Patent Publication Number: US-2023135375-A1

Title: Air conditioning system

Description:
FIELD 
     The present invention relates to an air conditioning system. 
     BACKGROUND 
     These days, air conditioning apparatuses provide users with various functions such as a function of performing remote control from a portable terminal such as a smartphone via a network. These functions are implemented by software. 
     CITATION LIST 
     Patent Literature 
     Patent Literature 1: JP 2004-289505 A 
     SUMMARY 
     Technical Problem 
     In a conventional air conditioning apparatus, its hardware (a compressor, a heat exchanger, a blower fan, etc.) and software that executes various functions are integrated in the main body of the air conditioning apparatus. Therefore, control on the main body of the air conditioning apparatus and collection of working information, etc. from the main body of the air conditioning apparatus basically need access to the main body of the air conditioning apparatus; hence, there has been a problem that the flexibility is limited and it is less easy to provide services such as maintenance service and function addition. 
     The present invention solves the above problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioning system including a platform with which access (control, information collection, etc.) to the main body of the air conditioning apparatus can be performed from various locations (the air conditioning apparatus, a cloud, etc.). Here, the platform is a function layer provided in each location. 
     Solution to Problem 
     According to an aspect of an embodiment, the air conditioning system includes a main body device and a remote device. The main body device includes a hardware group that includes at least a compressor, a heat exchanger, and a blower fan, and software that controls the hardware group. The remote device includes at least an arithmetic processing unit and software that controls the arithmetic processing unit, and the remote device is connected to the main body device via a network. The software of the main body device includes a hardware access layer including a driver group that drives each piece of hardware, a control layer that controls the hardware group via the driver group, and a main body device-side function layer that accepts an order to the main body device and outputs an instruction to the control layer. The software of the remote device includes a remote device-side function layer that accepts an order to the main body device and outputs an instruction to the control layer via the main body device-side function layer. Further, a function execution program that executes a function provided by the main body device is placed in at least one of the main body device-side function layer and the remote device-side function layer. 
     Advantageous Effects of Invention 
     In the disclosed air conditioning system, access to the main body of the air conditioning apparatus can be performed from various locations. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an air conditioning system according to an embodiment. 
         FIG.  2    is a diagram illustrating a component configuration of software included in the air conditioning system. 
         FIG.  3    is a diagram illustrating a sequence of processing by the air conditioning system in the case where an airflow adjustment unit is placed in a cloud and a user changes the air volume or the air direction from a remote terminal. 
         FIG.  4    is a diagram illustrating a sequence of processing by the air conditioning system in the case where an airflow adjustment unit is placed in an indoor unit and a user changes the air volume or the air direction from an infrared remote controller. 
         FIG.  5    is a diagram illustrating a sequence of processing by the air conditioning system, centering on processing in a function layer. 
         FIG.  6    is a diagram illustrating a case where an airflow adjustment unit is placed in a room. 
         FIG.  7    is a diagram illustrating a case where an airflow adjustment unit is placed in a cloud and the airflow adjustment unit receives, from an air conditioner API processing unit, event-type responses to an air volume change instruction and an air direction change instruction. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinbelow, embodiments of an air conditioning system disclosed by the present application are described in detail on the basis of the drawings. Note that the air conditioning system disclosed by the present application is not limited by the following embodiments. 
     Embodiments 
     First, a configuration of an air conditioning system according to an embodiment is described.  FIG.  1    is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the air conditioning system according to an embodiment. As illustrated in  FIG.  1   , an air conditioning system  1  according to an embodiment includes a GW (gateway)  2 , a remote terminal  4 , a cloud  5 , an air conditioner  6 , a remote controller  6   c,  a humidifier  7 , and another device  8 . 
     The GW (gateway)  2  is a device that controls the air conditioner  6  in response to a manipulation instruction from the remote terminal  4  or the cloud  5  via the Internet  3  (a network). The GW  2  includes a GW control unit  2   a . The GW control unit  2   a  controls the GW  2 . 
     The remote terminal  4  is a terminal that accepts a manipulation instruction from a user and controls the air conditioner  6  via the Internet  3  and the GW  2 . The remote terminal  4  is, for example, a smartphone or a tablet. The remote terminal  4  includes a terminal control unit  4   a.  The terminal control unit  4   a  controls the remote terminal  4 . 
     The cloud  5  is a system that controls the air conditioner  6  via the Internet  3  and the GW  2 . The cloud  5  includes a plurality of information processing apparatuses  5   a,  and controls the air conditioner  6  by executing software in some of the plurality of information processing apparatuses  5   a.    
     The air conditioner  6  is an air conditioning apparatus having a cooling/heating function. The air conditioner  6  includes an outdoor unit  6   a  and an indoor unit  6   b.  The outdoor unit  6   a  and the indoor unit  6   b  are connected by a liquid pipe  6   p  and a gas pipe  6   q.    
     The remote controller  6   c  performs wireless communication with the indoor unit  6   b.  The remote controller  6   c  is manipulated by the user, and transmits an instruction of the user to the indoor unit  6   b  by using wireless communication. The remote controller  6   c  includes a remote controller control unit  6   s.  The remote controller control unit  6   s  controls the remote controller  6   c.  The remote controller  6   c  includes an infrared remote controller and a BLE (Bluetooth (registered trademark, the same applies hereinafter) Low Energy) remote controller. The infrared remote controller communicates with the indoor unit  6   b  by using infrared rays. The BLE remote controller communicates with the indoor unit  6   b  by using Bluetooth. 
     The outdoor unit  6   a  includes a compressor  6   d,  an outdoor heat exchanger  6   e,  an outdoor fan  6   f,  and an outdoor control unit  6   g.  The outdoor unit  6   a  exchanges heat between outdoor air taken in the outdoor unit  6   a  and a refrigerant by using the outdoor heat exchanger  6   e.  The outdoor unit  6   a  draws air into the outdoor unit  6   a  by using the outdoor fan  6   f.  The refrigerant is compressed by the compressor  6   d,  and circulates through the outdoor unit  6   a , the liquid pipe  6   p,  the indoor unit  6   b,  and the gas pipe  6   q.  The outdoor control unit  6   g  controls the outdoor unit  6   a.    
