Patent Description:
There is a known air conditioner control system in which an air conditioner and a server apparatus are connected via a public line such as the Internet to control the air conditioner remotely. According to the air conditioner control system, for example, when a malfunction occurs in the air conditioner, an emergency operation can be started remotely. <CIT> describes a fault handling method for an air conditioning system. The claimed subject matter differs from <CIT> in that the control unit is configured to transmit setting information for an emergency operation to the air conditioner after instructing to stop operation of all indoor units of the air conditioner, in response to receiving a report indicating malfunction from the air conditioner.

On the other hand, in the case of the above air conditioner control system, an emergency operation may be unintentionally started remotely when a worker is performing an operation on the site in response to the occurrence of an air conditioner malfunction.

The present invention provides an air conditioner control system, a server apparatus, and an air conditioner control method that ensure the safety of the worker when an emergency operation is started.

An air conditioner control system according to a first aspect of present invention includes.

According to the first aspect of the invention, even when the setting information for an emergency operation is activated in the air conditioner, the emergency operation is not immediately started, but only when the remote controller of the indoor unit is operated, the emergency operation is started. That is, it is possible to avoid a situation where an emergency operation is inadvertently started. Thus, according to the first aspect of the present invention, an air conditioner control system that ensures the safety of the worker when an emergency operation is started can be provided.

Further, a second aspect of the present invention is the air conditioner control system described in the first aspect, wherein the control unit reports that the setting information for the emergency operation has been successfully set, in response to receiving a report indicating that setting of the setting information has been completed from the air conditioner.

Further, a third aspect of the present invention is the air conditioner control system described in the first aspect, wherein the control unit instructs to stop operation of all of the indoor units of the air conditioner and instructs the air conditioner to stop the emergency operation, in response to receiving maintenance information from the air conditioner before the emergency operation based on the setting information continues for a predetermined time period.

Further, a fourth aspect of the present invention is the air conditioner control system described in the third aspect, wherein.

Further, a server apparatus according to a fifth aspect of present invention is a server apparatus communicably connected to an air conditioner, the server apparatus including:
a control unit configured to transmit setting information for an emergency operation to the air conditioner after instructing to stop operation of all indoor units of the air conditioner, in response to receiving a report indicating malfunction from the air conditioner.

According to the fifth aspect of the invention, even when the setting information for an emergency operation is activated in the air conditioner, the emergency operation is not immediately started, but only when the remote controller of the indoor unit is operated, the emergency operation is started. That is, it is possible to avoid a situation where an emergency operation is inadvertently started. Thus, according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, a server apparatus that ensures the safety of the worker when an emergency operation is started can be provided.

Further, an air conditioner control method according to a sixth aspect of present invention is an air conditioner control method performed in an air conditioner control system including an air conditioner and a server apparatus communicably connected to the air conditioner, the air conditioner control method including:
a control step of transmitting setting information for an emergency operation to the air conditioner after instructing to stop operation of all indoor units of the air conditioner, in response to receiving a report indicating malfunction from the air conditioner.

According to the sixth aspect of the invention, even when the setting information for an emergency operation is activated in the air conditioner, the emergency operation is not immediately started, but only when the remote controller of the indoor unit is operated, the emergency operation is started. That is, it is possible to avoid a situation where an emergency operation is inadvertently started. Thus, according to the sixth aspect of the present invention, an air conditioner control method that ensures the safety of the worker when an emergency operation is started can be provided.

Each embodiment will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the present specification and drawings, with respect to elements having substantially the same functional configuration, duplicate descriptions are omitted by applying identical reference numerals.

First, the system configuration of the air conditioner control system is described. <FIG> illustrates an example of the system configuration of the air conditioner control system.

As illustrated in <FIG>, an air conditioner control system <NUM> includes an air conditioner <NUM>, an edge apparatus <NUM>, a server apparatus <NUM>, and an administrator terminal <NUM>. In the air conditioner control system <NUM>, the air conditioner <NUM> and the edge apparatus <NUM> are communicably connected via an exclusive-use communication line. Further, the edge apparatus <NUM> and the server apparatus <NUM>, and the administrator terminal <NUM> and the server apparatus <NUM>, are respectively communicatively connected via a public line such as the Internet <NUM>.

