Patent Description:
Large buildings such as commercial facilities and office buildings usually have a large number of pieces of equipment, which are centrally managed by a central management device. The central management device obtains operational state information sequentially from each piece of equipment and holds the operational state information.

The central management device is capable of communicating with equipment management devices which are operation terminals for administrators of the equipment to perform equipment management, and the administrator uses the operation terminal to change the operational state of the equipment. To change the operational state of the equipment, the administrator first accesses the central management device through the operation terminal to have an equipment management screen for managing the equipment in the building displayed on the display of the operation terminal. This equipment management screen shows arranged icons representing the pieces of equipment under management. The administrator can check the operational state of each piece of equipment on this equipment management screen and can also select an icon representing a desired piece of equipment and operate the icon to change the operational state, for example, operation/stop of the piece of equipment.

<CIT> discloses a display-information generator configured to generate display information on an icon, the icon has an outer frame and a first area set to part inside the outer frame, a touchscreen is configured to display the display information generated by the display-information generator onto a screen and to input information on an operation performed on the displayed screen through the touchscreen, and an information generator which is configured to generate information on a slide operation when the information generator detects the slide operation. The slide operation is an operation performed on the screen displayed on the touchscreen such that the slide operation starts in the first area.

<CIT> discloses a touchscreen operation switch comprising:.

Patent Literature <NUM> and <NUM> also cover relevant prior art.

For the operation terminals for performing foregoing equipment management, tablet terminals equipped with a capacitive touchscreen or the like have been widely used in recent years. Tablet terminals equipped with a touchscreen allow the administrator to change the operational state of a desired piece of equipment easily by simply performing touch operations on an icon representing the piece of equipment on a displayed equipment management screen.

However, although a capacitive touchscreen makes it easy to designate and operate a piece of equipment, there is a possibility that even when the screen is touched without an intention of operation, the icon is selected and an erroneous operation occurs. To prevent such erroneous operations, changing the operational state of a piece of equipment requires two or more actions, instead of one action, to determine the operation, so that an operation intended by the administrator can be correctly applied to the operation of the equipment.

For example, when an operation is performed on an icon representing a piece of equipment, a screen is newly displayed for an operation to change the operational state. Then, when a specified operation has been performed on this screen, the corresponding process is executed. Alternatively, when an operation is performed on an icon representing a piece of equipment (for example, an icon representing a specified air conditioner), a screen is newly displayed for checking the intention of the administrator, such as "Are you sure that you want to start (or stop) the operation of the air conditioner?". If an operation to show the agreement to start or stop the air conditioning operation has been performed on this screen, the corresponding process is executed.

Such a two-step operation for changing the operational state prevents erroneous operations in the case where the administrator inadvertently touches the equipment management screen, but on the other hand, there is a problem that this makes the operation complicated for the administrator.

The invention has been made in light of the above situation, and an object of the invention is to provide a touchscreen operation switch, in which operations intended by the administrator can be performed easily on icons displayed on the touchscreen.

To achieve the above object, the touchscreen operation switch according to the independent claim according to the invention is associated with at least one of multiple pieces of equipment in a building under management and includes a display-information generator, a touchscreen, and an action-control-information generator. The display-information generator is configured to generate display information on a management screen in which a plurality of icons are arranged, each of the plurality of icons having a laterally elongated outer frame and a first area that is set inside the outer frame at one end in a major axis direction of the outer frame. The touchscreen is configured to display the generated display information on the management screen and configured to input information on an operation performed on the management screen through the touchscreen. The action-control-information generator is configured to generate action control information that switches the on/off state of a corresponding piece of equipment when the action-control-information generator detects a slide operation starting at a start position in the first area is performed on the displayed screen of the touchscreen, the slide operation performed on one of the plurality of icons on the management screen displayed on the touchscreen such that the slide operation starts at a start position in the first area and passes a first slide-operation detection line which is set in an area substantially inside the outer frame excluding the first area while the detected trajectory of the slide operation stays inside the outer frame. Finally, the slide-operation detection line not having a fixed position within the outer frame, but depending on the start position.

The embodiments relating to <FIG> and corresponding description passages are covered by the claims, whereas the embodiments relating to the remaining figures and corresponding description passages are useful for understanding the invention.

