Patent Description:
Conventionally, regarding installation of an air conditioner, a check system for checking whether the installation has been appropriately performed has been disclosed (see <CIT>).

<CIT> relates to an equipment installation support system usable to support setting of a plurality of pieces of equipment intended to be installed in a plurality of buildings. The support system includes a plurality of recording tools, and a server. Each recording tool is assigned to one of the plurality of pieces of equipment and includes a medium having recorded information concerning the assigned one of the plurality of pieces of equipment. The server manages the plurality of pieces of equipment. A specific piece of equipment is intended to be installed in a specific building among the plurality of buildings and has a configuration to adjust a room environment of the specific building. A specific recording tool is assigned second identification information that is assigned to the specific piece of equipment and identifies the specific piece of equipment from pieces of equipment other than the specific piece of equipment.

<CIT> refers to a mobile terminal which comprises a communication portion communicating with an outdoor unit and a server; a camera portion capturing an image; a display portion; and a control portion obtaining identification information of the outdoor unit, transmitting the identification information to the server, receiving error information corresponding to the identification information from the server, displaying an internal image of the outdoor unit, and displaying a component corresponding to the error information to be identifiable on the internal image.

<CIT> is related to an air conditioner including an indoor unit, an outdoor unit, a contact controller connected to the indoor unit to control the indoor unit, a key switch connected to the contact controller for inputting a contact signal, and a remote controller for receiving control signals for the indoor units and receiving and monitoring data of the indoor units through the contact controller.

However, in <CIT>, the operator merely enters check marks into check boxes of confirmation items, and it is not possible to determine whether the air conditioner is actually installed correctly. An object in the present disclosure is to determine whether installation of an air conditioner is appropriate.

The invention is defined by independent claims <NUM> and <NUM>. A system according to a first aspect in the present disclosure is a system that includes a use side device of an air conditioner; a terminal; and a management server, wherein the terminal transmits first information for identifying the use side device installed in a predetermined property to the management server, and wherein the management server stores second information as information on a use side device to be installed in the predetermined property, and based on the first information and the second information received from the terminal, the management server determines whether the use side device installed in the predetermined property matches the use side device to be installed in the predetermined property.

According to the first aspect in the present disclosure, it is possible to determine whether installation of the use side device of the air conditioner is appropriate.

Also, a second aspect in the present disclosure is the system as described in the first aspect, wherein the management server transmits an error to the terminal in a case where the use side device installed in the predetermined property does not match the use side device to be installed in the predetermined property.

According to the second aspect in the present disclosure, it becomes possible for the user to recognize that the use side device to be installed in the property is not installed.

Also, a third aspect in the present disclosure is the system as described in the first aspect or the second aspect that further includes a remote controller being connected to the use side device, wherein the remote controller receives information for identifying the use side device from the use side device, and transmits the received information for identifying the use side device to the terminal, and wherein the terminal receives the information for identifying the use side device from the remote controller, and generates the first information.

According to the third aspect in the present disclosure, it becomes possible to determine whether connection between the use side device of the air conditioner and the remote controller is appropriate.

Also, a fourth aspect in the present disclosure is the system as described in the third aspect, wherein the information for identifying the use side device is one of an appliance ID, a lot number, or a model name of the use side device.

According to the fourth aspect in the present disclosure, the terminal can identify the use side device connected to the remote controller based on any one of the appliance ID, the lot number, and the model name of the use side device of the air conditioner.

Also, a fifth aspect in the present disclosure is the system as described in the third aspect or the fourth aspect, wherein the remote controller is connected to a plurality of use side devices.

According to the fifth aspect in the present disclosure, the terminal can identify multiple use side devices connected to the remote controller.

Also, a sixth aspect in the present disclosure is the system as described in any one of the third to fifth aspects, wherein the terminal transmits an address of the use side device to the remote controller after having received the information for identifying the use side device.

According to the sixth aspect in the present disclosure, the terminal can identify the use side device connected to the remote controller, and then, can set the address of the use side device of the air conditioner in the remote controller. For example, instead of inputting the name of the use side device of the air conditioner, the user can set the address using information for identifying the use side device obtained from the remote controller.

