the household apparatuses  10  and  60  according to the present disclosure. 
     Further, any method may be used for distribution of such a program, and for example, the program may be stored in a computer-readable recording medium such as a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disc (DVD), a magneto-optical (MO) disc, a memory card, or the like, and then the computer-readable recording medium storing the program may be distributed through a communication network such as the Internet. 
     The foregoing describes some example embodiments for explanatory purposes. Although the foregoing discussion has presented specific embodiments, persons skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense. This detailed description, therefore, is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the invention is defined only by the included claims, along with the full range of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. 
     INDUSTRIAL AVAILABILITY 
     The present disclosure is capable of use with advantage for a household apparatus capable of appropriately distinguishing an uncontrollable state and causing transition of the household apparatus to safe operation state, and for a communication adapter, a control method, and a program. 
     REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
     
         
         
           
               1  Home system 
               10 ,  60  Household apparatus 
               10   a  Remote control unit 
               20  Communication adapter 
               30  Controller 
               40  Server 
               50  Communication terminal 
               80  In-home network 
               90  Outside-home network