The configuration of an air conditioning system using tablet terminals, which are portable terminals equipped with a touchscreen, will be described as an embodiment of the present invention with reference to <FIG>. An air conditioning system <NUM> according to the present embodiment includes multiple air conditioners (indoor units) <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-n installed inside a three-story building, a controller <NUM> serving as a central management device connected to these air conditioners <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-n, wireless communication access points <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM> connected to the controller <NUM> via a hub <NUM>, a tablet terminal <NUM>-<NUM> wirelessly connected to the access point <NUM>-<NUM>, a tablet terminal <NUM>-<NUM> wirelessly connected to the access point <NUM>-<NUM>, and a tablet terminal <NUM>-<NUM> wirelessly connected to the access point <NUM>-<NUM>. The tablet terminals <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM> are operated by administrators of the air conditioning system <NUM>. Note that the number of tablet terminals used in the air conditioning system <NUM> may be one.

Of the air conditioners <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-n, the air conditioners <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM> are located in a shop A on the first floor of the building, the air conditioners <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM> are located in a shop B on the second floor, and the air conditioners <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-n are located in a shop C on the third floor.

In this air conditioning system <NUM>, the multiple air conditioners <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-n located inside the building correspond to pieces of equipment, and the tablet terminals <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM> correspond equipment management devices.

In the following, in the case where one of the air conditioners <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-n referred to does not have to be a specific one, it will be referred to as an "air conditioner <NUM>". In the same manner, in the case where one of the tablet terminals <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM> referred to does not have to be a specific one, it will be referred to as a "tablet terminal <NUM>". Also, in the same manner, in the case where one of the access points <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM> referred to does not have to be a specific one, it will be referred to as an "access point <NUM>".

The controller <NUM> communicates with the air conditioners <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-n to send action control information for controlling the operation of the air conditioners <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-n as necessary and to receive operational state information on the air conditioners <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-n at specified time intervals.

Each tablet terminal <NUM> includes, as illustrated in <FIG>, a touchscreen <NUM>, an operation-item determination part <NUM>, a display-information generator <NUM>, an action-control-information generator <NUM>, and a communication part <NUM>.

The touchscreen <NUM> includes an operation-information input part <NUM> and a display <NUM>. The operation-information input part <NUM> detects operation of an administrator such as touches of the administrator's finger on the touchscreen <NUM> and inputs corresponding operation information. The display <NUM> displays management screens for the air conditioners <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-n generated by the display-information generator <NUM> described later.

The operation-item determination part <NUM> determines the operation item that the administrator performed, based on operation information inputted from the operation-information input part <NUM>. Examples of operation items include an operation for starting management work, operations for changing the operating condition of a specific air conditioner, and an operation for ending the management work. Examples of operations for changing the operating condition of a specific air conditioner include an operation for starting the air conditioning operation (turning on) and an operation for stopping the air conditioning operation (turning off). The display-information generator <NUM> generates display information to be displayed on the display <NUM> based on the operation item determined by the operation-item determination part <NUM>. The action-control-information generator <NUM> generates action control information for the air conditioners <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-n, for example, operation-start-instruction information or operation-stop-instruction information, based on the operation item determined by the operation-item determination part <NUM>. The communication part <NUM> communicates with the controller <NUM> via an access point <NUM>.

Next, the operation of the air conditioning system <NUM> according to the present embodiment will be described. In the air conditioning system <NUM>, the controller <NUM> obtains operational state information on the air conditioners <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-n at specified time intervals and holds it.

The operation for the case where an administrator uses a tablet terminal <NUM> to do management work for the air conditioners <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-n is described with reference to <FIG> is a flowchart illustrating the process executed by the tablet terminal <NUM> when an administrator operates a tablet terminal <NUM> to do management work for the air conditioners <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-n.

First, when the administrator operates the touchscreen <NUM> of the tablet terminal <NUM> to start the management work for the air conditioners <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-n, this operation information is inputted through the operation-information input part <NUM>. The inputted operation information is obtained by the operation-item determination part <NUM>, and based on this operation information, the operation item is determined. In this case, it is determined that the operation for starting management work has been performed by the administrator ("YES" at S1), and the display-information generator <NUM> generates display information on a management screen with the latest operational state information on the air conditioners <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-n. The generated display information is sent to the display <NUM> of the touchscreen <NUM>, and the corresponding management screen is displayed (S2). Note that in the case where the tablet terminal <NUM> is a terminal dedicated to the equipment management, the management screen may be displayed by default without the operation for starting the management work.

An example of the management screen displayed on the display <NUM> is illustrated in <FIG>. The management screen <NUM> in <FIG> has an area-designation-button display section <NUM> and an air-conditioner-icon display section <NUM>. The area-designation-button display section <NUM> is displaying an operation button 61a for designating "the shop A on the first floor" as the management-work target area, an operation button 61b for designating "the shop B on the second floor", and an operation button 61c for designating "the shop C on the third floor". The number of operation buttons and the display information on the buttons displayed in the area-designation-button display section <NUM> are changed depending on the number of management target areas and what each area is.