Also, a seventh aspect in the present disclosure is the system as described in the sixth aspect, wherein the terminal displays a screen for a user to set the address of the use side device such that on the screen, a display form of an address that has been set and a display form of an address yet to be set are displayed differently.

According to the seventh aspect in the present disclosure, it becomes possible for the user to visually recognize an address that has not been set yet.

A method according to an eighth aspect in the present disclosure is a method executed by a management server, that includes a step of receiving first information for identifying a use side device installed in a predetermined property from a terminal; and a step of determining whether the use side device installed in the predetermined property matches a use side device to be installed in the predetermined property, based on the first information received from the terminal and second information stored in the management server, the second information being information on the use side device to be installed in the predetermined property.

In the following, embodiments in the present disclosure will be described based on the drawings.

* "Information for identifying a use side device (also referred to as an indoor unit) of an air conditioner" is information for uniquely identifying the use side device (e.g., the appliance ID or the like of the use side device). Also, the information for identifying the use side device of the air conditioner may be various types of items of information (e.g., the lot number of the use side device, the model name of the use side device, or the like) with which the use side device can be identified. * "The address of a use side device (also referred to as an indoor unit) of an air conditioner" is information for uniquely identifying the use side device by a monitoring system or the like of the air conditioner.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration according to the one embodiment in the present disclosure. An air conditioning system <NUM> includes a terminal <NUM>, air conditioners <NUM>, and a management server <NUM>. In the following, the respective components will be described.

The air conditioner <NUM> is an air conditioner of any type. Each of the air conditioners <NUM> includes one or more use side devices (also referred to as indoor units) <NUM>, a heat source side device (also referred to as an outdoor unit) <NUM>, and a remote controller <NUM>. Also, each of the use side devices <NUM> includes a control device <NUM>. The control device <NUM> can transmit information for identifying the use side device <NUM> to the remote controller <NUM>.

The air conditioner <NUM> is operated by using the remote controller <NUM>. For example, as illustrated in <FIG>, the remote controller <NUM> is connected to one of the multiple use side devices <NUM> each connected to the heat source device <NUM>.

Note that in the present specification, "the remote controller <NUM> being connected with the use side device <NUM>" includes a case of the remote controller <NUM> being directly connected with the use side device <NUM>, and also includes a case of the remote controller <NUM> being connected with the use side device <NUM> via another use side device (i.e., the remote controller <NUM> and the use side device <NUM> are not directly connected).

The remote controller <NUM> is an appliance to operate one or more air conditioners <NUM>. The remote controller <NUM> is connected to one or more use side devices <NUM> by wiring. Note that as described above, the remote controller <NUM> being connected with the use side device <NUM> includes a case of the remote controller <NUM> being directly connected with the use side device <NUM>, and also includes a case where the remote controller <NUM> being connected with the use side device <NUM> via another use side device (i.e., the remote controller <NUM> and the use side device <NUM> are not directly connected). Also, the remote controller <NUM> can transmit and receive data to and from the terminal <NUM> via Bluetooth (registered trademark) or the like.

Specifically, the remote controller <NUM> receives information for identifying a use side device <NUM> from the control device <NUM> of the use side device <NUM> of the air conditioner <NUM>. Also, the remote controller <NUM> transmits the information for identifying the use side device <NUM> received from the use side device <NUM> to the terminal <NUM>.

The terminal <NUM> is, for example, an appliance such as a smartphone, a tablet, a personal computer, or the like. The terminal <NUM> can transmit and receive data to and from the remote controller <NUM> via Bluetooth or the like. Also, the terminals <NUM> can transmit and receive data to and from the management servers <NUM> via a wireless communication system such as <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, or the like.

Specifically, the terminal <NUM> receives information for identifying a use side device <NUM> connected to the remote controller <NUM> from the remote controller <NUM>. Also, the terminal <NUM> transmits the information for identifying the use side device <NUM> received from the remote controller <NUM> to the management server <NUM>.