     The indoor unit  6   b  includes an indoor heat exchanger  6   h,  an indoor fan  6   i,  an air direction plate  6   j , and an indoor control unit  6   k.  The indoor unit  6   b  exchanges heat between indoor air taken in the indoor unit  6   b  and the refrigerant by using the indoor heat exchanger  6   h.  The indoor unit  6   b  takes air into the indoor unit  6   b  by using the indoor fan  6   i,  and blows out, to the interior of the room, air subjected to heat exchange with the refrigerant. The air direction plate  6   j  changes the direction of air blown out by the indoor fan  6   i.  The indoor control unit  6   k  controls the indoor unit  6   b.    
     The humidifier  7  operates in coordination with the air conditioner  6 . For example, when the air conditioner  6  starts heating working, also the humidifier  7  starts operation if a coordination function is set. 
     The other device  8  operates in coordination with the air conditioner  6  if a coordination function is set. The other device  8  is, for example, a household electric device such as a heater or an illuminator. Although only one other device  8  is illustrated in  FIG.  1   , the air conditioning system  1  may include a plurality of other devices  8 . 
     The GW control unit  2   a,  the terminal control unit  4   a,  the outdoor control unit  6   g,  the indoor control unit  6   k,  and the remote controller control unit  6   s  implement control functions by using software. The GW control unit  2   a,  the terminal control unit  4   a,  the outdoor control unit  6   g,  the indoor control unit  6   k,  and the remote controller control unit  6   s  include CPUs (central processing units)  2   b ,  4   b,    61   b,    62   b,  and  63   b  as arithmetic processing units, and memories  2   c,    4   c,    61   c,    62   c,  and  63   c,  respectively. These control units implement control functions by the CPUs  2   b ,  4   b,    61   b,    62   b,  and  63   b  executing programs stored in the memories  2   c,    4   c,    61   c,    62   c,  and  63   c,  respectively. 
     The information processing apparatus  5   a  includes a CPU  5   b  as an arithmetic processing unit and a memory  5   c , and controls the air conditioner  6  by the CPU  5   b  executing a program stored in the memory  5   c.    
     Next, a component configuration of software included in the air conditioning system  1  is described.  FIG.  2    is a diagram illustrating a component configuration of software included in the air conditioning system  1 . As illustrated in  FIG.  1   , the software included in the air conditioning system  1  according to the embodiment has a hierarchical structure including a driver layer  10 , a hardware abstraction layer  20 , a control layer  30 , and a function layer  40 . 
     The driver layer  10  is a hardware access layer that accesses hardware  9 . Here, the hardware  9  includes the indoor heat exchanger  6   h,  the indoor fan  6   i,  the air direction plate  6   j,  the compressor  6   d,  the outdoor heat exchanger  6   e,  and the outdoor fan  6   f.  The components included in the driver layer  10  control the hardware  9  on the basis of instructions of the components included in the hardware abstraction layer  20 , and return responses from the hardware  9  to the hardware abstraction layer  20 . 
     The driver layer  10  includes, as components, a fan motor driver  11 , a stepping motor driver  12 , an outdoor unit driver  13 , an infrared communication module driver  14 , a wired communication driver  15 , a communication module driver compatible with the Wi-Fi standard (hereinafter, a WiFi module driver  16 ), and a BLE module driver  17 . 
     The fan motor driver  11 , the stepping motor driver  12 , and the outdoor unit driver  13  are placed in the indoor unit of the air conditioner  6 . The infrared communication module driver  14 , the wired communication driver  15 , the WiFi module driver  16 , and the BLE module driver  17  are placed in the indoor unit of the air conditioner  6 , and are also remotely placed. Here, the remote placement is placement in a location away from the indoor unit  6   b,  such as the cloud  5 , the GW  2 , the remote terminal  4 , or the remote controller  6   c.  Although the cloud  5  is a system including a plurality of information processing apparatuses  5   a,  herein the cloud  5  is regarded as one apparatus. 
     The fan motor driver  11  controls a fan motor that rotates the indoor fan  6   i.  The stepping motor driver  12  controls, for example, a stepping motor that operates the air direction plate  6   j.  The outdoor unit driver  13  controls, for example, the compressor  6   d  included in the outdoor unit  6   a  via communication with the outdoor unit  6   a.    
     The infrared communication module driver  14  controls an infrared communication module that performs wireless communication by using infrared rays. The wired communication driver  15  controls a communication module that performs communication via a wired network. The WiFi module driver  16  controls a WiFi module that performs wireless communication compatible with the Wi-Fi standard. The BLE module driver  17  controls a Bluetooth module that performs wireless communication by using Bluetooth. 
     The components included in the hardware abstraction layer  20 , based on instructions of the components included in the control layer  30 , instruct the components included in the driver layer  10  to control the hardware  9 , and return, to the control layer  30 , response signals indicating that the instructions from the control layer  30  are accepted. The components included in the driver layer  10 , based on instructions of the components included in the hardware abstraction layer  20 , instruct that the hardware be controlled. At this time, in the case where the hardware is controlled by what is called feedback control (control of comparing the value of the controlled variable with a target value and performing a correction operation so that the value of the controlled variable coincides with the target value), the hardware outputs response signals (feedback signals) for instructions to the driver layer  10 . The components of the driver layer  10  output feedback signals to the components of the hardware abstraction layer  20  in accordance with feedback signals from the hardware. A component of the hardware abstraction layer  20  that has received a feedback signal instructs a lower layer (hardware provided via the driver layer  10 ) to perform additional control in accordance with the received feedback signal. 
     The hardware abstraction layer  20  includes, as components, a fan control unit  21 , an air direction plate control unit  22 , an outdoor unit control unit  23 , an infrared communication control unit  24 , a wired communication control unit  25 , a WiFi communication control unit  26 , and a BLE communication control unit  27 . The fan control unit  21 , the air direction plate control unit  22 , and the outdoor unit control unit  23  are placed in the indoor unit. The infrared communication control unit  24 , the wired communication control unit  25 , the WiFi communication control unit  26 , and the BLE communication control unit  27  are placed in the indoor unit, and are also remotely placed. 
     The fan control unit  21  controls the indoor fan  6   i  by using the fan motor driver  11 . The air direction plate control unit  22  controls the air direction plate  6   j  by using the stepping motor driver  12 . The outdoor unit control unit  23  controls, for example, the compressor  6   d  included in the outdoor unit  6   a  by using the outdoor unit driver  13 . 