<FIG> shows a state where "the shop B on the second floor" is designated by tapping the operation button 61b in the area-designation-button display section <NUM> on the screen. The air-conditioner-icon display section <NUM> is displaying air-conditioner icons <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM> in order, respectively associated with the multiple air conditioners <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM> in "the shop B on the second floor" designated in the area-designation-button display section <NUM>. These air-conditioner icons <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM> function as operation switches for controlling the operation of the respective air conditioners <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM>.

The present embodiment illustrates a case where one air-conditioner icon is associated with one air conditioner but is not limited to this case. One air-conditioner icon may be associated with multiple air conditioners. In the case where one air-conditioner icon is associated with multiple air conditioners, the operation of this air-conditioner icon controls the associated multiple air conditioners collectively.

In the following, in the case where one of the air-conditioner icons <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM> referred to does not have to be a specific one, it will be referred to an "air-conditioner icon <NUM>". A detailed configuration of the air-conditioner icon <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG>. Each air-conditioner icon <NUM> has a laterally elongated oval outer frame 63a, an in-operation mode display area 63b corresponding to a first area, a set-temperature-information display area 63c corresponding to a second area, and a pre-stop mode display area 63d corresponding to a third area. The in-operation mode display area 63b is a part inside the outer frame 63a and set at the right end, which is one end in the major axis direction. The set-temperature-information display area 63c is a part inside the outer frame 63a and set in an area other than the in-operation mode display area 63b. The pre-stop mode display area 63d is a part inside the outer frame 63a and set at the other end in the major axis direction, in other words, at the left end which is opposite to the in-operation mode display area 63b. The in-operation mode display area 63b and the pre-stop mode display area 63d are circular.

When the power of the air conditioner <NUM> associated with this air-conditioner icon <NUM> is on, a circular outer frame 63b1 is displayed at approximately the same position as the outer edge of the in-operation mode display area 63b, and an operation mode graphic 63b2 indicating the operation mode of the air conditioner <NUM> is displayed inside the outer frame 63b1. In <FIG>, a graphic 63b2 indicating that cooling is in operation is displayed in the air-conditioner icons <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM>, a graphic 63b2 indicating that heating is in operation is displayed in the air-conditioner icon <NUM>-<NUM>, and a graphic 63b2 indicating that dehumidification is in operation is displayed in the air-conditioner icon <NUM>-<NUM>. The outer edge of the in-operation mode display area 63b does not have to agree perfectly with the outer frame 63b1, but the outer frame 63b1 may be drawn a little inside the outer edge of the in-operation mode display area 63b.

The set-temperature-information display area 63c, when the corresponding air conditioner <NUM> is in operation (in the on state), displays information 63c1 indicating the temperature set for the air conditioner <NUM>. The pre-stop mode display area 63d, when the corresponding air conditioner <NUM> is stopped (in the off state), displays a circular outer frame 63d1 at approximately the same position as the outer edge of the pre-stop mode display area 63d and also displays an operation mode graphic 63d2 inside the outer frame 63d1 indicating the operation mode of the air conditioner <NUM> immediately before being stopped. In the same manner as for the in-operation mode display area 63b, the outer edge of the pre-stop mode display area 63d does not have to agree perfectly with the outer frame 63d1, but the outer frame 63d1 may be drawn a little inside the outer edge of the pre-stop mode display area 63d.

When the air conditioner <NUM> is on, the pre-stop mode display area 63d shows no indication, but the entire air-conditioner icon <NUM> including the outer frame 63a, display information in the in-operation mode display area 63b, and display information in the set-temperature-information display area 63c is displayed as a color image. When the air conditioner <NUM> is off, the in-operation mode display area 63b and the set-temperature-information display area 63c show no indication, but, as with the air-conditioner icon <NUM>-<NUM> in <FIG>, the entire air-conditioner icon <NUM> including the outer frame 63a and display information in the pre-stop mode display area 63d is displayed as a monochrome (black and white) image.

Although the position of the pre-stop mode display area 63d is overlapped with the set-temperature-information display area 63c as described above, the display information pieces of these areas will not be overlapped because the set-temperature-information display area 63c is used only when the air conditioner <NUM> is on, and the pre-stop mode display area 63d is used only when the air conditioner <NUM> is off.