The management server <NUM> is a server to manage information on use side devices installed in respective properties (e.g., respective buildings, respective floors in the buildings, and the like). The management server <NUM> receives information for identifying a use side device <NUM> connected to a remote controller <NUM> from the terminal <NUM>, and determines whether the use side device <NUM> of the air conditioner <NUM> is correctly connected with the remote controller <NUM>.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the terminal <NUM>, the remote controller <NUM>, or the management server <NUM> according to the one embodiment in the present disclosure. The terminal <NUM>, the remote controller <NUM>, or the management server <NUM> includes a central processing unit (CPU) <NUM>, a read-only memory (ROM) <NUM>, and a random access memory (RAM) <NUM>. The CPU <NUM>, the ROM <NUM>, and the RAM <NUM> configures a what-is-called computer.

Also, the terminal <NUM>, the remote controller <NUM>, or the management server <NUM> may include an auxiliary storage device <NUM>, a display device <NUM>, an operation device <NUM>, an interface (I/F) device <NUM>, and a drive device <NUM>. Note that the respective hardware components in the terminal <NUM>, the remote controller <NUM>, or the management server <NUM> are connected to each other via a bus B.

The CPU <NUM> is an arithmetic/logic device to execute various types of programs installed in the auxiliary storage device <NUM>.

The ROM <NUM> is a non-volatile memory. The ROM <NUM> functions as a main memory device to store the various types of programs, data, and the like necessary for the CPU <NUM> to execute the various types of programs installed in the auxiliary storage device <NUM>. Specifically, the ROM <NUM> functions as a main memory device to store a boot program such as a basic input/output system (BIOS) or an extensible firmware interface (EFI).

The RAM <NUM> is a volatile memory such as a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) or a static random access memory (SRAM). The RAM <NUM> functions as a main memory device that provides a work area in which the various types of programs installed in the auxiliary storage device <NUM> are loaded when the programs are executed by the CPU <NUM>.

The auxiliary storage device <NUM> is an auxiliary storage device to store the various types of programs and information used when the various types of programs are executed.

The display device <NUM> is a display device to display internal states and the like of the terminal <NUM>, the remote controller <NUM>, or the management server <NUM>.

The operation device <NUM> is an input device through which a user of the terminal <NUM>, the remote controller <NUM>, or the management server <NUM> inputs various types of commands to the terminal <NUM>, the remote controller <NUM>, or the management server <NUM>.

The I/F device <NUM> is a communication device that is connected to a network to communicate with the terminal <NUM>, the remote controller <NUM>, the management server <NUM>, and the like.

The drive device <NUM> is a device for setting a recording medium <NUM>. The recording medium <NUM> here includes a medium that optically, electrically, or magnetically records information, such as a CD-ROM, a flexible disk, and a magneto-optical disk. Also, the recording medium <NUM> may include a semiconductor memory or the like that electrically records information, such as a ROM or a flash memory.

Note that the various types of programs to be installed in the auxiliary storage device <NUM> are installed, for example, by setting a distributed recording medium <NUM> in the drive device <NUM> and reading the various types of programs recorded on the recording medium <NUM> by the drive device <NUM>. Alternatively, the various types of programs to be installed in the auxiliary storage device <NUM> may be installed by downloading from a network via the I/F device <NUM>.

In the following, processing executed by the terminal <NUM> will be described. Specifically, the following processing is executed by the CPU <NUM> of the terminal <NUM> executing a program.

The terminal <NUM> receives information (e.g., the appliance ID or the like of the use side device <NUM>) for identifying a use side device <NUM> connected to the remote controller <NUM> from the remote controller <NUM>. The terminal <NUM> can display the information for identifying the user side device <NUM> (e.g., the appliance ID or the like of the use side device <NUM>) received from the remote controller <NUM>.

The terminal <NUM> displays a screen for the user to set the address of the use side device <NUM> of the air conditioner <NUM>. Note that on this screen, a display form of an address that has been set and a display form of an address yet to be set may be displayed differently (e.g., grayed-out, highlighted, etc.). The user sets the address of the user side device <NUM> on this screen. The terminal <NUM> transmits the address of the use side device <NUM> set by the user to the remote controller <NUM>.