     The infrared communication control unit  24  controls infrared communication by using the infrared communication module driver  14 . The wired communication control unit  25  controls communication performed via a wired network by using the wired communication driver  15 . The WiFi communication control unit  26  controls WiFi communication by using the WiFi module driver  16 . The BLE communication control unit  27  controls Bluetooth communication, which is wireless communication, by using the BLE module driver  17 . 
     The hardware abstraction layer  20  provides the control layer  30  with a means for controlling abstracted hardware  9 . For example, the fan control unit  21  provides an air volume control unit  31  of the control layer  30  with a fan control means not depending on the kind of the fan motor or the kind of the fan. 
     The components included in the control layer  30 , based on instructions of the functional units included in the function layer  40 , instruct the components included in the hardware abstraction layer  20  to control abstracted hardware  9 , and return responses from the hardware abstraction layer  20  to the function layer  40 . The control layer  30  includes, as components, an air volume control unit  31 , an air direction control unit  32 , a compressor control unit  33 , a communication control unit  34 , and a protection control unit  35 . The air volume control unit  31 , the air direction control unit  32 , the compressor control unit  33 , and the protection control unit  35  are placed in the indoor unit. The communication control unit  34  is placed in the indoor unit, and is also remotely placed. 
     The air volume control unit  31  controls the volume of air outputted by the indoor fan  6   i  by using the fan control unit  21 . The air direction control unit  32  controls the direction of air outputted by the indoor fan  6   i  by using the air direction plate control unit  22 . The compressor control unit  33  controls, via the outdoor unit driver  13 , the compressor  6   d  included in the outdoor unit  6   a.    
     The communication control unit  34  controls communication between devices (remote devices) placed in different locations, such as the indoor unit  6   b  and the GW  2 , the indoor unit  6   b  and the remote terminal  4 , or the indoor unit  6   b  and the cloud  5 , by using the infrared communication control unit  24 , the wired communication control unit  25 , the WiFi communication control unit  26 , or the BLE communication control unit  27 . The communication control unit  34  uses a communication protocol suitable for communication between the indoor unit  6   b  and a remote device from among MQTT (Message Queue Telemetry Transport), CoAP (Constrained Application Protocol), REST (Representational State Transfer), a BLE service profile, and the like. 
     The protection control unit  35  performs control regarding the protection of the hardware  9 . For example, the protection control unit  35  performs control so that the rotation rate of the indoor fan  6   i  does not become too high. 
     The control layer  30  provides a means for implementing the functions included in the function layer  40 . For example, the air volume control unit  31  and the air direction control unit  32  control the air volume and the air direction, respectively, to achieve airflow adjustment. 
     The functional units included in the function layer  40  perform processing of implementing the functions that the air conditioning system  1  provides to the user. On the basis of a request (a change in a setting) of the user, among the functional units included in the function layer  40 , a functional unit that implements the request of the user performs processing of implementing the function. The function layer  40  includes, as functional units, an airflow adjustment unit  41 , a room temperature adjustment unit  42 , a remote control unit  43 , a comfortable airflow unit  44 , an automatic working unit  45 , an air conditioner-humidifier coordination unit  46 , other-device coordination units  47   a,    47   b,  and  47   c,  etc., for example. 
     The airflow adjustment unit  41 , based on a setting by the user, adjusts the air volume of the indoor unit  6   b  and the air direction of the indoor unit  6   b  by using the air volume control unit  31  and the air direction control unit  32 , respectively. The room temperature adjustment unit  42  adjusts the capacity requested of the compressor  6   d  included in the outdoor unit  6   a  by using the compressor control unit  33  on the basis of the difference between a set temperature and the room temperature and the temporal change of the room temperature. The remote control unit  43  transmits a request that is set by the user by remote control with an infrared remote controller, a BLE remote controller, the remote terminal  4 , or the like to the corresponding functional unit. 
     The comfortable airflow unit  44  detects the floor temperature, etc., and automatically adjusts the air volume of the indoor unit  6   b  by using the air volume control unit  31  so as to eliminate temperature unevenness in the room. The automatic working unit  45  automatically chooses a working mode (cooling, drying, blowing, or heating) on the basis of the indoor temperature and the outside air temperature, and performs working according to the chosen working mode. The air conditioner-humidifier coordination unit  46  coordinates the operation of the air conditioner  6  and the operation of the humidifier  7 . The other-device coordination units  47   a,    47   b,    47   c,  etc. coordinate the operation of the air conditioner  6  and the operations of other devices  8 . Examples of the other device  8  include a not-illustrated curtain, a not-illustrated lighting device, etc. For example, control signals from the other-device coordination units  47   a,    47   b,    47   c,  etc. are sent to other devices  8  through the air conditioner API processing unit, and thereby the air conditioner  6  and the other devices  8  are coordinated. By providing the other-device coordination units, coordination with other devices can be made even when the air conditioner side is not mounted with sensors needed for control of the other devices (for example, a brightness sensor, etc.). 
     The functional units included in the function layer  40  may be placed in the indoor unit  6   b,  or may be placed in a remote device such as the GW  2 , the remote terminal  4 , the cloud  5 , or the remote controller  6   c . Further, the functional units included in the function layer  40  are implemented by the CPUs  2   b,    4   b,    5   b,    61   b,    62   b , and  63   b  executing function execution programs created individually for the functions. 
     The function layer  40  includes an air conditioner data unit  51 , an air conditioner API (application programming interface) processing unit  52 , and an air conditioner inter-function coordination unit  53 . The air conditioner data unit  51 , the air conditioner API processing unit  52 , and the air conditioner inter-function coordination unit  53  are placed in a location where functional units are placed, such as the indoor unit  6   b , the GW  2 , the remote terminal  4 , or the cloud  5 . 
     The air conditioner data unit  51  manages data shared between functional units placed in different devices; when data is updated on the side of one remotely placed device, the air conditioner data unit  51  performs updating to the updated content (synchronizes data) also on the side of another device, and thereby maintains the consistency of data. The air conditioner data unit  51  synchronizes data distributed and stored in physical memories of the GW  2 , the remote terminal  4 , the cloud  5 , the remote controller  6   c,  etc., and maintains the consistency of data as a whole air conditioner system. The data managed by the air conditioner data unit  51  is used for conflict control or arbitration between functional units. In this way, the air conditioner system can virtually have a memory integrated as a whole system (an integrated memory  50 ). 