The air conditioners <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM> are currently on, and accordingly the management screen <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> is displaying all the air-conditioner icons <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM> as color images in the air-conditioner-icon display section <NUM>. The air conditioners <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM> are operating in a cooling mode, and accordingly the in-operation mode display area 63b inside each of the air-conditioner icons <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM> shows the graphic 63b2 indicating the cooling mode. The air conditioner <NUM>-<NUM> is operating in a heating mode, and accordingly the in-operation mode display area 63b inside the air-conditioner icon <NUM>-<NUM> shows the graphic 63b2 indicating the heating mode. The air conditioner <NUM>-<NUM> is operating in a humidification mode, and accordingly the in-operation mode display area 63b inside the air-conditioner icon <NUM>-<NUM> shows the graphic 63b2 indicating the humidification mode. The temperature currently set for the air conditioners <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM> is <NUM>, and accordingly, the set-temperature-information display area 63c inside each of the air-conditioner icons <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM> shows information 63c1 indicating that the set temperature is "<NUM>°".

The operation for the case where an administrator uses this management screen to change the power of the air conditioner <NUM>-<NUM> from the on state to the off state.

In the case where the air conditioner <NUM>-<NUM> which is the operation target is on, when an administrator touches a specified position inside the in-operation mode display area 63b on the air-conditioner icon <NUM>-<NUM> associated with this air conditioner <NUM>-<NUM> ("YES" at S3), information indicating that this position has been touched is inputted through the operation-information input part <NUM> and obtained by the operation-item determination part <NUM>.

When the operation-item determination part <NUM> obtains the information indicating that a specified position inside the in-operation mode display area 63b has been touched, a timer T inside the operation-item determination part <NUM> starts time counting (S4). The timer T counts the time for which the screen is being touched.

After that, when the administrator performs a slide operation from the specified position inside the in-operation mode display area 63b where the administrator is touching to the left which is the direction toward the pre-stop mode display area 63d, this operation information is inputted through the operation-information input part <NUM>. Based on the inputted operation information, the operation-item determination part <NUM> determines whether the path of the slide operation passes on a specified slide-operation detection line 63e (S6) within a specified slide-operation detection area inside the outer frame 63a ("NO" at S5).

The slide-operation detection area used in the process at step S5 and the slide-operation detection line used in the process at S6 are set by the operation-item determination part <NUM>. In the following, examples (<NUM>) to (<NUM>) of the operation-item determination part <NUM> setting a slide-operation detection area and a slide-operation detection line will be described.

Example (<NUM>) of setting a slide-operation detection area and a slide-operation detection line will be described with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>. In the example of <FIG>, all the area of the outer frame 63a of the corresponding air-conditioner icon <NUM> is set as a slide-operation detection area M. As the slide-operation detection line 63e, a line oriented in the minor axis direction is set in the area inside the outer frame 63a of the air-conditioner icon <NUM>, excluding the in-operation mode display area 63b and the pre-stop mode display area 63d, in other words, in the area between the in-operation mode display area 63b and the pre-stop mode display area 63d. This slide-operation detection line 63e is used in common to detect a slide operation from the in-operation mode display area 63b and to detect a slide operation from the pre-stop mode display area 63d.

In the example of <FIG>, all the area inside the outer frame 63a of the air-conditioner icon <NUM> is set as the slide-operation detection area M, as in the example of <FIG>. However, in this case, a slide-operation detection line for detecting the slide operation from the in-operation mode display area 63b and a slide-operation detection line for detecting the slide operation from the pre-stop mode display area are set at different positions.

Specifically, a first slide-operation detection line 63e1 for detecting the slide operation from the in-operation mode display area 63b is set at the position shifted by specified distance D1 in the left direction from the center line 63f that divides the air-conditioner icon <NUM> into two equal parts in the right-left direction. A second slide-operation detection line 63e2 for detecting the slide operation from the pre-stop mode display area 63d is set at the position shifted by specified distance D2 in the right direction from the center line 63f. In <FIG>, the center line 63f and the dashed double-dotted lines extending outside the outer frame 63a from the first and second slide-operation detection lines 63e1 and 63e2 are drawn only for explanation and are not used for the detection process of slide operations.

Since the slide-operation detection line 63e1 for detecting the slide operation in the left direction is shifted to the left, and the second slide-operation detection line 63e2 for detecting the slide operation in the right direction is shifted to the right, as described above, the detection range for slide operations are further limited, so that it is possible to reduce erroneous determinations caused by inadvertent operations. Distance D1 from the center line 63f to the slide-operation detection line 63e1 and distance D2 from the center line 63f to the slide-operation detection line 63e2 may be the same or different. For operations for which erroneous determination needs to be avoided with high accuracy, the detection range of the slide operation can be further limited by increasing the distance of the shift from the center line 63f.