The air conditioner <NUM> includes indoor units <NUM> and <NUM> and outdoor units <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. The number of indoor units and outdoor units illustrated in <FIG> is an example, and the air conditioner <NUM> in the present embodiment has multiple indoor units and multiple outdoor units and is configured to allow an emergency operation.

The example in <FIG> illustrates that when a malfunction occurs in the outdoor unit <NUM> that is a parent unit, the remaining two outdoor units <NUM> and <NUM> that are child units, excluding the aforementioned outdoor unit <NUM> (one of the outdoor units where the malfunction has occurred), cooperate with each other to perform an emergency operation.

The edge apparatus <NUM> transmits air conditioner information output by the air conditioner <NUM> to the server apparatus <NUM> via the Internet <NUM>. The air conditioner information output by the air conditioner <NUM> includes, for example, malfunction information (report) indicating that a malfunction has occurred and information indicating the state of the air conditioner <NUM> during an emergency operation. Further, the air conditioner information output by the air conditioner <NUM> includes information (maintenance information) indicating that maintenance work has been performed by a worker <NUM> performing maintenance on the air conditioner <NUM>.

Further, the edge apparatus <NUM> also transmits instruction information transmitted from the server apparatus <NUM> via the Internet <NUM> to the air conditioner <NUM>. The instruction information transmitted by the server apparatus <NUM> to the edge apparatus <NUM> includes, for example, information instructing to stop operation of all indoor units, information instructing to set an emergency operation, information instructing to stop the emergency operation, etc..

A control program is installed in the server apparatus <NUM>, and when the program is executed, the server apparatus <NUM> functions as a control unit <NUM>.

The control unit <NUM> controls the air conditioner <NUM> remotely via the Internet <NUM>. Specifically, the control unit <NUM> receives the air conditioner information output by the air conditioner <NUM> and transmitted by the edge apparatus <NUM> via the Internet <NUM>. The control unit <NUM> also transmits instruction information corresponding to the received air conditioner information, to the edge apparatus <NUM> via the Internet <NUM> either automatically or when an apparatus manager <NUM> inputs the instruction information. Thus, the server apparatus <NUM> functioning as the control unit <NUM> can control the air conditioner <NUM> remotely.

The control unit <NUM> transmits report information corresponding to the received air conditioner information, to the administrator terminal <NUM> via the Internet <NUM>. The report information transmitted to the administrator terminal <NUM> includes, for example, information to report the start guidance of an emergency operation, information to report the success of setting information for an emergency operation, information to report beforehand the stopping of an emergency operation, information to report the stopping of an emergency operation, etc..

Further, in response to the transmission of the report information to the administrator terminal <NUM>, the control unit <NUM> receives the possibility information for an emergency operation input by an air conditioner manager <NUM>. A part of the above instruction information is transmitted to the edge apparatus <NUM> when the possibility information is received.

The administrator terminal <NUM> is a terminal operated by the air conditioner manager <NUM> (an example of a user; for example, a manager who manages a building equipped with the air conditioner <NUM>) who manages the air conditioner <NUM>. The administrator terminal <NUM> reports, to the air conditioner manager <NUM>, the report information received from the server apparatus <NUM>.

When the administrator terminal <NUM> reports the start guidance of the emergency operation, the air conditioner manager <NUM> requests a worker <NUM> to perform maintenance work and inputs the possibility information of the emergency operation. As a result, the possibility information is transmitted to the server apparatus <NUM> via the Internet <NUM>.

Next, the hardware configuration of the edge apparatus <NUM> and the server apparatus <NUM> will be described.

<FIG> illustrates an example of the hardware configuration of the edge apparatus. As illustrated in <FIG>, the edge apparatus <NUM> includes a processor <NUM>, a memory <NUM>, an auxiliary storage device <NUM>, an I/F (Interface) device <NUM>, a communication device <NUM>, and a drive device <NUM>. Each piece of hardware of the edge apparatus <NUM> is connected to each other via a bus <NUM>.

The processor <NUM> includes various computing devices such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit). The processor <NUM> reads various programs (programs for implementing the above functions of the edge apparatus <NUM>) into the memory <NUM> and executes the programs.

The memory <NUM> includes a main storage device such as a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), etc. The processor <NUM> and the memory <NUM> form what is referred to as a computer.