     That is, the integrated memory  50  is a memory as a concept in which physical memories of the GW  2 , the remote terminal  4 , the cloud  5 , the remote controller  6   c , etc. are virtually integrated. 
     Regardless of whether functional units are physically placed in the cloud  5 , the GW  2 , the remote terminal  4 , the remote controller  6   c,  or any other place, the air conditioner API processing unit  52  can use the same functional unit independently of the placement location (standardize functional units) by providing a common API to functional units. The air conditioner API processing unit  52  performs, via the air conditioner data unit  51 , communication switching and instructions from the function layer  40  to the control layer  30 . The air conditioner API processing unit  52  grasps the placement of the functional units and the components of the control layer placed in a plurality of devices, and performs control so that control signals and response signals are appropriately communicated. 
     The air conditioner inter-function coordination unit  53  performs control of coordination between remotely placed functional units. For example, the air conditioner inter-function coordination unit  53  performs an operation of changing a setting by remotely placed functional units (for example, whether to activate the airflow adjustment function of the airflow adjustment unit or not), etc. 
     Next, sequences of processing of the air conditioning system  1  are described using  FIG.  3    to  FIG.  6   , taking airflow adjustment as an example. In  FIG.  3    to  FIG.  6   , in the indoor unit  6   b,  an air conditioner data unit  51   a , an air conditioner API processing unit  52   a,  an air conditioner inter-function coordination unit  53   a,  a remote control unit  43   a,  a communication control unit  34   a,  a WiFi communication control unit  26   a,  a WiFi module driver  16   a , an infrared communication control unit  24   a,  and an infrared communication module driver  14   a  operate. In the cloud  5 , an air conditioner data unit  51   b,  an air conditioner API processing unit  52   b,  and an air conditioner inter-function coordination unit  53   b  operate. A real memory  50   a  is, out of the integrated memory  50 , which is a virtual memory, a physical memory placed in the indoor unit  6   b,  and a real memory  50   b  is, out of the integrated memory  50 , which is a virtual memory, a physical memory placed in the cloud  5 . 
     First, a case where an airflow adjustment unit  41   b  is placed in the cloud  5  and the user changes the air volume or the air direction from the remote terminal  4  is described.  FIG.  3    is a diagram illustrating a sequence of processing by the air conditioning system  1  in the case where an airflow adjustment unit  41   b  is placed in the cloud  5  and the user changes the air volume or the air direction from the remote terminal  4 . As illustrated in  FIG.  3   , the airflow adjustment unit  41   b  placed in the cloud  5  receives an air volume change instruction from the remote terminal  4  (S 1 ). Here, first, a case where the air volume is changed is described; the airflow adjustment unit  41   b  outputs a control signal that requests a change in the setting of the air volume or the air direction regardless of the placement location of the airflow adjustment unit  41   b  itself. Specifically, the airflow adjustment unit  41   b  outputs an air volume change control signal to the air conditioner API processing unit  52   b.  Since the air conditioner API processing unit  52   b  grasps that the air volume control unit  31  and the air direction control unit  32 , which are components of the control layer, are in the main body device, the air conditioner API processing unit  52   b  converts the air volume change control signal into data for communication with the main body device (a WiFi signal), and transmits the data to the main body device via the Internet (S 2 ). Here, the main body device is the air conditioner  6 . 
     The air conditioner API processing unit  52   b  transmits the data for communication to the main body device via the air conditioner data unit  51   b,  and the air conditioner data unit  51   b  changes the setting of the air volume and stores the changed setting in the real memory  50   b.  The air conditioner data unit  51   b  synchronizes with the air conditioner data unit  51   a  of the indoor unit  6   b  to maintain the consistency of the integrated memory  50 . Thus, the air conditioner data unit  51   a  can acquire the changed setting of the air volume from the real memory  50   a  of the indoor unit  6   b.    
     The WiFi module driver  16   a  of the driver layer  10  of the main body device receives data that has been transmitted from the cloud  5  via the Internet, and outputs the data to the WiFi communication control unit  26   a  of the hardware abstraction layer  20 . The WiFi communication control unit  26   a  checks whether the data received by the WiFi module driver  16   a  is proper received data or not; when the data is proper received data, the WiFi communication control unit  26   a  outputs the received data to the communication control unit  34   a  of the control layer  30 . 
     The communication control unit  34   a  performs signal analysis on the data (received data) transmitted from the air conditioner API processing unit  52   b;  when the data is the air volume change control signal from the airflow adjustment unit  41   b  on the cloud  5  side, the communication control unit  34   a  sends the air volume change control signal to the air conditioner API processing unit  52   a  on the main body side (S 3 ). 
     Since the air conditioner API processing unit  52   a  grasps the placement of the air volume control unit  31  to receive the air volume change control signal, the air conditioner API processing unit  52   a  can output the air volume change control signal toward the air volume control unit  31  (S 4 ). The air conditioner API processing unit  52   a  also causes the air conditioner data unit  51   a  to store the fact that the air volume change instruction has been issued. 
     The air volume control unit  31  determines the target fan rotation rate after change on the basis of the air volume change instruction, and outputs the target fan rotation rate as a control signal to the fan control unit  21  of the hardware abstraction layer  20 . At the time point when the acceptance of the air volume change instruction from the air volume control unit  31  is completed, the fan control unit  21  outputs an acceptance response signal to the air volume control unit  31 ; and calculates the controlled variable of the fan motor from the difference between the current actual operating fan rotation rate and the target fan rotation rate after change, and outputs the controlled variable of the fan motor as a control signal to the fan motor driver  11  of the driver layer  10 . The fan motor driver  11  outputs a signal to a fan motor drive circuit in accordance with the controlled variable of the fan motor, and controls the fan motor (S 5 ). 