Example (<NUM>) of setting a slide-operation detection area and a slide-operation detection line will be described with reference to <FIG>. In setting example (<NUM>), all the area of the outer frame 63a of the corresponding air-conditioner icon <NUM> is set as a slide-operation detection area M. A slide-operation detection line 63e is set, when an administrator touches a specified position inside the in-operation mode display area 63b at step S3, based on the touched position. Specifically, when a position Sa inside the in-operation mode display area 63b is touched as illustrated in <FIG>, point Sa1 is determined which is specified distance l away from the touched position Sa in the direction in parallel with the major axis of the outer frame 63a toward the pre-stop mode display area 63d. Then, straight line La that includes point Sa1 and is oriented in the minor axis direction within the outer frame 63a is set as a slide-operation detection line 63e. Specified distance l is set in advance such that the point Sa1 is set in the area within the outer frame 63a excluding the in-operation mode display area 63b.

Example (<NUM>) of setting a slide-operation detection area and a slide-operation detection line will be described with reference to <FIG>. In setting example (<NUM>), all the area of the outer frame 63a of the corresponding air-conditioner icon <NUM> is set as a slide-operation detection area M. A slide-operation detection line 63e is set, when an administrator touches a specified position inside the in-operation mode display area 63b at step S3, based on the touched position. Specifically, when a position Sb inside the in-operation mode display area 63b is touched as illustrated in <FIG>, curved line Lb that is part of the arc of the circle centered on the touched position Sb and having radius r, the part corresponding to the inside of the outer frame 63a, is set as a slide-operation detection line 63e. Radius r is set as illustrated in <FIG> such that the arc of the circle intersects the outer frame 63a at two points.

Although in the foregoing setting examples (<NUM>) to (<NUM>), all the area inside the outer frame 63a of the corresponding air-conditioner icon <NUM> is set as the slide-operation detection area M, part of the area inside the outer frame 63a, including the slide-operation detection line 63e may be set as a slide-operation detection area.

Example (<NUM>) of setting a slide-operation detection area and a slide-operation detection line will be described with reference to <FIG>. In setting example (<NUM>), both the slide-operation detection area M and the slide-operation detection line 63e are set, when an administrator touches a specified position inside the in-operation mode display area 63b at step S3, based on the touched position. Specifically, when a position Sc on the upper side inside the in-operation mode display area 63b is touched as illustrated in <FIG>, part Lc0 inside the outer frame 63a of the arc of the circle centered on the touched position Sc and having radius r is set as a slide-operation detection line 63e. Radius r is set such that the arc of the circle intersects the outer frame 63a at two points.

In <FIG>, an arc of the circle centered on the touched position Sc and having radius r intersects the outer frame 63a at two points: point c1 and point c2, and part of this arc between point c1 and point c2 is set as a slide-operation detection line 63e. Then, the area (the hatched area in <FIG>) M that includes the slide-operation detection line 63e and is surrounded by straight line Lc1 connecting the touched position Sc and point c1, straight line Lc2 connecting the touched position Sc and point c2, and the outer frame 63a is set as a slide-operation detection area. Since the slide-operation detection area M is set as described above, the detection range of the slide operation from the touched position Sc toward the pre-stop mode display area 63d is further limited, and thus it is possible to reduce erroneous determinations caused by inadvertent operations.

In this setting example (<NUM>), the same or a similar process is applied also in the case where an administrator touches a position on the lower side inside the in-operation mode display area 63b. As illustrated in <FIG>, the area (the hatched area in <FIG>) M that includes a slide-operation detection line 63e set based on a touched position Sd and is surrounded by straight line Ld1 connecting the touched position Sd and point d1, straight line Ld2 connecting the touched position Sd and point d2, and the outer frame 63a is set as a slide-operation detection area.

Note that theses slide-operation detection area M and slide-operation detection line 63e are set internally to determine an operation on the screen of the tablet terminal <NUM> and hence are not displayed on the actual management screen <NUM>. Although these setting examples are examples of the operation determination from the on state to the off state, the same or a similar setting is applied also in the case of the operation determination from the off state to the on state. Specifically, in the case of the operation determination from the off state to the on state, the start point of the touched position is inside the pre-stop mode display area 63d, and the slide-operation detection line 63e is set on the in-operation mode display area 63b side on the right side in the figure.

When it is determined, using the slide-operation set area M and the slide-operation detection line 63e set according to one of the foregoing setting examples of (<NUM>) to (<NUM>) or a combination of these, that the path of the slide operation has passed on the corresponding slide-operation detection line 63e within the corresponding slide-operation detection area M ("YES" at S6), it is determined that the operation to stop the corresponding air conditioner <NUM>-<NUM> has been performed.

For example, when a slide operation is performed as illustrated in <FIG> using the slide-operation set area M and the slide-operation detection line 63e according to setting example (<NUM>), from a first operation start position S1 inside the in-operation mode display area 63b (the position at which the screen was touched at first) to a first operation end position E1 (the position at which the touch operation separated from the screen in the end), the path passes on the slide-operation detection line 63e at point A inside the outer frame 63a during the slide operation. Thus, the operation-item determination part <NUM> determines that the operation to stop the associated air conditioner <NUM>-<NUM> has been performed.