The terminal <NUM> transmits first information for identifying the use side device <NUM> installed in a predetermined property to the management server <NUM>. Specifically, the terminal <NUM> receives information (e.g., the appliance ID or the like of the use side device <NUM>) for identifying the use side device <NUM> connected to the remote controller <NUM> from the remote controller <NUM>. Based on the information for identifying the use side device <NUM> received from the remote controller <NUM>, the terminal <NUM> generates information for identifying the use side device <NUM> installed in the predetermined property (also referred to as the first information). The terminal <NUM> transmits the first information for identifying the use side device <NUM> installed in the predetermined property and information for identifying the property to the management server <NUM>, and requests the management server <NUM> to determine whether the use side device <NUM> is correctly connected to the remote controller <NUM> to be connected. In the case where the two records of information do not match, the terminal <NUM> can receive an error from the management server <NUM> to display the error or the like.

In the following, processing executed by the remote controller <NUM> will be described. Specifically, the following processing is executed by the CPU <NUM> of the remote controller <NUM> executing a program.

The remote controller <NUM> receives information for identifying a user side device <NUM> (e.g., the appliance ID or the like of the use side device <NUM>) from the control device <NUM> of the user side device <NUM> connected to the remote controller <NUM>.

The remote controller <NUM> transmits, to the terminal <NUM>, the information for identifying the user side device <NUM> (e.g., the appliance ID or the like of the use side device <NUM>) received from the control device <NUM> of the user side device <NUM>.

The remote controller <NUM> sets the address of the use side device <NUM> set by the user on the terminal <NUM>. Specifically, the remote controller <NUM> receives the address of the user side device <NUM> from the terminal <NUM>, and stores the address of the user side device <NUM> in the remote controller <NUM>.

In the following, processing executed by the management server <NUM> will be described. Specifically, the following processing is executed by the CPU <NUM> of the management server <NUM> executing a program.

The management server <NUM> stores information on each use side device to be installed in each predetermined property (also referred to as second information). Specifically, in the auxiliary storage device <NUM> or the like of the management server <NUM>, information on the use side device (e.g., the appliance ID of the use side device, the lot number of the use side device, the model name of the use side device, or the like) installed in each of the properties (e.g., each building, each floor in the building, or the like) is stored. In other words, for each of the properties, information for identifying one or more use side devices to be installed in the property (e.g., the appliances ID of the use side devices, the lot numbers of the use side devices, the model names of the use side devices, or the like) is managed.

The management server <NUM> receives the first information for identifying a use side device <NUM> installed in a predetermined property from the terminal <NUM>. Also, the management server <NUM> receives information for identifying the property from the terminal <NUM>.

Based on the first information and the second information received from the terminal <NUM>, the management server <NUM> determines whether the use side device <NUM> installed in the predetermined property matches the use side device <NUM> to be installed in the predetermined property. In other words, the management server <NUM> determines whether the use side device <NUM> connected to the remote controller <NUM> matches the use side device to be installed in the predetermined property. Specifically, based on the information for identifying the property received from the terminal <NUM>, the management server <NUM> refers to the auxiliary storage device <NUM> or the like of the management server <NUM>. Then, the management server <NUM> collates the information for identifying the use side device <NUM> received from the terminal <NUM> (e.g., the appliance ID or the like of the use side device <NUM>) with the information on the use side device to be installed in the property referenced in the auxiliary storage device <NUM> or the like of the management server <NUM> (e.g., the appliance ID or the like of the use side device <NUM>).

If the two match, the management server <NUM> determines that the use side device <NUM> is correctly connected with the remote controller <NUM> to be connected. Also, if the two do not match, the management server <NUM> determines that the use side device <NUM> is not correctly connected with the remote controller <NUM> to be connected (i.e., the use side device <NUM> to be connected is not connected, or the use side device <NUM> not to be connected is connected).