The auxiliary storage device <NUM> stores various programs and various kinds of data used when various programs are executed by the processor <NUM>.

The I/F device <NUM> is a device for the edge apparatus <NUM> to communicate with the air conditioner <NUM> via an exclusive-use communication line.

The communication device <NUM> is a device for the edge apparatus <NUM> to communicate with another apparatus (the server apparatus <NUM>) via the Internet <NUM>.

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

Various programs installed in the auxiliary storage device <NUM> are installed, for example, when the distributed recording medium <NUM> is set in the drive device <NUM> and various programs recorded in the recording medium <NUM> are read by the drive device <NUM>. Alternatively, various programs installed in the auxiliary storage device <NUM> may be installed by being downloaded from the Internet <NUM> via the communication device <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates an example of the hardware configuration of the server apparatus. The hardware configuration of the server apparatus <NUM> is almost the same as that of the edge apparatus <NUM>, and, therefore, the differences from the hardware configuration of the edge apparatus <NUM> will be mainly described here.

A processor <NUM> reads various programs (for example, control programs, etc.) into a memory <NUM> and executes the programs.

The memory <NUM> includes a main storage device such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) and a RAM (Random Access Memory). The processor <NUM> and the memory <NUM> form what is referred to as a computer, and when the processor <NUM> executes various programs read on the memory <NUM>, the computer implements the control unit <NUM>.

An auxiliary storage device <NUM> stores various programs and various kinds of data (for example, emergency operation history to be described later) used when various programs are executed by the processor <NUM>.

An I/F device <NUM> is a connection device connecting an operation device <NUM> and a display device <NUM>, which are examples of external devices, and the server apparatus <NUM>. The I/F device <NUM> receives an operation on the server apparatus <NUM> made by the apparatus manager <NUM> via the operation device <NUM>. Further, the I/F device <NUM> displays the results of various kinds of processing by the server apparatus <NUM>, to the apparatus manager <NUM> via the display device <NUM>.

A communication device <NUM> is a communication device for communicating with other apparatuses (the edge apparatus <NUM>, the administrator terminal <NUM>, etc.) via the Internet <NUM>.

Next, the flow of an air conditioner control process by the air conditioner control system <NUM> will be described. <FIG> is an example of a flow chart illustrating the flow of an air conditioner control process by the air conditioner control system.

In step S301, the air conditioner <NUM> determines whether a malfunction has occurred. When it is determined in step S301 that no malfunction has occurred (NO in step S301), the air conditioner waits until a malfunction occurs.

On the other hand, when it is determined in step S301 that a malfunction has occurred (YES in step S301), the air conditioner advances to step S302.

In step S302, the air conditioner <NUM>, the edge apparatus <NUM>, the server apparatus <NUM>, and the administrator terminal <NUM> perform an emergency operation starting process. Details of the emergency operation starting process will be described later with reference to <FIG>.

In step S303, the air conditioner <NUM> determines whether maintenance has been performed by the worker <NUM>. When it is determined in step S303 that maintenance has been performed (YES in step S303), the process proceeds to step S304.

In step S304, the air conditioner <NUM>, the edge apparatus <NUM>, the server apparatus <NUM>, and the administrator terminal <NUM> perform a first emergency operation ending process. Details of the first emergency operation ending process will be described later with reference to <FIG>.

On the other hand, when it is determined in step S303 that no maintenance has been performed (NO in step S303), the process proceeds to step S305.

In step S305, the server apparatus <NUM> determines whether the timing of an advance notice has been reached. An advance notice means to report an advance notice that the emergency operation will automatically stop to the administrator terminal <NUM>, before the emergency operation is stopped automatically upon continuing the emergency operation that has started in step S302 for a predetermined period of time (when a predetermined emergency operation period has passed). In the present embodiment, the emergency operation period is assumed to be seven days, and the timing of the advance notice is assumed to be the day before the last day of the emergency operation period. That is, in the present embodiment, the advance notice is assumed to be given on the sixth day after the start of the emergency operation.

When it is determined in step S305 that the timing of the advance notice has been reached (YES in step S305), the process proceeds to step S306. In step S306, the server apparatus <NUM> and the administrator terminal <NUM> perform an advance notice process and then proceed to step S307. Details of the advance notice process will be described later with reference to <FIG>.