     After that, the fan motor driver  11  of the driver layer  10  inputs, from a fan motor rotation rate feedback circuit of the hardware  9 , a feedback signal (pulse signal) of the actual operating fan rotation rate after the controlled variable of the fan motor is changed, as a response signal (S 6 ). The fan motor driver  11  outputs the time interval of the feedback signal input (the time interval of the pulse signal) as a response signal to the fan control unit  21  of the hardware abstraction layer  20 . The fan control unit  21  calculates the rotation rate of the fan motor from the time interval of the feedback signal input (the time interval of the pulse signal), and instructs the fan motor driver  11  to increase a command voltage value (the ON time of a PWM signal) up to a predetermined rotation rate. At the time point when the acceptance of the air volume change instruction from the air volume control unit  31  is completed, the fan control unit  21  outputs an acceptance response signal to the air volume control unit  31 ; and the air volume control unit  31  that has received the acceptance response signal outputs a response signal to the air conditioner API processing unit  52   a  of the function layer  40  (S 7 ). 
     The air conditioner API processing unit  52   a  performs data conversion into a response signal suitable for the control signal transmitted from the airflow adjustment unit  41   b  of the function layer  40  placed in the cloud  5 , and outputs the response signal to the communication control unit  34   a  of the control layer  30  (S 8 ). 
     In order to communicate with the cloud  5 , the communication control unit  34   a  chooses WiFi communication, and outputs a response signal to the WiFi communication control unit  26   a  of the hardware abstraction layer  20 . The WiFi communication control unit  26   a  converts the inputted response signal into a Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter (UART) signal, and outputs the UART signal to the WiFi module driver  16   a  of the driver layer  10 . The WiFi module driver  16   a  transmits a response signal to the cloud  5  through a communication circuit (S 9 ). 
     In this way, the fan motor driver  11 , the fan control unit  21 , the air volume control unit  31 , and the air conditioner API processing unit  52   a  sequentially convert a response signal of the previous layer into a suitable format, and sequentially output the converted response signal to the next layer; thus, the air conditioning system  1  can transmit a response signal from the hardware  9  to the cloud  5 . Note that the air volume control unit  31  makes a response regardless of the placement of the airflow adjustment unit  41 . Specifically, the air volume control unit  31  responds to the air conditioner API processing unit  52   a,  and the air conditioner API processing unit  52   a  responds to the communication control unit  34   a.  Details of an event-type response will be described later. The air conditioner API processing unit  52   a  may make a response by asynchronous response via an integrated memory or polling. 
     The air conditioner API processing unit  52   b  of the function layer  40  of the cloud  5  inputs, as a response signal, a signal transmitted from the main body device via the Internet, converts the inputted response signal, and outputs the converted response signal to the airflow adjustment unit  41   b.  Thus, the air volume change processing is completed. 
     Next, an air direction change is described. As illustrated in  FIG.  3   , the airflow adjustment unit  41   b  placed in the cloud  5  receives an air direction change instruction from the remote terminal  4  (S 1 ). Then, the airflow adjustment unit  41   b  outputs the air direction change control signal to the air conditioner API processing unit  52   b  regardless of the placement of the airflow adjustment unit  41   b  itself. Since the air conditioner API processing unit  52   b  grasps that the air direction control unit  32 , which are components of the control layer, are in the main body device, the air conditioner API processing unit  52   b  converts the air direction change control signal into data for communication with the main body device (a WiFi signal), and transmits the data to the main body device via the Internet (S 2 ). 
     The air conditioner API processing unit  52   b  transmits the data for communication to the main body device via the air conditioner data unit  51   b,  and the air conditioner data unit  51   b  changes the setting of the air direction and stores the changed setting in the real memory  50   b.  The air conditioner data unit  51   b  synchronizes with the air conditioner data unit  51   a  to maintain the consistency of the integrated memory  50 . Thus, the air conditioner data unit  51   a  can acquire the changed setting of the air direction from the real memory  50   a  of the indoor unit  6   b.    
     The WiFi module driver  16   a  of the driver layer  10  of the main body device receives data that has been transmitted from the cloud  5  via the Internet, and outputs the data to the WiFi communication control unit  26   a  of the hardware abstraction layer  20 . The WiFi communication control unit  26   a  checks whether the data received by the 
     WiFi module driver  16   a  is proper received data or not; when the data is proper received data, the WiFi communication control unit  26   a  outputs the received data to the communication control unit  34   a  of the control layer  30 . 
     The communication control unit  34   a  performs signal analysis on the data (received data) transmitted from the air conditioner API processing unit  52   b;  when the data is the air direction change control signal from the airflow adjustment unit  41   b  on the cloud  5  side, the communication control unit  34   a  sends the air direction change control signal to the air conditioner API processing unit  52   a  on the main body side (S 3 ). 
     Since the air conditioner API processing unit  52   a  grasps the placement of the air direction control unit  32  to receive the air direction change control signal, the air conditioner API processing unit  52   a  can output the air direction change control signal toward the air direction control unit  32  (S 10 ). The air conditioner API processing unit  52   a  also causes the air conditioner data unit  51   a  to store the fact that the air direction change instruction has been issued. 
     The air direction control unit  32  determines the number of pulses for the target air direction position after change on the basis of the air direction change instruction, and outputs the number of pulses for the target air direction position as a control signal to the air direction plate control unit  22  of the hardware abstraction layer  20 . At the time point when the acceptance of the air direction change instruction from the air direction control unit  32  is completed, the air direction plate control unit  22  outputs an acceptance response signal to the air direction control unit  32 ; and determines the driving direction of the stepping motor from the number of pulses for the current actual operating air direction position and the number of pulses for the target air direction position after change, and outputs the controlled variable of the stepping motor as a control signal to the stepping motor driver  12  of the driver layer  10 . The stepping motor driver  12  outputs a signal to a stepping motor drive circuit at a timing according to the controlled variable of the stepping motor, and drives the stepping motor; thus, controls the air direction position (S 11 ). 
     With regard to the stepping motor that controls the air direction plate, since there is no hardware circuit that detects the air direction position, there is no response signal input from a lower layer to the stepping motor driver  12  of the driver layer  10  or the air direction plate control unit  22  of the hardware abstraction layer  20 . At the time point when the acceptance of the air direction change instruction from the air direction control unit  32  of the control layer  30  is completed, the air direction plate control unit  22  outputs an acceptance response signal to the air direction control unit  32 . The air direction control unit  32  outputs a response signal to the air conditioner API processing unit  52   a  of the function layer  40  (S 12 ). 