When a slide operation is performed from a second operation start position S2 inside the in-operation mode display area 63b to a second operation end position E2, the path reaches the extension line of the slide-operation detection line 63e (an imaginary part indicated with a dashed double-dotted line in <FIG>) at point B outside the outer frame 63a, and hence this slide operation is not detected by the operation-item determination part <NUM>. As above, even though the direction of a slide operation is the major axis direction (the left direction), a slide operation the path of which got out of the outer frame 63a without passing on the slide-operation detection line 63e is not detected.

In other words, for the operation of the air conditioner <NUM> from the on state to the off state, the operation-item determination part <NUM> determines that a slide operation is valid only in the case where in a continuous slide operation on the screen from the position within the in-operation mode display area 63b at which the screen was first touched, the slide operation passes on the slide-operation detection line 63e set inside the slide-operation detection area M. In other words, operations other than this are not determined to be valid.

When it is determined that an operation to stop the air conditioner <NUM>-<NUM> has been performed, the action-control-information generator <NUM> generates operation stop information, which is then transmitted to the controller <NUM> via the communication part <NUM>. The controller <NUM>, based on the received operation-stop-instruction information, switches the corresponding air conditioner <NUM>-<NUM> from the on state to the off state.

When it is determined that an operation to stop the air conditioner <NUM>-<NUM> has been performed, the display-information generator <NUM> changes the air-conditioner icon <NUM>-<NUM> inside the management screen <NUM> displayed on the display <NUM> from a color image to a monochrome image to indicate that the corresponding air conditioner <NUM>-<NUM> has been put into the off state. The management screen <NUM> after the change will be described with reference to <FIG>. On the management screen <NUM> after the change, the outer frame 63b1 of the in-operation mode display area 63b inside this air-conditioner icon <NUM>-<NUM>, the graphic 63b2 indicating the operational state of the air conditioner <NUM>-<NUM> (the graphic indicating the cooling mode at the time before the operation is stopped), and the information 63c1 indicating the set temperature in the set-temperature-information display area 63c (information "<NUM>°" at the time before the operation is stopped) are hidden, and the circular outer frame 63d1 of the pre-stop mode display area 63d is displayed. In addition, inside the circular outer frame 63d1 of the pre-stop mode display area 63d is displayed the graphic 63d2 indicating the cooling mode which is the operation mode of the air conditioner <NUM>-<NUM> at the time immediately before this operation. Although in <FIG>, the circular outer frame 63d1 of the pre-stop mode display area 63d and the graphic 63d2 are depicted with dashed lines to indicate that these are displayed in monochrome, they are displayed with black solid lines on the actual screen.

In addition, when it is determined that the operation to stop the air conditioner <NUM>-<NUM> has been performed, the timer T inside the operation-item determination part <NUM> is reset (S7).

After a slide operation starts in the foregoing process, when it is determined that the path of the slide operation got out of the slide-operation detection area ("YES" at S5), the operation-item determination part <NUM> determines that this slide operation is not an operation to switch the air conditioner <NUM>-<NUM> from the on state to the off state, and the timer T is reset (S10).

For example, assume that the slide-operation detection area M and the slide-operation detection line 63e are set according to the foregoing setting example (<NUM>), and that as illustrated in <FIG>, a slide operation begins with a touch operation to point S3, the path gets out of the air-conditioner icon <NUM> at point C on the outer frame 63a, after that, the path returns to the inside of the outer frame 63a, next, the path passes on the slide-operation detection line 63e, and then the finger separates from the screen at point E3 in the figure. In this case, when the path gets out of the outer frame 63a of the air-conditioner icon <NUM> at point C during the slide operation, it is determined that this is not an operation to switch the on/off of the air conditioner. This makes even lower the possibility that an inadvertent touch is determined to be a valid operation.

In addition, assume that after a slide operation starts, the path of the slide operation remains within the slide-operation detection area but that the slide operation ends by the finger separating from the screen without passing on the slide-operation detection line 63e ("NO" at S5, "NO" at S6, "YES" at S11). Also in this case, it is determined that this slide operation is not an operation to switch the air conditioner <NUM>-<NUM> from the on state to the off state, and the timer T is reset (S10).