On the other hand, when it is determined in step S305 that an advance notice timing has not been reached or that an advance notice timing has already passed (NO in step S305), the process proceeds directly to step S307.

In step S307, the server apparatus <NUM> determines whether the emergency operation has continued for a predetermined period of time (whether a predetermined emergency operation period has passed). When it is determined in step S307 that the emergency operation has not continued for a predetermined period of time (a predetermined emergency operation period has not passed) (NO in step S307), the process returns to step S303.

On the other hand, when it is determined in step S307 that the emergency operation has continued for a predetermined period of time (a predetermined emergency operation period has passed) (YES in step S307), the process proceeds to step S308.

In step S308, the air conditioner <NUM>, the edge apparatus <NUM>, the server apparatus <NUM>, and the administrator terminal <NUM> perform a second emergency operation ending process. Details of the second emergency operation ending process will be described later with reference to <FIG>.

Thus, in the air conditioner control system <NUM>, when the emergency operation is started, the time keeping of the emergency operation period is started, and when the emergency operation period has passed, the emergency operation is automatically stopped (the second emergency operation ending process in step S308). With this, according to the air conditioner control system <NUM>, it is possible to avoid a situation where an emergency operation continues for more than a predetermined period, and the risk of failure of the air conditioner during an emergency operation can be reduced.

Further, in the air conditioner control system <NUM>, the emergency operation is stopped when maintenance is performed by the worker <NUM> during the emergency operation period (the first emergency operation ending process in steps S303 and S304). With this, according to the air conditioner control system <NUM>, the emergency operation can be ended without waiting for the emergency operation period to pass, and the risk of failure of the air conditioner during emergency operation can be reduced.

Next, details of the emergency operation starting process (step S302 in <FIG>) will be described. <FIG> is an example of a sequence diagram illustrating the flow of the emergency operation starting process. As described above, when it is determined that a malfunction has occurred in the air conditioner <NUM> (YES in step S301 of <FIG>), the emergency operation starting process illustrated in <FIG> is performed.

In step S401, the air conditioner <NUM> transmits the malfunction information to the edge apparatus <NUM>.

In step S402, the edge apparatus <NUM> transmits the malfunction information transmitted from the air conditioner <NUM> to the server apparatus <NUM> via the Internet <NUM>.

In step S403, the control unit <NUM> of the server apparatus <NUM> confirms the content of the malfunction information transmitted from the edge apparatus <NUM> and determines whether an emergency operation is possible. Further, when it is determined that an emergency operation is possible, the control unit <NUM> of the server apparatus <NUM> refers to the past emergency operation history and determines whether a predetermined condition is satisfied.

Note that the control unit <NUM> of the server apparatus <NUM> determines that a predetermined condition is satisfied when, for example, the same air conditioner <NUM> has been subjected to an emergency operation within a predetermined period (for example, <NUM> days) due to the same malfunction information (malfunction code). On the other hand, the control unit <NUM> of the server apparatus <NUM> determines that a predetermined condition is not satisfied when, for example, the same air conditioner <NUM> has not been subjected to an emergency operation within a predetermined period (for example, <NUM> days) due to the same malfunction information (malfunction code).

When it is determined that the predetermined condition is not satisfied, the control unit <NUM> of the server apparatus <NUM> transmits information to report, to the administrator terminal <NUM>, the emergency operation start guidance in step S404. Accordingly, the administrator terminal <NUM> reports, to the air conditioner manager <NUM>, the emergency operation start guidance.

In step S405, in response to the report of the emergency operation start guidance, the air conditioner manager <NUM> requests the worker <NUM> to perform maintenance work, and inputs an instruction to permit or to not permit an emergency operation to the administrator terminal <NUM>.

In step S406, the administrator terminal <NUM> transmits emergency operation permission/non-permission information to the server apparatus <NUM>.

In step S407, the control unit <NUM> of the server apparatus <NUM> confirms whether the content of the malfunction information has changed and, based on the emergency operation permission/non-permission information, confirms whether the air conditioner manager <NUM> has permitted or not permitted an emergency operation.

If the content of the malfunction information has not changed and the air conditioner manager <NUM> has permitted an emergency operation, in step S408, the control unit <NUM> of the server apparatus <NUM> transmits information instructing to stop operation of all indoor units to the edge apparatus <NUM> via the Internet <NUM>.