     The air conditioner API processing unit  52   a  performs data conversion into a response signal suitable for the control signal transmitted from the airflow adjustment unit  41   b  of the function layer  40  placed in the cloud  5 , and outputs the response signal to the communication control unit  34   a  of the control layer  30  (S 8 ). 
     In order to communicate with the cloud  5 , the communication control unit  34   a  chooses WiFi communication, and outputs a response signal to the WiFi communication control unit  26   a  of the hardware abstraction layer  20 . The WiFi communication control unit  26   a  converts the inputted response signal into a UART signal, and outputs the UART signal to the WiFi module driver  16   a  of the driver layer  10 . The WiFi module driver  16   a  transmits a response signal to the cloud  5  through a communication circuit (S 9 ). 
     The air conditioner API processing unit  52   b  of the function layer  40  of the cloud  5  inputs, as a response signal, a signal transmitted from the main body device via the Internet, converts the inputted response signal, and outputs the converted response signal to the airflow adjustment unit  41   b.  Thus, the air direction change processing is completed. 
     Next, a case where an airflow adjustment unit  41   a  is placed in the indoor unit  6   b  and the user has changed the air volume or the air direction from an infrared remote controller is described.  FIG.  4    is a diagram illustrating a sequence of processing by the air conditioning system  1  in the case where an airflow adjustment unit  41   a  is placed in the indoor unit  6   b  and the user changes the air volume or the air direction from an infrared remote controller. As illustrated in  FIG.  4   , the infrared communication module driver  14   a  of the driver layer  10  of the indoor unit  6   b  receives an air volume change instruction based on a manipulation of the user from an infrared remote controller (S 21 ). Then, the infrared communication module driver  14   a  outputs the received signal to the infrared communication control unit  24   a.    
     The infrared communication control unit  24   a  analyzes the received signal and identifies the received signal as an air volume change instruction, and outputs the air volume change instruction to the communication control unit  34   a  of the control layer  30 . The communication control unit  34   a  assesses the priority in comparison with instruction inputs from other communication means, etc.; when there is no problem, the communication control unit  34   a  outputs the air volume change instruction to the air conditioner API processing unit  52   a  of the function layer  40 . At this time, since the air conditioner API processing unit  52   a  grasps that the remote control unit  43   a,  which is a functional unit, is placed in the function layer on the main body side, the air conditioner API processing unit  52   a  transmits the air volume change instruction to the remote control unit  43   a  (S 22 ). The remote control unit  43   a  directly outputs the air volume change instruction to the airflow adjustment unit  41   a  of the function layer  40  in the main body device (S 23 ). The airflow adjustment unit  41   a  of the function layer  40  that has received the air volume change instruction outputs an air volume change control signal to the air conditioner API processing unit  52   a  regardless of the placement location of the airflow adjustment unit  41   a  itself. Since the air volume change control signal is a control signal from the airflow adjustment unit  41   a  in the same device, the air conditioner API processing unit  52   a  outputs the air volume change control signal as it is without data conversion into communication data to the air volume control unit  31  of the control layer  30  (S 24 ). 
     The air volume control unit  31  determines the target fan rotation rate after change on the basis of the air volume change instruction, and outputs the target fan rotation rate as a control signal to the fan control unit  21  of the hardware abstraction layer  20 . The fan control unit  21  calculates the controlled variable of the fan motor from the difference between the current actual operating fan rotation rate and the target fan rotation rate after change, and outputs the controlled variable of the fan motor as a control signal to the fan motor driver  11  of the driver layer  10 . The fan motor driver  11  outputs a signal to a fan motor drive circuit at a timing in accordance with the controlled variable of the fan motor, and controls the fan motor (S 25 ). 
     After that, the fan motor driver  11  of the driver layer  10  inputs, from a fan motor rotation rate feedback circuit of the hardware  9 , a feedback signal of the actual operating fan rotation rate after the controlled variable of the fan motor is changed, as a response signal (S 26 ). The fan motor driver  11  outputs the time interval of the feedback signal input as a response signal to the fan control unit  21  of the hardware abstraction layer  20 . At the time point when the acceptance of the air volume change instruction from the air volume control unit  31  of the control layer  30  is completed, the fan control unit  21  outputs an acceptance response signal to the air volume control unit  31 . The air volume control unit  31  outputs a response signal to the air conditioner API processing unit  52   a  of the function layer  40  regardless of the placement location of the airflow adjustment unit  41  (S 27 ). 
     Since the airflow adjustment unit  41   a  is in the same device, the air conditioner API processing unit  52   a  outputs the response signal as it is without data conversion to the airflow adjustment unit  41   a.  Thus, the air volume change processing is completed. 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  3    and  FIG.  4   , the airflow adjustment unit  41 , regardless of whether it is placed in the cloud  5  or the indoor unit  6   b,  upon receiving an air volume change instruction, outputs an air volume change control signal to the air conditioner API processing unit  52  regardless of the placement location of the airflow adjustment unit  41  itself. Then, in the case where the air conditioner API processing unit  52  is placed in the cloud  5 , since the air conditioner API processing unit  52  grasps that the airflow adjustment unit  41   b  is placed in the main body device, the air conditioner API processing unit  52  converts the air volume change control signal into data for communication with the main body device, and transmits the data to the main body device. Hence, the airflow adjustment unit  41   b  can control the air volume of the indoor unit  6   b  from the cloud  5  by the same processing as that in the case of being placed in the indoor unit  6   b . Thus, in the air conditioning system  1 , the airflow adjustment unit  41  can be placed in either of the indoor unit  6   b  and the cloud  5 . 
     Next, an air direction change is described. As illustrated in  FIG.  4   , the infrared communication module driver  14   a  of the driver layer  10  of the indoor unit  6   b  receives an air direction change instruction based on a manipulation of the user from an infrared remote controller (S 21 ). Then, the infrared communication module driver  14   a  outputs the received signal to the infrared communication control unit  24   a.    
