Patent Publication Number: US-2023162734-A1

Title: Voice command system and voice command method

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/651,349 filed on Mar. 27, 2020, which is the U.S. national stage of International Application No. PCT/JP2018/035687 filed on Sep. 26, 2018, which claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent. Application No. 2017-188264, filed on Sep. 28, 2017, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a voice command system and a voice command method. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     There has been proposed a navigation system that displays various pieces of guidance information on a mobile terminal in maintenance of an equipment (for example, Patent Literature 1). 
     CITATION LIST 
     Patent Literature 
     Patent Literature 1: Japanese application publication No. 2012-256276 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     A voice command system according to a first disclosure comprises a gateway apparatus having an interface configured to receive a voice command. The voice command system comprises a controller configured to perform a registration process of registering a speaker permitted to receive the voice command. The controller is configured to perform an authentication process of rejecting a reception of the voice command when a speaker of the voice command is not registered, and permitting a reception of the voice command when a speaker of the voice command is registered. The controller is configured to perform the authentication process for each voice command. 
     A voice command method according to a second disclosure comprises a step A of receiving a voice command, a step B of performing a registration process of registering a speaker permitted to receive the voice command, and a step C of performing an authentication process of rejecting a reception of the voice command when a speaker of the voice command is not registered, and permitting a reception of the voice command when a speaker of the voice command is registered. The step C is performed for each voice command. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a diagram illustrating a voice command system  100  according to an embodiment. 
         FIG.  2    is a diagram illustrating an equipment management apparatus  200  according to an embodiment. 
         FIG.  3    is a diagram illustrating an example of information stored in a first DB  211  according to an embodiment. 
         FIG.  4    is a diagram illustrating an example of information stored in a second DB  212  according to an embodiment. 
         FIG.  5    is a diagram illustrating an example of information stored in a third DB  213  according to an embodiment. 
         FIG.  6    is a diagram illustrating a gateway apparatus  330  according to an embodiment. 
         FIG.  7    is a diagram illustrating a voice command method according to an embodiment. 
         FIG.  8    is a diagram illustrating a voice command method according to an embodiment. 
         FIG.  9    is a diagram illustrating a voice command method according to an embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     In recent years, the gateway apparatus provided with a user interface such as a voice input interface have been receiving attention. Using such a gateway apparatus, it is conceivable to improve user convenience by supporting an installation, an inspection and a use of the equipment. However, since the gateway apparatus receives voice commands of a plurality of speakers existing near the gateway apparatus, it may not be possible to properly support the installation, the inspection, and the use of the equipment. 
     The present disclosure provides a voice command system and a voice command method that can appropriately support the installation, the inspection, the use, and the like of the equipment. 
     Hereinafter, an embodiment will be described with reference to drawings. In the following description of drawings, the same or similar parts are denoted by the same or similar symbols. 
     However, it should be noted that the drawings are schematic and that dimensional ratios, etc. thereof are different from real ones. Therefore, specific dimensions, etc. should be determined in consideration of the following description. As a matter of course, the drawings include the parts at which mutual dimensional relations or ratios are different from one another. 
     Embodiment 
     (Voice Command System) 
     Hereinafter, a voice command system according to the embodiment will be described. As illustrated in  FIG.  1   , the voice command system  100  has an equipment management apparatus  200 , facilities  300 , a contractor terminal  400 , and an external server  500 . In  FIG.  1   , as the facilities  300 , a facility  300 A to a facility  300 C are shown as examples. The equipment management apparatus  200 , the facilities  300 , the contractor terminal  400 , and the external server  500  are connected to a network  120 . The network  120  is only required to provide lines between the equipment management apparatus  200  and the facilities  300 , a line between the equipment management apparatus  200  and the contractor terminal  400 , and lines between the facilities  300  and the external server  500 . For example, the network  120  is the Internet. The network  120  may provide a dedicated line such as a virtual private network (VPN). 