In addition, assume that after a slide operation starts, the path of the slide operation remains within the slide-operation detection area, but that by the time when the count value of the timer T exceeds a threshold set in advance, the path does not pass on the slide-operation detection line 63e, and that it is determined that the execution time for the slide operation has exceeded a specified time ("NO" at S5, "NO" at S6, "NO" at S11, and "YES" at S12). Also in this case, it is determined that this slide operation is not an operation to switch the air conditioner <NUM>-<NUM> from the on state to the off state, and the timer T is reset (S10). If the count value of the timer T has not exceeded the threshold at step S12 ("NO" at S12), the process returns to step S5, and the process for determining whether this slide operation is an air-conditioner on/off-switch operation is repeated.

After the timer T is reset at step S7 or S10, during the time until the operation to finish management work is performed ("NO" at S8), the process of steps S3 to S12 is repeated every time a specified position inside the in-operation mode display area 63b of an air-conditioner icon <NUM> in the on state or inside the pre-stop mode display area 63d of an air-conditioner icon <NUM> in the off state is touched.

For example, in the case where an administrator performs a slide operation from the pre-stop mode display area 63d in the right direction on the air-conditioner icon <NUM>-<NUM> shown to be in the off state, this operation information is inputted through the operation-information input part <NUM>. Then, based on the inputted operation information, when the operation-item determination part <NUM> detects that a slide operation was performed from the pre-stop mode display area 63d such that the slide operation passed on the slide-operation detection line 63e within the slide-operation detection area, it is determined that an operation to start the air conditioning operation of the corresponding air conditioner <NUM>-<NUM> has been performed ("YES" at S3, S4, "NO" at S5, "YES" at S6, S7).

Also for the operation of the air conditioner <NUM> from the off state to the on state as described above, the operation-item determination part <NUM> determines that a slide operation is valid in the case where in a continuous slide operation on the screen from the position within the pre-stop mode display area 63d at which the screen was first touched, the slide operation passes on the slide-operation detection line 63e within the slide-operation detection area, as in the operation from the on state to the off state.

When it is determined that an operation to start (turn on) the air conditioning operation of the air conditioner <NUM>-<NUM> has been performed, the action-control-information generator <NUM> generates operation start information, which is then transmitted to the controller <NUM> via the communication part <NUM>. The controller <NUM>, based on the received operation-start-instruction information, switches the corresponding air conditioner <NUM>-<NUM> from the off state to the on state. In this case, the air conditioner <NUM>-<NUM> resumes its operation in "the cooling mode with a set temperature of <NUM>" which is the same operational state as the one immediately before the stop operation.

When it is determined that an operation to start the operation of the air conditioner <NUM>-<NUM> has been performed, the display-information generator <NUM> changes the air-conditioner icon <NUM>-<NUM> displayed on the display <NUM> from a monochrome image to a color image to indicate that the corresponding air conditioner <NUM>-<NUM> has been put into the on state. After the change, the outer frame 63d1 of the pre-stop mode display area 63d inside this the air-conditioner icon <NUM>-<NUM> and the graphic 63d2 inside it are hidden, and the in-operation mode display area 63b and the set-temperature-information display area 63c are displayed. At this time, the in-operation mode display area 63b shows the outer frame 63b1 of the in-operation mode display area 63b and the graphic 63b2 indicating the cooling mode which is the operation mode when the operation resumes, and the set-temperature-information display area 63c shows "<NUM>°" as the information 63c1 indicating the set temperature.

In addition, when it is determined that an operation to start the operation of the air conditioner <NUM>-<NUM> has been performed, the timer T inside the operation-item determination part <NUM> is reset (S7).

When an administrator performs an operation to stop the management work on the management screen <NUM>, this operation information is inputted through the operation-information input part <NUM>, and the operation-item determination part <NUM> determines the operation item. When the operation-item determination part <NUM> determines that an operation to stop the management work has been performed ("YES" at S8), the display-information generator <NUM> stops displaying the management screen <NUM> on the display <NUM> (S9).

Note that in the case where a touch operation starts on the displayed management screen <NUM> from a position outside the in-operation mode display area of an air-conditioner icon <NUM> in the on state or outside the pre-stop mode display area of an air-conditioner icon <NUM> in the off state ("NO" at S3), the operation-item determination part <NUM> determines that this operation is not an operation to switch the on/off state of the air conditioner.

The embodiment described above makes it possible to execute the on/off switching of a desired air conditioner that an administrator intends to operate with one simple operation on an icon on the management screen displayed on the touchscreen of a tablet terminal.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the management screen needs to display information related to a large number of air conditioners <NUM> on its screen. Accordingly, each individual air-conditioner icon <NUM> needs to be small. However, the on/off switching of an air conditioner is an important operation, and hence, erroneous determinations have to be avoided as much as possible. In other words, touch operations on small icons have to be determined correctly without erroneous determinations, and the operations that an administrator intends need to be reliably applied to the system.