     The infrared communication control unit  24   a  analyzes the received signal and identifies the received signal as an air direction change instruction, and outputs the air direction change instruction to the communication control unit  34   a  of the control layer  30 . The communication control unit  34   a  assesses the priority in comparison with instruction inputs from other communication means, etc.; when there is no problem, the communication control unit  34   a  outputs the air direction change instruction to the remote control unit  43   a  of the function layer  40 . At this time, since the air conditioner API processing unit  52   a  grasps that the remote control unit  43   a,  which is a functional unit, is placed in the function layer on the main body side, the air conditioner API processing unit  52   a  transmits the air direction change instruction to the remote control unit  43   a  (S 22 ). The remote control unit  43   a  directly outputs the air direction change instruction to the airflow adjustment unit  41   a  of the function layer  40  in the main body device (S 23 ). The airflow adjustment unit  41   a  of the function layer  40  that has received the air direction change instruction outputs an air direction change control signal to the air conditioner API processing unit  52   a  without being conscious the placement location of the airflow adjustment unit  41   a  itself. Since the air direction change control signal is a control signal from the airflow adjustment unit  41   a  in the same device, the air conditioner API processing unit  52   a  outputs the air direction change control signal as it is without data conversion into communication data to the air direction control unit  32  of the control layer  30  (S 28 ). 
     The air direction control unit  32  determines the target air direction position and the number of pulses for the target air direction position after change on the basis of the air direction change instruction, and outputs the number of pulses for the target position as a control signal to the air direction plate control unit  22  of the hardware abstraction layer  20 . The air direction plate control unit  22  determines the driving direction of the stepping motor from the number of pulses for the current actual operating air direction position and the number of pulses for the target position after change. Then, the air direction control unit  32  outputs a stepping motor drive signal as a control signal to the stepping motor driver  12  of the driver layer  10  until the number of pulses reaches the number of pulses for the target air direction position. The stepping motor driver  12  outputs a signal to a stepping motor drive signal, and drives the stepping motor; thus, controls the air direction position (S 29 ). 
     With regard to the stepping motor that controls the air direction plate, since there is no hardware circuit that detects the air direction position, there is no response signal input from a lower layer to the stepping motor driver  12  of the driver layer  10  or the air direction plate control unit  22  of the hardware abstraction layer  20 . At the time point when the acceptance of the air volume change instruction from the air direction control unit  32  of the control layer  30  is completed, the air direction plate control unit  22  outputs an acceptance response signal to the air direction control unit  32 . Similarly, at the time point when the acceptance of the air direction change instruction from the air conditioner API processing unit  52   a  of the function layer  40  is completed, the air direction control unit  32  outputs a response signal to the air conditioner API processing unit  52   a  regardless of the placement location of the airflow adjustment unit  41  (S 30 ). 
     Since the airflow adjustment unit  41   a  is in the same device, the air conditioner API processing unit  52   a  outputs the response signal as it is without data conversion to the airflow adjustment unit  41   a.  Thus, the air direction change processing is completed. 
     Next, a case where an airflow adjustment unit  41   b  is placed in the cloud  5  and the user changes the air volume or the air direction from an infrared remote controller is described.  FIG.  5    is the same as  FIG.  3    in that an airflow adjustment unit  41   b  is placed in the cloud  5 , but is different in that the user changes the air volume or the air direction from an infrared remote controller.  FIG.  5    is a diagram illustrating a sequence of processing by the air conditioning system  1 , centering on processing in the function layer  40 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  5   , the user changes the air volume and the air direction with an infrared remote controller (1). The remote control unit  43   a  accepts a change instruction (2), and stores the change contents of the setting (air volume=x, air direction=y) in the real memory  50   a  of the indoor unit  6   b  (3). The air conditioner data unit  51   a  of the indoor unit  6   b  and the air conditioner data unit  51   b  of the cloud  5  coordinate to synchronize the contents between the real memory  50   a  of the indoor unit  6   b  and the real memory  50   b  of the cloud  5  (4). The air conditioner data unit  51   a  of the indoor unit  6   b  and the air conditioner data unit  51   b  of the cloud  5  synchronize the contents between the real memory  50   a  and the real memory  50   b  by copying the contents of the real memory  50   a  to the real memory  50   b.  When the setting is changed, the airflow adjustment unit  41   b  of the cloud  5  refers to the change contents of the setting in the real memory  50   b  (5), and uses a function call to request the air conditioner API processing unit  52   b  to change the setting of the air volume and the air direction (6). The air conditioner API processing unit  52   b  converts the setting change request into communication data, and transmits the communication data to the indoor unit  6   b  (7). 
     The air conditioner API processing unit  52   b  of the indoor unit  6   b  receives the setting change request, and converts the setting change request into an air volume setting change request and an air direction setting change request (a function call) (8). Then, the air volume and the air direction are changed on the basis of the air volume setting change request and the air direction setting change request (9). 
       FIG.  6    illustrates a case where an airflow adjustment unit  41   a  is placed in the indoor unit  6   b.  As illustrated in  FIG.  6   , the user changes the air volume and the air direction with an infrared remote controller (11). The remote control unit  43   a  accepts a change instruction (12), and stores the change contents of the setting (air volume=x, air direction=y) in the real memory  50   a  of the indoor unit  6   b  (13). 
     When the setting is changed, the airflow adjustment unit  41   a  of the indoor unit  6   b  refers to the change contents of the setting in the real memory  50   a  ( 14 ), and uses a function call to request the air conditioner API processing unit  52   a  to change the setting of the air volume and the air direction (15). The air conditioner API processing unit  52   a  requests the air volume control unit  31  to change the setting of the air volume, and requests the air direction control unit  32  to change the setting of the air direction. Then, the air volume and the air direction are changed (16). 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  5    and  FIG.  6   , when a setting in the integrated memory  50  is changed, the airflow adjustment unit  41 , regardless of whether it is placed in the cloud  5  or the indoor unit  6   b,  requests the air conditioner API processing unit  52  to change the setting of the air volume and the air direction. Then, when placed in the cloud  5 , the air conditioner API processing unit  52  converts the setting change request into communication data, and transmits the communication data to the indoor unit  6   b.  Hence, the airflow adjustment unit  41   b  can control the air volume and the air direction of the indoor unit  6   b  from the cloud  5  by the same processing as that in the case of being placed in the indoor unit  6   b.  Thus, in the air conditioning system  1 , the airflow adjustment unit  41  can be placed in either of the indoor unit  6   b  and the cloud  5 . 