     The equipment management apparatus  200  manages equipment provided at the facilities  300 . Details of the equipment management apparatus  200  will be described later (see  FIG.  2   ). 
     The facility  300  has the equipment  310 , an energy management system (EMS)  320 , and a gateway apparatus  330 . The equipment  310  is connected to a power grid  110 . The equipment  310  may be a power generation equipment. The power generation equipment may be an equipment which generates power by using natural energy such as solar light, wind power, or geothermal heat. The power generation equipment may be a fuel cell apparatus. The equipment  310  may be a storage battery apparatus. The equipment  310  may be a load equipment, which consumes power. The load equipment may be an air-conditioning equipment or a lighting equipment. The facility  300  may have the equipment  310  of two or more types. 
     The EMS  320  is an apparatus (EMS: Energy Management System), which manages power information indicating power in the facility  300 . The power in the facility  300  is the power which flows in the facility  300 , the power bought by the facility  300 , or the power sold by the facility  300 . 
     The gateway apparatus  330  has an interface, which receives voice commands to operate the equipment  310 . The interface includes a sound input interface. The interface may include a sound output interface. The interface may include a button input interface. The interface may include a touch-panel input interface. The interface may include a gesture input interface. A gesture is, for example, an action such as waving the hand toward a camera, which is owned by the interface. The interface may include an image output interface. The gateway apparatus  330  has an Artificial Intelligence (AI) function, and the AI function has a function to analyze voice commands and carries out various actions based on analysis results of the voice commands. The various actions may include an action of acquiring information from a server connected via the network  120  and may include an action of outputting information acquired from the server connected via the network  120 . The server may be the equipment management apparatus  200  or may be the external server  500 . The various actions may include an action of transmitting a control command based on a voice command or may include an action of receiving a response command for a control command. The gateway apparatus  330  may transmit the control command to the equipment  310  via the EMS  320  or may transmit the control command to the equipment  310  without the intermediation of the EMS  320 . The gateway apparatus  330  may be called a smart speaker or AI. 
     Herein, the gateway apparatus  330  may transmit the information, which is collected by the gateway apparatus  330 , to the external server  500 . The information, which is collected by the gateway apparatus  330 , may be analysis results of voice commands or may be the information acquired from the equipment management apparatus  200 . 
     The contractor terminal  400  may be a terminal which belongs to a contractor that carries out maintenance of the equipment  310 . Examples of the maintenance include: a checkup of examining the deterioration state of the equipment, upkeep of carrying out simple services during the checkup, repair of fixing problems of the equipment to recover the originally installed state of the functions and performance of the equipment, and replacement of exchanging the existing equipment for a new equipment. 
     Herein, the voice command system  100  may have a power management server. For example, the power management server transmits, to the facility  300 , a power-flow control message which requests control of the amount of the power flow from the power grid  110  to the facility  300 , a reverse-power-flow control message which requests control of the amount of the reverse power flow from the facility  300  to the power grid  110 , a power source control message which requests control of the equipment  310  (distributed power supply) provided in the facility  300 , and so on. 
     The external server  500  may be a server which provides a search engine for searching for required information based on the analysis result of the voice command. The external server  500  may be a server run by an entity, which provides the gateway apparatus  330 . The external server  500  may manage the information, which is collected by the gateway apparatus  330 , as big data and utilize the managed big data as the information for improving convenience of users. 
     (Equipment Management Apparatus) 
     Hereinafter, the equipment management apparatus according to the embodiment will be described. As illustrated in  FIG.  2   , the equipment management apparatus  200  has a manager  210 , communicator  220 , and a controller  230 . 
     The manager  210  includes a storage medium (media) such as a non-volatile memory or/and a HDD and manages information about the plurality of facilities  300 . The manager  210  has a first Database (DB)  211 , a second Database (DB)  212 , and a third Database (DB)  213 . 