In step S409, the edge apparatus <NUM> receives information from the server apparatus <NUM> instructing to stop operation of all indoor units and transmits the information to the air conditioner <NUM>. When the information instructing to stop operation of all indoor units is transmitted, the air conditioner <NUM> stops the operation of all indoor units (the indoor units <NUM>, <NUM>). This stops the operation of all indoor units (however, the cooling/heating mode settings, the temperature settings, etc., set for all indoor units are retained).

In step S410, the air conditioner <NUM> transmits information indicating the state of the air conditioner <NUM> during an emergency operation (that the operation of all indoor units has stopped) to the edge apparatus <NUM>.

In step S411, the edge apparatus <NUM> transmits information indicating the state of the air conditioner <NUM> during the emergency operation (that the operation of all indoor units has stopped) to the server apparatus <NUM> via the Internet <NUM>.

In step S412, the control unit <NUM> of the server apparatus <NUM> transmits information indicating the setting of the emergency operation to the edge apparatus <NUM> via the Internet <NUM>.

The information that the control unit <NUM> of the server apparatus <NUM> transmits to the edge apparatus <NUM> to instruct the setting of the emergency operation includes the emergency operation setting information (for example, a setting that prohibits the operation of an outdoor unit <NUM> and masks malfunction information about the outdoor unit <NUM>). Further, the information instructing the setting of the emergency operation may include information related to the emergency operation period (in the present embodiment, seven days).

In step S413, the edge apparatus <NUM> transmits information instructing the setting of the emergency operation to the air conditioner <NUM>.

In step S414, the air conditioner <NUM> activates the emergency operation setting information included in the information instructing the setting of the emergency operation received from the edge apparatus <NUM>.

When the emergency operation setting information is activated, in step S415, the air conditioner <NUM> transmits information (report of completion of setting) indicating the state of the air conditioner <NUM> during the emergency operation (that an emergency operation setting has been completed) to the edge apparatus <NUM>.

In step S416, the edge apparatus <NUM> transmits information indicating the state of the air conditioner <NUM> during an emergency operation (that an emergency operation setting has been completed) to the server apparatus <NUM> via the Internet <NUM>.

In step S417, the control unit <NUM> of the server apparatus <NUM> confirms that the emergency operation setting has been completed in the air conditioner <NUM>.

In step S418, the control unit <NUM> of the server apparatus <NUM> transmits, to the administrator terminal <NUM>, information reporting the success of setting information for an emergency operation in the air conditioner <NUM>. With this, the administrator terminal <NUM> reports to the air conditioner manager <NUM> that the setting information for an emergency operation has been set in the air conditioner <NUM>.

In step S419, the worker <NUM> or the air conditioner manager <NUM> instructs the start of an emergency operation based on the setting information for an emergency operation by operating the remote control of the indoor unit. With this, the air conditioner <NUM> starts an emergency operation.

When the emergency operation is started, in step S420, the air conditioner <NUM> transmits, to the edge apparatus <NUM>, information indicating the state of the air conditioner <NUM> during the emergency operation (that the emergency operation has been started).

In step S421, the edge apparatus <NUM> receives, from the air conditioner <NUM>, information indicating the state of the air conditioner <NUM> during the emergency operation (that the emergency operation has been started) and transmits the information to the server apparatus <NUM> via the Internet <NUM>.

In step S422, the control unit <NUM> of the server apparatus <NUM> starts the time keeping of the emergency operation period.

Thus, in the air conditioner control system <NUM>, information instructing the setting of an emergency operation is transmitted after the information instructing to stop operation of all indoor units (the indoor units <NUM>, <NUM>) of the air conditioner <NUM> is transmitted. Thus, according to the air conditioner control system <NUM>, even if the setting information for an emergency operation is activated in the air conditioner <NUM>, the emergency operation is not immediately started. Then, only when the worker <NUM> or the air conditioner manager <NUM> operates the remote controller of the indoor unit, the emergency operation is started.

As a result, according to the air conditioner control system <NUM>, it is possible to avoid a situation where, for example, an emergency operation is inadvertently started when the worker <NUM> is in the vicinity of the air conditioner <NUM> on site and is about to start maintenance work. That is, according to the air conditioner control system <NUM>, it is possible to ensure the safety of the worker <NUM> when starting an emergency operation.