In the foregoing embodiment, the operation to switch the on/off state of an air conditioner by an administrator is determined to be valid in the case where the slide operation passes on the slide-operation detection line 63e within the slide-operation detection area in a continuous slide operation from a position at which the screen is first touched within the in-operation mode display area 63b of an air-conditioner icon <NUM> in the on state or within the pre-stop mode display area 63d of an air-conditioner icon <NUM> in the off state.

Since the determination by the operation-item determination part <NUM> uses, as described above, not only the start position and slide direction of the slide operation but a condition that "the slide operation passes on the slide-operation detection line 63e within the slide-operation detection area" which is the path in the middle of the slide operation, the possibility of erroneously determining that the operation from the off state to the on state or the operation from the on state to the off state has been performed is low even if one of the air-conditioner icons is inadvertently touched. This makes as small as possible the possibility of the occurrence of an erroneous operation to switch the on/off state of a corresponding air conditioner even if an administrator or the like inadvertently touches the management screen of the touchscreen.

In the foregoing embodiment, when an administrator performs a specified operation on one of the operation buttons 61a to 61c for designating the management-work target area or one of the air-conditioner icons <NUM>, the display-information generator <NUM> may display a detailed management screen <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG> on the display <NUM>. Use of the detailed management screen <NUM> allows the administrator to control the operation of the corresponding air conditioner <NUM> further in detail. The detailed management screen <NUM> shows a power button 64a, cooling-mode button 64b, heating-mode button 64c, ventilation-mode button 64d, humidification-mode button 64e, temperature setting area 64f, air-direction switch button <NUM>, fan-speed switch button <NUM>, and filter reset button 64i.

When an administrator touches the power button 64a on the detailed management screen <NUM>, the action-control-information generator <NUM> generates control information for switching the on/off state of the corresponding air conditioner <NUM>. When the administrator touches the cooling-mode button 64b, heating-mode button 64c, ventilation-mode button 64d, or humidification-mode button 64e, the action-control-information generator <NUM> generates control information for switching the operation mode of the corresponding air conditioner <NUM> to the mode that the operated button indicates. When the administrator changes the display information in the temperature setting area 64f, the action-control-information generator <NUM> generates control information for changing the set temperature of the corresponding air conditioner <NUM>. When the administrator touches the air-direction switch button <NUM>, the action-control-information generator <NUM> generates control information for changing the air direction of the corresponding air conditioner <NUM>. When the administrator touches the fan-speed switch button <NUM>, the action-control-information generator <NUM> generates control information for changing the fan speed of the corresponding air conditioner <NUM>. When the administrator touches the filter reset button 64i after the filter of the corresponding air conditioner <NUM> is replaced, the action-control-information generator <NUM> generates control information for resetting the value indicating the time until the next filter replacement. Generated control information is transmitted to the controller <NUM> via the communication part <NUM>, and the controller <NUM> control the operation of the corresponding air conditioner <NUM>.

Note that the foregoing embodiment is described for a case where the ends of the slide-operation detection line 63e used for the operation-item determination part <NUM> to determine whether a slide operation on the touchscreen <NUM> is valid are located on the outer frame 63a. However, the ends of the slide-operation detection line 63e do not have to be exactly on the outer frame 63a but may be at positions a little different from the outer frame 63a as long as the positions are in the vicinities of the outer frame 63a and can be considered to be substantially on the outer frame 63a. In other words, when a slide operation was performed from the in-operation mode display area 63b or the pre-stop mode display area 63d such that the slide operation passed the slide-operation detection line 63e substantially within the outer frame 63a, the action-control-information generator <NUM> switches the on/off state of the air conditioner <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A touchscreen operation switch (<NUM>) comprising:
a display-information generator (<NUM>) configured to generate display information on an icon (<NUM>), the icon having an outer frame (63a) and a first area (63b) set to a part inside the outer frame (63a);
a touchscreen (<NUM>) configured to display the display information generated by the display-information generator (<NUM>) onto a screen and configured to input information on an operation performed on the displayed screen through the touchscreen (<NUM>); and
an information generator (<NUM>) configured to generate information on a slide operation when the slide operation starting in at a start position (Sa, Sb, Sc, Sd) in the first area (63b) is performed on the displayed screen of the touchscreen (<NUM>),
the information generator (<NUM>) detects a trajectory of the slide operation that passes a slide-operation detection line (63e, 63e1),
the slide-operation detection line (63e, 63e1) is set in an area inside the outer frame (63a) excluding the first area (63b) while the detected trajectory of the slide operation stays inside the outer frame (63a), and
the slide-operation detection line (63e, 63e1) not having a fixed position within the outer frame (63a) as its position is determined by the start position (Sa, Sb, Sc, Sd).