     The first DB  211  is an example of a first database storing first information, which allows access of the gateway apparatus  330 . The first information includes guidance information about a handling method of the equipment. For example, the guidance information includes at least one of an equipment name, installation information, inspection information, and use information as illustrated in  FIG.  3   . 
     The equipment name is the name of the equipment  310 . The equipment name may be the information (for example, a product model number, a manufacturer code, etc.) which uniquely identifies the equipment  310  or may be the information which indicates the type (for example, a solar battery apparatus, an air-conditioning equipment, etc.) of the equipment  310 . 
     The installation information is the information required upon installation of the equipment  310  in the facility  300 . For example, the installation information is the information indicating an installation procedure of the equipment  310  and is information such as: “Connect cable xx to terminal oo” or “Turn ON power”. For example, the installation information may be used by an installation contractor of the equipment  310 . 
     The inspection information is the information required upon inspection of the equipment  310 . For example, the inspection information is the information indicating an inspection procedure of the equipment  310  and is information such as: “Is cable xx connected to terminal oo?” or “Is power lamp lighted?”. For example, the inspection information may be used by an inspection contractor of the equipment  310 . The inspection of the equipment  310  may be inspection carried out after installation of the equipment  310  or may be inspection carried out as upkeep of the equipment  310 . 
     The use information is the information required upon usage of the equipment  310 . For example, the use information is the information indicating a usage procedure of the equipment  310  and is information such as: “Turn ON power” or “Press button oo”. The use information may be the information indicating functions of the equipment  310  or may be the information indicating troubleshooting of the equipment  310 . The use information may be the information used by a user of the equipment  310 . 
     In the embodiment, the first. DB  211  may store index information which associates the guidance information, the equipment information, and the user information with one another as illustrated in  FIG.  3   . The index information includes a combination of arbitrary characters and numbers and is not required to have a meaning by itself. 
     The second DB  212  is an example of a second database storing second information, which prohibits access of the gateway apparatus  330 . The second information includes equipment information about the equipment  310 . The equipment information is the information collected by the EMS  320 , which controls the equipment  310 . For example, the equipment information includes at least one of an equipment name, sensing data, an error code, statistical data, reference data, and a operation history as illustrated in  FIG.  4   . 
     The equipment name is the name of the equipment  310 . The equipment name may be the information (for example, a manufacturer code) which uniquely identifies the equipment  310  or may be the information which indicates the type (for example, a solar battery apparatus, an air-conditioning equipment, etc.) of the equipment  310 . 
     The sensing data is the data including numerical data representing the working state of the equipment  310 . The sensing data is measured by a sensor provided at the facility  300 . Alternatively, the sensing data may be measured by a sensor provided at the equipment  310  or may be measured by a sensor provided at the EMS  320 . The sensing data is transmitted from the EMS  320  to the equipment management apparatus  200 . For example, the sensing data may be output power data of the equipment  310 , power consumption data of the equipment  310 , temperature data of the equipment  310 , environmental temperature data of the equipment  310 , environmental humidity data of the equipment  310 , or the like. 
     The error code is a code which identifies an error of the equipment  310 . The error may be detected by the equipment  310  or may be detected by the EMS  320 . The error code is transmitted from the EMS  320  to the equipment management apparatus  200 . For example, the error code may be a code indicating an abnormality in the temperature of the equipment  310 , a code indicating an abnormality in a part provided in the equipment  310 , a code indicating an abnormality in output power of the equipment  310 , a code indicating an abnormality in power consumption of the equipment  310 . 
     The statistical data is the data obtained by statistical processing of numerical data. The statistical data may be generated by the equipment management apparatus  200 . Alternatively, the statistical data may be generated by the equipment  310  or may be generated by the EMS  320 . For example, the statistical data may be numerical data grouped or sorted for a particular purpose. The statistical data may be, for example, the data indicating the transition (profile) of output power of the equipment  310  in a predetermined period (for example, 1 day, 1 week, or 1 month) or the data indicating the transition of power consumption of the equipment  310  in a predetermined period. 