In the example of <FIG>, it is assumed that the server apparatus <NUM> starts the time keeping of the emergency operation period after receiving information indicating the state of the air conditioner <NUM> during the emergency operation (that the emergency operation has been started), but the timing to start the time keeping of the emergency operation period is not limited to this.

For example, the time keeping of the emergency operation period may be started at the timing when information reporting the emergency operation start guidance is transmitted to the manager terminal <NUM> (step S404) or at the timing when emergency operation permission/non-permission information is received from the manager terminal <NUM> (step S406).

Next, details of the first emergency operation ending process (step S304 in <FIG>) will be described. <FIG> is an example of a sequence diagram illustrating the flow of the first emergency operation ending process. As described above, in the air conditioner <NUM>, when it is determined that maintenance work has been performed by the worker <NUM> (YES in step S303 of <FIG>), the first emergency operation ending process illustrated in <FIG> is performed.

In step S501, the air conditioner <NUM> transmits, to the edge apparatus <NUM>, information indicating that maintenance work has been performed by the worker <NUM>.

In step S502, the edge apparatus <NUM> transmits information indicating that maintenance work has been performed, to the server apparatus <NUM> via the Internet <NUM>.

In step S503, the control unit <NUM> of the server apparatus <NUM> transmits, to the edge apparatus <NUM> via the Internet <NUM>, information instructing to stop operation of all indoor units in response to the transmission of information indicating that maintenance work has been performed from the edge apparatus <NUM>.

In step S504, the edge apparatus <NUM> transmits information instructing to stop operation of all indoor units to the air conditioner <NUM>. When the information instructing to stop operation of all indoor units is transmitted, the air conditioner <NUM> stops the operation of all indoor units (the indoor units <NUM>, <NUM>). Further, when the operation of all indoor units is stopped, the operation of the outdoor units <NUM> and <NUM> is also stopped.

In step S505, the air conditioner <NUM> transmits information indicating the state of the air conditioner <NUM> during the emergency operation (that the operation of all indoor units has stopped) to the edge apparatus <NUM>.

In step S506, the edge apparatus <NUM> transmits information indicating that the operation of all indoor units has stopped to the server apparatus <NUM> via the Internet <NUM>.

In step S507, the control unit <NUM> of the server apparatus <NUM> transmits information instructing to stop the emergency operation (for example, releasing the operation prohibition of the outdoor unit <NUM>, and unmasking the malfunction information of the outdoor unit <NUM>) to the edge apparatus <NUM> via the Internet <NUM>.

In step S508, the edge apparatus <NUM> transmits information instructing the stopping of emergency operation to the air conditioner <NUM>. This deactivates the setting information for an emergency operation in the air conditioner <NUM>.

In step S509, the control unit <NUM> of the server apparatus <NUM> stops time keeping the emergency operation period. Accordingly, subsequently, even after the emergency operation period has passed, the information instructing to stop the emergency operation is not transmitted again from the server apparatus <NUM> to the air conditioner <NUM>.

In this way, according to the air conditioner control system <NUM>, the emergency operation can be ended without waiting for the emergency operation period to pass, and the risk of failure of the air conditioner during the emergency operation can be reduced.

Next, details of the advance notice process (step S306 in <FIG>) and the second emergency operation ending process (step S308 in <FIG>) will be described. <FIG> illustrates examples of sequence diagrams of the flow of the advance notice process and the second emergency operation ending process. Among these, 6a of <FIG> illustrates an example of a sequence diagram of the flow of the advance notice process.

As described above, when the server apparatus <NUM> determines that the advance notice timing has been reached (YES in step S305 of <FIG>), the advance notice process illustrated in 6a of <FIG> is performed.

In step S601, the control unit <NUM> of the server apparatus <NUM> transmits, to the administrator terminal <NUM>, information to send an advance notice of stopping the emergency operation. Accordingly, the administrator terminal <NUM> sends, to the air conditioner manager <NUM>, an advance notice of stopping the emergency operation, and the air conditioner manager <NUM> requests the worker <NUM> to perform maintenance work.