     Next, details of an event-type response in which a response signal is processed when an event (reception of a response signal) occurs are described.  FIG.  7    is a diagram illustrating a case where an airflow adjustment unit  41   b  is placed in the cloud  5  (that is, the case of the embodiments illustrated in  FIG.  3    and  FIG.  5   ) and the airflow adjustment unit  41   b  receives, from the air conditioner API processing unit  52   a,  event-type responses to an air volume change instruction and an air direction change instruction.  FIG.  7    illustrates, as an example, a case where the MQTT protocol is employed and a publish-subscribe model in which when a response signal is published to an MQTT server, the response signal is transmitted to a subscribing terminal is applied. 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  7   , the airflow adjustment unit  41   b  registers, in the air conditioner API processing unit  52   b,  Callback functions that expect responses of an air volume change and an air direction change from the indoor unit side (21). That is, the airflow adjustment unit  41   b  registers, in the air conditioner API processing unit  52   b,  an air volume Callback function and an air direction Callback function while associating them with air volume control and air direction control, respectively. 
     The air conditioner API processing unit  52   b  holds the Callback functions while associating them with events (22). That is, the air conditioner API processing unit  52   b  holds {an air direction Callback function, an air direction control event} and {an air volume Callback function, an air volume control event}. Further, the air conditioner API processing unit  52   b  registers, from a communication control unit  34   b  to an MQTT server  54 , an air volume control event and an air direction control event on the indoor unit side, as messages to be subscribed to. 
     When an event (an acceptance response of an air volume change signal or an acceptance response of an air direction change signal) occurs, the control unit (the air volume control unit  31  or the air direction control unit  32 ) of the indoor unit  6   b  delivers the event to the air conditioner API processing unit  52   a  (23). The air conditioner API processing unit  52   a  publishes the event that has occurred in order to convey information of the event to the cloud side (24). That is, the air conditioner API processing unit  52   a  publishes an air volume control event when an acceptance response of an air volume change signal occurs as an event, and publishes an air direction control event when an acceptance response of an air direction change signal occurs as an event. The published event is delivered as a message from the communication control unit  34   a  to the cloud side via the MQTT server. 
     The air conditioner API processing unit  52   b  of the cloud  5  receives an event delivered from the communication control unit  34   a  via the MQTT server, and activates a Callback function associated with the received event (25). That is, the air conditioner API processing unit  52   b  activates an air volume Callback function when the published event is an air volume control event, and activates an air direction Callback function when the published event is an air direction control event. 
     In this way, the airflow adjustment unit  41   b  registers a Callback function in the air conditioner API processing unit  52   b.  Then, the air conditioner API processing unit  52   b  holds the Callback function while associating it with an event; when an event is published, the air conditioner API processing unit  52   b  activates a Callback function associated with the published event. Thus, the airflow adjustment unit  41   b  can receive a response to an instruction. 
     As described hereinabove, the air conditioning system  1  includes an air conditioner API processing unit  52   a  in the indoor unit  6   b,  and includes an air conditioner API processing unit  52   b  in the cloud  5  as an example of a remote device. The functional units placed in the cloud  5  perform processing via the air conditioner API processing unit  52   b  and the air conditioner API processing unit  52   a . That is, the air conditioner API processing unit  52   a  and the air conditioner API processing unit  52   b  function as a platform (platform API) with which access (control, information collection, etc.) to the main body of the air conditioning apparatus can be performed from various locations (the air conditioning apparatus, a cloud, etc.). Thus, in the air conditioning system  1 , functional units can be remotely placed. 
     Further, in the embodiment, the functional units included in the function layer  40  perform similar processing regardless of whether they are placed in the indoor unit  6   b  or a remote device. Thus, the air conditioning system  1  can develop a common functional unit not depending on the placement location, and can easily develop functional units. For example, it is not needed to provide communication processing as processing of the functional unit, and the air conditioner API processing unit  52  performs communication via the communication control unit  34  when needed. Thus, the air conditioning system  1  can develop a common functional unit not depending on the placement location, and can easily develop functional units. 
     Further, in the embodiment, when a functional unit is placed in the cloud  5 , the air conditioner API processing unit  52   b  converts an instruction from the functional unit into a format suitable for communication, and transmits the converted instruction to the air conditioner API processing unit  52   a.  Then, the air conditioner API processing unit  52   a  converts the instruction received from the air conditioner API processing unit  52   b  into a format suitable for the control layer  30 , and outputs the converted instruction to a component of the control layer  30 . Then, the component of the control layer  30  converts the instruction received from the air conditioner API processing unit  52   a  into a format suitable for the hardware abstraction layer  20 , and outputs the converted instruction to a component of the hardware abstraction layer  20 . Then, the component of the hardware abstraction layer  20  converts the instruction received from the component of the control layer  30  into a format suitable for the driver layer  10 , and output the converted instruction to a component of the driver layer  10 . Thus, the air conditioning system  1  can develop a functional unit and a component based only on the interface with the layer immediately below, and can easily develop functional units and components. 
     Further, in the embodiment, a remotely placed functional unit receives a response to an instruction to the indoor unit  6   b  on the basis of a publish-subscribe model, and therefore can check that the indoor unit  6   b  has executed the instruction. 
     Further, in the embodiment, a functional unit can share data with another functional unit by means of the virtual integrated memory  50  without depending on the placement location, and can easily exchange data with the other functional unit. Further, in the embodiment, the air conditioner data unit  51  maintains the consistency of data between functional units by means of the virtual integrated memory  50 . Thus, the hardware  9  of the indoor unit  6   b  can stably operate without receiving contradictory instructions from identical functional units placed in different locations. 
     REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
       1  AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM 
       2  GW 
       2   b,    4   b,    5   b,    61   b,    62   b,    63   b  CPU 
       4  REMOTE TERMINAL 
       5  CLOUD 
       6  AIR CONDITIONER 
       6   a  OUTDOOR UNIT 
       6   b  INDOOR UNIT 
       6   c  REMOTE CONTROLLER 
       10  DRIVER LAYER 
       20  HARDWARE ABSTRACTION LAYER 
       30  CONTROL LAYER 
       40  FUNCTION LAYER 
       50  INTEGRATED MEMORY 
       51 ,  51   a,    51   b  AIR CONDITIONER DATA UNIT 
       52 ,  52   a,    52   b  AIR CONDITIONER API PROCESSING UNIT 
       53 ,  53   a,    53   b  AIR CONDITIONER INTER-FUNCTION COORDINATION UNIT