     The reference data is the data including a threshold value compared with the numerical data. The reference data is a value set by a manufacturer or the like of the equipment  310 . The threshold value is a value used for determining the error of the equipment  310 . 
     The operation history is the history about drive of the equipment  310 . The operation history may be transitions of a drive mode in a predetermined period (for example, 1 day, 1 week, or 1 month), may be the number of times of execution of a predetermined drive mode, or may be the number of times driving of the equipment  310  stopped. For example, if the equipment  310  is a fuel cell apparatus, the operation history may be the number of times of normal stoppages of the fuel cell apparatus or may be the number of times of emergency stoppages of the fuel cell apparatus. If the equipment  310  is a storage battery apparatus, the operation history may be the number of times of charges of the storage battery apparatus, may be the charge time of the storage battery apparatus, may be the number of times of discharges of the storage battery apparatus, may be the discharge time of the storage battery apparatus, or may be the number of charge/discharge cycles of the storage battery apparatus. 
     In the embodiment, the second DB  212  may store index information which associates the guidance information, the equipment information, and the user information with one another as illustrated in  FIG.  4   . The index information includes a combination of arbitrary characters and numbers and is not required to have a meaning by itself. 
     The third DB  213  stores user information about users. The users may be legal persons or natural persons (individuals). For example, the user information includes at least one of the full names or names of the users, the addresses of the users, and contact information (mail addresses and phone numbers) of the users as illustrated in  FIG.  5   . The user information is the information to be protected. Furthermore, the user information may include at least one of contractor information and maintenance information as illustrated in  FIG.  5   . 
     The contractor information is the information about contractors which conduct transactions with users. The contractor may be a contractor which carries out maintenance. The contractor may be a manufacturer of the equipment  310 . The contractor may be a company such as a power generation company, a company for power transmission and distribution, a retail company, or a resource aggregator. 
     The maintenance information is the information about maintenance of the equipment  310 . The maintenance information may be a maintenance history or may be a maintenance schedule. The maintenance information may be accumulated by the maintenance information transmitted from the contractor terminal  400  or may be accumulated by the maintenance information input by an operator. The maintenance information may include the execution date of maintenance, the scheduled date of maintenance, and the contents of maintenance. As described above, the maintenance includes: for example, a checkup of examining the deterioration state of the equipment, upkeep of carrying out simple services during the checkup, repair of fixing problems of the equipment to recover the originally installed state of the functions and performance of the equipment, and replacement of exchanging the existing equipment for a new equipment. 
     In the embodiment, the third DB  213  may store index information which associates the guidance information, the equipment information, and the user information with one another as illustrated in  FIG.  5   . The index information includes a combination of arbitrary characters and numbers and is not required to have a meaning by itself. 
     The communicator  220  includes a communication module and communicates with the facilities  300  and the contractor terminal  400  via the network  120 . For example, the communicator  220  receives the equipment information such as sensing data and error codes from the EMS  320 . The communicator  220  receives the maintenance information from the contractor terminal  400 . The communicator  220  receives the analysis results of the voice commands from the gateway apparatus  330 . 
     The controller  230  includes, for example, a memory and a CPU and controls the configurations provided in the equipment management apparatus  200 . In the embodiment, the controller  230  carries out the control shown below. 
     The controller  230  collects the equipment information from the EMS  320 , which controls the equipment  310 . The controller  230  may voluntarily collect, the equipment information, which is transmitted from the EMS  320 , or may collect the equipment information, which is transmitted from the EMS  320 , in response to requests to the EMS  320 . As described above, the equipment information is stored in the second DB  212 . 
     The controller  230  allows the EMS  320  to access the second DB  212 . On the other hand, the controller  230  prohibits the EMS  320  from accessing the third DB  213 . In other words, the controller  230  is configured to prohibit the EMS  320  from accessing the third DB  213  even though the EMS  320  is allowed to access the second DB  212 . 