If it is determined that the two do not match, the management server <NUM> transmits an error to the terminal <NUM>. Specifically, in the case where the use side device <NUM> connected to the remote controller <NUM> does not match the use side device to be installed in the predetermined property, the management server <NUM> transmits an error to the terminal <NUM>.

<FIG> is a sequence chart of processing of obtaining information for identifying a use side device <NUM> of an air conditioner <NUM> according to the one embodiment in the present disclosure. It is assumed that a user <NUM> (e.g., a person who performs setting operations on the remote controller <NUM> of the air conditioner <NUM> at a site where the use side device <NUM> and the remote controller <NUM> of the air conditioner <NUM> are installed) operates the terminal <NUM>.

In the following, the processing will be described separately for <<Obtainment of information for identifying the user-side device <NUM>>>, <<Address setting>>, and <<Connection error checking>>. Note that only processing of <<Address setting>> may be executed after processing of <<Obtainment of information for identifying the user-side device <NUM>>>, or only processing of <<Connection error checking>> may be executed after processing of <<Obtainment of information for identifying the user-side device <NUM>>>. Also, the processing may be executed in order of <<Obtainment of information for identifying the user-side device <NUM>>>, <<Address setting>>, and <<Connection error checking>>, or may be executed in order of <<Obtainment of information for identifying the user-side device <NUM>>>, <<Connection error checking>>, and <<Address setting>>.

It is assumed that at Step <NUM> (S11), the user <NUM> logs in to a program according to the one embodiment in the present disclosure (e.g., a smartphone application installed in the terminal <NUM>).

At Step <NUM> (S12), the control device <NUM> of the user side device <NUM> transmits information for identifying itself (e.g., the appliance ID or the like of the use side device <NUM>) to the remote controller <NUM>. Next, the remote controller <NUM> receives information for identifying the user side device <NUM> (e.g., the appliance ID or the like of the use side device <NUM>) from the control device <NUM> of the user side device <NUM>.

At Step <NUM> (S13), the remote controller <NUM> transmits the information for identifying the use side device <NUM> received at S12 (e.g., the appliance ID or the like of the use side device <NUM>) to the terminals <NUM>. Next, the terminal <NUM> receives the information for identifying the user side device <NUM> (e.g., the appliance ID or the like of the use side device <NUM>) from the remote controller <NUM>.

Note that the terminal <NUM> may be configured to display the information for identifying the user side device <NUM> received from the remote controller <NUM> (e.g., the appliance ID or the like of the use side device <NUM>).

In this way, in the one embodiment in the present disclosure, it becomes easier on the terminal <NUM> to identify a user side device <NUM> connected to a remote controller <NUM>. For example, even if the display device <NUM> of the remote controller <NUM> is designed to be incapable of displaying characters and the like, by displaying the appliance ID, the lot number, the model name or the like of the use side device <NUM> on the display device <NUM> of the terminal <NUM>, the user <NUM> can identify the use side device <NUM> connected to the remote controller <NUM>.

At Step <NUM> (S21), the terminal <NUM> displays a screen for the user <NUM> to set the address of the use side device <NUM> of the air conditioner <NUM>. Note that on this screen, the display form of an address that has been set and the display form of an address yet to be set may be displayed differently (e.g., grayed-out or highlighted).

At Step <NUM> (S22), the user <NUM> sets the address of the use side device <NUM> on the screen displayed at S21. For example, the user <NUM> selects an address to be allocated to the use side device <NUM> from among multiple addresses on the screen displayed at S21.

At Step <NUM> (S23), the terminal <NUM> transmits the address set at S22 to the remote controller <NUM>. Next, the remote controller <NUM> receives the address of the use side device <NUM> from the terminal <NUM>.

At Step <NUM> (S24), the remote controller <NUM> stores the address of the user side device <NUM> received from the terminal <NUM>, in the remote controller <NUM>.

In this way, in the one embodiment in the present disclosure, a user (e.g., a person who performs setting operations on the remote controller <NUM> of the air conditioner <NUM> at the site where the use side device <NUM> and the remote controller <NUM> of the air conditioner <NUM> are installed) can identify the user side device <NUM> that is actually connected to the remote controller <NUM>, and then, by using the terminal <NUM>, can set the address of the user side device <NUM> to the remote controller <NUM>.