     Similarly, the controller  230  may allow the contractor terminal  400  to access the second DB  212 . On the other hand, the controller  230  may prohibit the contractor terminal  400  from accessing the third DB  213 . In other words, the controller  230  may be configured to prohibit the contractor terminal  400  from accessing the third DB  213  even though the contractor terminal  400  is allowed to access the second DB  212 . 
     The controller  230  may provide the equipment information to a third party. In such a case, the controller  230  deletes at least the index information. According to such a configuration, the risk that the user information might be leaked to the third party can be reduced. The third party is not particularly limited, but may be a company such as a power generation company, a company for power transmission and distribution, a retail company, or a resource aggregator. 
     The controller  230  allows the gateway apparatus  330  to access the first DB  211 . On the other hand, the controller  230  prohibits the gateway apparatus  330  from accessing the second DB  212 . In other words, the controller  230  is configured to prohibit the gateway apparatus  330  from accessing the second DB  212  even though the gateway apparatus  330  is allowed to access the first DB  211 . Herein, the controller  230  may allow the gateway apparatus  330  to access the third DB  213  or may prohibit the gateway apparatus  330  from accessing the third DB  213 . If a user who is allowed to access the third DB  213  inputs an voice command to the gateway apparatus  330 , the controller  230  may allow the gateway apparatus  330  to access the third DB  213 . 
     Herein, the user who inputs the voice command to the gateway apparatus  330  is conceivably a user of the equipment  310 . Therefore, the user who inputs the voice command to the gateway apparatus  330  conceivably has the authority to access the second information (equipment information) stored in the second DB  212 . For example, the user has the authority to access the second information via the EMS  320 . 
     However, even if an access is based on a voice command derived from the user who has the authority to access the second information, the controller  230  prohibits the gateway apparatus  330  from accessing the second DB  212 . In other words, the controller  230  prohibits the gateway apparatus  330  from accessing the second DB  212  while allowing the EMS  320  to access the second DB  212 . 
     (Gateway Apparatus) 
     Hereinafter, the gateway apparatus according to the embodiment will be described. As illustrated in  FIG.  6   , a gateway apparatus  330  includes an interface  331 , a communicator  332 , and a controller  333 . 
     Interface  331  includes a voice input interface that receives voice commands. Interface  331  may include a voice output interface. 
     The communicator  332  is configured by a communication module, and communicates with an equipment management apparatus  200  and an external server  500  via a network  120 . For example, the communicator  332  receives the guidance information from the equipment management apparatus  200 . The communicator  332  transmits information collected by the gateway apparatus  330  to the external server  500 . 
     The controller  333  includes a memory, a CPU, and the like, and controls each component provided in the gateway apparatus  330 . In the embodiment, the controller  333  performs the following control. 
     The controller  333  performs a registration process of registering a speaker whose voice command is permitted to be received. For example, the controller  333  registers the speaker in a storage medium such as a memory. The controller  333  may register a main language, a dialect, or the like spoken by the speaker in association with the speaker to be registered. The controller  333  performs an authentication process of rejecting the reception of the voice command when the speaker of the voice command is not registered, and permitting the reception of the voice command when the speaker of the voice command is registered. The controller  333  performs an authentication process for each voice command. The controller  333  performs an authentication process by determining the voiceprint of the speaker. The voiceprint determination is a process of determining whether the input voice matches the registered voice. 
     Here, when the reception of the voice command is permitted, the controller  333  acquires the information (guidance information described above) corresponding to the voice command from an external database while accessing the external database based on voice command. The external database is the first. DB  211  described above. 