At Step <NUM> (S31), the terminal <NUM> transmits the first information for identifying the use side device <NUM> installed in the predetermined property to the management server <NUM>. Specifically, based on the information (e.g., the appliance ID or the like of the use side device <NUM>) for identifying the use side device <NUM> connected to the remote controller <NUM> received at S13, the terminal <NUM> generates information for identifying the use side device <NUM> installed in the predetermined property. Next, the terminal <NUM> transmits the first information for identifying the use side device <NUM> installed in the predetermined property and information for identifying the property to the management server <NUM>. Next, the management server <NUM> receives the first information for identifying the use side device <NUM> installed in the predetermined property and the information for identifying the property from the terminal <NUM>.

At Step <NUM> (S32), based on the information for identifying the property received at S31, the management server <NUM> refers to information on each use side device to be installed in the property stored in the auxiliary storage device <NUM> or the like. The management server <NUM> collates the information for identifying the use side device received at S31 with the information on the use side device to be installed in the property referenced in the auxiliary storage device <NUM> or the like. If the two match, the management server <NUM> determines that the use side device <NUM> is correctly connected with the remote controller <NUM> to be connected. If the two do not match, the management server <NUM> determines that the use side device <NUM> is not correctly connected with the remote controller <NUM> to be connected (i.e., the use side device <NUM> to be connected is not connected, or the use side device <NUM> not to be connected is connected).

As described above, the management server <NUM> includes the auxiliary storage device <NUM> or the like in which information on each use side device (e.g., the appliance ID or the like of the use side device <NUM>) to be installed in each property is stored. The management server <NUM> collates the information (e.g., the appliance ID or the like of the use side device <NUM>) for identifying the use side device <NUM> received at S31 with the information (e.g., the appliance ID or the like of the use side device <NUM>) of the use side device to be installed in the property stored in the auxiliary storage device <NUM> or the like.

At Step <NUM> (S33), if it is determined at S32 that the two do not match, the management server <NUM> transmits an error to the terminal <NUM>. Next, the terminal <NUM> executes, for example, displaying the error received from the management server <NUM>.

In this way, in the one embodiment in the present disclosure, it is possible to determine whether a use side device <NUM> is correctly connected with a remote controller <NUM> to be connected, by collating the information for identifying the use side device <NUM> (i.e., the information for identifying the use side device <NUM> that is actually connected to the remote controller <NUM>) obtained by the terminal <NUM> from the remote controller <NUM>, with the information on each use side device to be installed in a predetermined property (i.e., the use side device to be installed in the property (e.g., a site where the user <NUM> is performing setting operations on the remote controller <NUM>)).

Claim 1:
A system (<NUM>) comprising:
a use side device (<NUM>) of an air conditioner (<NUM>);
a terminal (<NUM>); and
a management server (<NUM>),
wherein
the terminal (<NUM>) transmits first information for identifying the use side device (<NUM>) installed in a predetermined property to the management server (<NUM>), and
the management server (<NUM>) stores second information as information on a use side device (<NUM>) to be installed in the predetermined property, and based on the first information and the second information received from the terminal (<NUM>), the management server (<NUM>) determines whether the use side device installed in the predetermined property matches the use side device (<NUM>) to be installed in the predetermined property,
the system (<NUM>) further comprising a remote controller (<NUM>) being connected to the use side device (<NUM>), wherein the remote controller (<NUM>) transmits information for identifying the use side device (<NUM>) to the terminal (<NUM>), and wherein the terminal (<NUM>) receives the information for identifying the use side device (<NUM>) from the remote controller (<NUM>), and generates the first information; and
wherein the management server (<NUM>) receives the first information for identifying the use side device (<NUM>) connected to the remote controller (<NUM>) from the terminal (<NUM>), and determines whether the use side device (<NUM>) of the air conditioner (<NUM>) is correctly connected with the remote controller (<NUM>).