     First, the controller  333  performs a registration process and an authentication process during the installation operation period of an equipment  310 . For example, in such a case, the speaker registered in the registration process is an installer. The controller  333  may cancel the registration of the speaker by the registration process performed during the installation operation period as a result of the expiration of the installation operation period. That is, the controller  333  may receive the voice of the installer during the installation operation period. During the installation operation period, the voice input for requesting the next work item of the installation procedure and the voice output of one work item of the installation procedure based on the installation information are repeated. Also, when the voice output of a work item with a relatively high importance is performed during the installation operation period, the voice output may be performed at a volume higher than a volume of the voice output of the work item having a relatively low importance, or a plurality of voice outputs may be performed. The voice input for requesting the next work item may be a voice input indicating that the previous work item has been completed. Thus, during the installation operation period, work items are checked by the voice input and the voice output. 
     Second, the controller  333  performs a registration process and an authentication process during the inspection period of the equipment  310 . For example, in such a case, the speaker registered in the registration process is an inspector. The controller  333  may cancel the registration of the speaker by the registration process performed during the inspection period as a result of the expiration of the installation operation period. That is, during the inspection period, the controller  333  may receive the voice of the inspector. During the inspection period, the voice input for requesting the next inspection item of the inspection procedure and the voice output of one inspection item of the inspection procedure based on the inspection information are repeated. The voice input, for requesting the next inspection item may be a voice input of a reply (for example, YES or NO) to the previous inspection item. As described above, during the inspection period, the inspection items are checked by the voice input and the voice output. 
     The controller  333  performs a signature process based on an input of a voice of the speaker during the inspection period in such an inspection period. The signature process is performed after the reply to the last inspection item is input by voice. In other words, the controller  333  expires the inspection period by the signature process. 
     Third, the controller  333  performs a registration process and an authentication process during the use period of the equipment  310 . For example, in such a case, the speaker registered in the registration process is a user of the equipment  310 . The controller  333  may cancel the registration of the speaker by the registration process performed during the inspection period when a predetermined period has elapsed since the registration process was performed. During the use period, the voice input for requesting the operation item of the use procedure and the voice output of the operation item based on the use information are performed. 
     The controller  333  may omit the authentication process for a certain period or a certain number of times when a voice command is received by the authentication process during the use period. That is, the controller  333  may receive, for a certain period or for a certain number of times, a voice command of a speaker who is not registered when the voice command of the registered speaker is received. 
     (Voice Command Method) 
     Hereinafter, the voice command method according to the embodiment will be described. 
     First, the installation operation period will be described with reference to FIG.  7 . As illustrated in  FIG.  7   , in step S 11 , a registered voice is input to the gateway apparatus  330 . 
     In step S 12 , the gateway apparatus  330  performs a registration process of registering a speaker whose voice command is permitted to be received. 
     In step S 13 A, the voice command requesting the next work item in the installation procedure is input to gateway apparatus  330 . In step S 14 A, the gateway apparatus  330  performs an authentication process of determining whether the speaker of the voice command is registered. Here, the description is continued assuming that the speaker of the voice command is registered. In step S 15 A, the gateway apparatus  330  accesses the first DB  211 . In step S 16 A, the gateway apparatus  330  receives the installation information from the first DB  211 . The gateway apparatus  330  outputs a work item based on the installation information by voice. In step S 17 A, a voice indicating that the work item has been completed is input to the gateway apparatus  330 . 
     As illustrated in steps S 13 X to S 17 X, such a process is repeated until the installation of the equipment  310  is completed. As described above, the voice input for requesting the next work item may be a voice input indicating that the previous work item has been completed. That is, the voice input in step S 17 A may also serve as the voice input in step S 13 X. 
     In step S 18 , a voice command indicating that installation of the equipment  310  is completed is input to the gateway apparatus  330 . In step S 19 , the gateway apparatus  330  performs an authentication process of determining whether the speaker of the voice command is registered. Here, the description is continued assuming that the speaker of the voice command is registered. In step S 20 , the gateway apparatus  330  cancels the registration of the speaker performed in step S 12 . 
     Second, the inspection period will be described with reference to  FIG.  8   . As illustrated in  FIG.  8   , in step S 31 , a registered voice is input to the gateway apparatus  330 . 
     In step S 32 , the gateway apparatus  330  performs a registration process of registering a speaker whose voice command is permitted to be received. 
     In step S 33 A, a voice command requesting the next inspection item of the inspection procedure is input to the gateway apparatus  330 . In step S 34 A, the gateway apparatus  330  performs an authentication process of determining whether the speaker of the voice command is registered. Here, the description is continued assuming that the speaker of the voice command is registered. In step S 35 A, the gateway apparatus  330  accesses the first DB  211 . In step S 36 A, the gateway apparatus  330  receives the inspection information from the first DB  211 . The gateway apparatus  330  outputs the inspection item based on the inspection information by voice. In step S 37 A, the voice of the reply to the inspection item is input to the gateway apparatus  330 . 
     As illustrated in steps S 33 X to S 37 X, such a process is repeated until the inspection of the equipment  310  is completed. As described above, the voice input for requesting the next inspection item may be a voice input of a reply to the previous inspection item. That is, the voice input in step S 17 A may also serve as the voice input in step S 13 X. 
     In step S 38 , a voice command indicating that the inspection of the equipment  310  is completed is input to the gateway apparatus  330 . In step S 39 , the gateway apparatus  330  performs an authentication process of determining whether the speaker of the voice command is registered. Here, the description is continued assuming that the speaker of the voice command is registered. In step S 40 , the gateway apparatus  330  performs a signature process based on an input of a voice of the speaker. In step S 41 , the gateway apparatus  330  cancels the registration of the speaker performed in step S 32 . 
     Third, the use period will be described with reference to  FIG.  8   . As illustrated in  FIG.  9   , in step S 51 , a registered voice is input to the gateway apparatus  330 . 
     In step S 52 , the gateway apparatus  330  performs a registration process of registering a speaker whose voice command is permitted to be received. 
     In step S 53 , a voice command requesting an operation item of the use procedure is input to the gateway apparatus  330 . In step S 54 , the gateway apparatus  330  performs an authentication process of determining whether the speaker of the voice command is registered. Here, the description is continued assuming that the speaker of the voice command is registered. In step S 55 , the gateway apparatus  330  accesses the first DB  211 . In step S 56 , the gateway apparatus  330  receives the use information from the first DB  211 . The gateway apparatus  330  outputs operation items based on the use information by voice. 
     In step S 57 , a voice command for the equipment  310  is input to the gateway apparatus  330  based on the operation item. In step S 58 , the gateway apparatus  330  performs an authentication process of determining whether the speaker of the voice command is registered. Here, the description is continued assuming that the speaker of the voice command is registered. In step S 59 , the gateway apparatus  330  transmits a control command based on the voice command to the EMS  320 . 
     (Function and Effect) 
     In the embodiment, the gateway apparatus  330  performs an authentication process for each voice command. According to such a configuration, a situation in which voice commands of a plurality of speakers present near the gateway apparatus  330  are received is suppressed, and it may not be possible to properly support the installation, the inspection, the use, and the like of the equipment  310 . 
     In the embodiment, the equipment management apparatus  200  is configured to prohibit the gateway apparatus  330  from accessing the second DB  212 . According to such a configuration, since the gateway apparatus  200 , which may transmit various information to the external server  500 , is prohibited from accessing the second DB  212 , the risk that the second information belonging to the know-how of the entity, which runs the equipment management apparatus  200 , might be leaked to another entity can be reduced. 
     In the embodiment, the equipment management apparatus  200  is configured to allow the gateway apparatus  330  to access the first DB  211 . According to such a configuration, since part of the information stored in the equipment management apparatus  200  is provided, the convenience of users is improved. 
     OTHER EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention has been described by the above described embodiment. However, the discussions and drawings forming part of this disclosure should not be construed to limit the present, invention. According to this disclosure, various alternative embodiments, examples, and running techniques will be apparent to those skilled in the art. 
     Although not specifically mentioned in the embodiment, the voice input of a password registered in advance to the gateway apparatus  330  may be requested to start the registration process. In the registration process, two or more speakers may be registered. When two or more voice commands are input within a predetermined time, in the case where a plurality of speakers is registered, the gateway apparatus  3330  may receive a voice command with the highest volume. The gateway apparatus  330  need not receive a voice command with a volume lower than the predetermined volume. 
     As described in the embodiment, the gateway apparatus  330  may omit the authentication process for a certain period or a certain number of times when a voice command is received by the authentication process in the use period. In such a case, the certain period or the certain number of times may be determined according to the importance of the voice command. Further, the gateway apparatus  330  may perform the authentication process for each voice command without omitting the authentication process for a specific voice command (a voice command having a high importance). 
     Although not specifically mentioned in the embodiment, the gateway apparatus  330  may cancel the registration of the speaker by remote control in preparation for theft of the gateway apparatus  330  or the like. 
     In the embodiment, the first DB  211 , the second DB  212 , and the third DB  213  are physically different databases. However, embodiments are not limited thereto. The first DB  211 , the second DB  212 , and the third DB  213  may be formed by one database and virtually separated from one another by setting access authorities. 
     In the embodiment, the first DB  211 , the second DB  212 , and the third DB  213  are provided in the equipment management apparatus  200 . However, embodiments are not limited thereto. At least any one of the first DB  211 , the second DB  212 , and the third DB  213  may be provided in a server connected to the equipment management apparatus  200  via the network  120 . 
     Although it is not particularly mentioned in the embodiment, the functions of the equipment management apparatus  200  may be provided by a cloud service. 
     In the embodiment, the access controller, which prohibits the gateway apparatus  330  from accessing the second DB  212 , is provided in the equipment management apparatus  200 . However, embodiments are not limited thereto. The access controller, which prohibits the gateway apparatus  330  from accessing the second information, may be provided in the gateway apparatus  330 . In other words, the gateway apparatus  330  may autonomously prohibit itself from accessing the second DB  212 . 
     In the embodiment, a control apparatus which controls the equipment  310  is the EMS  320 . However, embodiments are not limited thereto. The control apparatus may be the equipment  310  per se. The control apparatus may be a remote controller, which transmits control commands to the equipment  310 . 
     It is not particularly mentioned in the embodiment, the equipment management apparatus  200  (controller  230 ) may set, for each entity which accesses the equipment information, the access authority of information elements included in the equipment information. For example, the equipment management apparatus  200  may allow the EMS  320  to access the sensing data and prohibit the contractor terminal  400  from accessing the sensing data. Alternatively, the equipment management apparatus  200  may allow the contractor terminal  400  to access the operation history and prohibit the EMS  320  from accessing the statistical data. 
     In the embodiment, the entities which access the equipment information are the EMS  320  and the contractor terminal  400 . However, embodiments are not limited thereto. The entity may be a user terminal belonging to a user of the equipment  310 . In such a case, the equipment management apparatus  200  may allow the user terminal to access the operation history and prohibit the user terminal from accessing the sensing data. 
     Although it is not particularly mentioned in the embodiment, the equipment information may include basic information such as installation date, predetermined durable years, and rated power consumption. 
     Although not specifically mentioned in the embodiment, at least part of the processing performed by the gateway apparatus  330  (controller  333 ) described above may be performed by the EMS  320  (controller included in the EMS  320 ) or the equipment management apparatus  200  (controller  230 ). For example, the above-described registration process and authentication process performed by the gateway apparatus  330  (controller  333 ) are performed by the EMS  320  (controller included in the EMS  320 ) or the equipment management apparatus  200  (controller  221 ). The EMS  320  (controller included in EMS  320 ) or the equipment management apparatus  200  (controller  221 ) acquires necessary information about the voice of the speaker from gateway apparatus  330 , and may perform a registration process and an authentication process based on the information. 
     Note that the entire contents of Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-188264 filed on Sep. 28, 2017 are incorporated by reference herein.