On the other hand, 6b in <FIG> illustrates an example of a sequence diagram of the flow of the second emergency operation ending process. As described above, in the server apparatus <NUM>, when it is determined that the emergency operation period has passed (YES in step S307 in <FIG>), the second emergency operation ending process illustrated in 6b in <FIG> is performed.

In step S611, the control unit <NUM> of the server apparatus <NUM> stops the time keeping of the emergency operation period.

In step S612, the control unit <NUM> of the server apparatus <NUM> transmits information instructing the stopping of operation of all indoor units to the edge apparatus <NUM> via the Internet <NUM>.

In step S613, the edge apparatus <NUM> transmits information instructing to stop operation of all indoor units to the air conditioner <NUM>. When the information instructing to stop operation of all indoor units is transmitted, the air conditioner <NUM> stops the operation of all indoor units (the indoor units <NUM>, <NUM>). Further, when the operation of all indoor units is stopped, the operation of the outdoor units <NUM> and <NUM> is also stopped.

In step S614, the air conditioner <NUM> transmits information indicating the state of the air conditioner <NUM> during the emergency operation (that the operation of all indoor units has stopped) to the edge apparatus <NUM>.

In step S615, the edge apparatus <NUM> transmits information indicating that the operation of all indoor units has stopped to the server apparatus <NUM> via the Internet <NUM>.

In step S616, the control unit <NUM> of the server apparatus <NUM> transmits information instructing to stop the emergency operation (for example, releasing the operation prohibition of the outdoor unit <NUM>, and unmasking the malfunction information of the outdoor unit <NUM>) to the edge apparatus <NUM> via the Internet <NUM>.

In step S617, the edge apparatus <NUM> transmits information instructing to stop the emergency operation to the air conditioner <NUM>. This deactivates the setting information for the emergency operation in the air conditioner <NUM>.

Further, in step S618, the control unit <NUM> of the server apparatus <NUM> transmits information reporting the stopping of the emergency operation to the administrator terminal <NUM>. With this, the administrator terminal <NUM> reports the stopping of the emergency operation to the air conditioner manager <NUM>, and the air conditioner manager <NUM> recognizes that the emergency operation has stopped when the emergency operation period has passed.

In the case of the second emergency operation ending process, the setting information for the emergency operation is deactivated in step S617, which unmasks the malfunction information of the outdoor unit <NUM>, and therefore, the malfunction information is transmitted to the server apparatus <NUM> again.

However, the malfunction information transmitted at this time has the same content (same air conditioner, same fault code) as the malfunction information transmitted before the emergency operation had started. Therefore, the server apparatus <NUM> determines that the predetermined condition is satisfied and does not transmit the information to report the start guidance of the emergency operation to the administrator terminal <NUM> again.

As is clear from the above description, the air conditioner control system <NUM> transmits information instructing the air conditioner to set the emergency operation when malfunction information is received from the air conditioner, and transmits information instructing the air conditioner to stop the emergency operation when the emergency operation period has passed. Further, the air conditioner control system <NUM> transmits information instructing the air conditioner to stop the emergency operation when information indicating that maintenance work has been performed is received from the air conditioner during the emergency operation period.

Thus, the air conditioner control system <NUM> automatically stops the emergency operation when the emergency operation period has passed. With this, according to the air conditioner control system <NUM>, it is possible to avoid a situation where the emergency operation continues for more than the predetermined period, and the risk of failure of the air conditioner during emergency operation can be reduced.

Further, according to the air conditioner control system <NUM>, the emergency operation can be ended without waiting for the emergency operation period to pass, and the risk of failure of the air conditioner during emergency operation can be reduced.

When the air conditioner control system <NUM> receives malfunction information from the air conditioner, the air conditioner control system <NUM> transmits information instructing the air conditioner to set an emergency operation after transmitting information instructing to stop the operation of all indoor units of the air conditioner.

Thus, according to the air conditioner control system <NUM>, even if the setting information for an emergency operation is activated in the air conditioner, the emergency operation is not started immediately, but the emergency operation starts only when the remote controller of the indoor unit is operated.

As a result, according to the air conditioner control system <NUM>, it is possible to avoid a situation where emergency operation is started inadvertently, for example, when the worker is around the air conditioner and is about to start maintenance work. That is, according to the air conditioner control system <NUM>, it is possible to ensure the safety of the worker when the emergency operation is started.

In the first embodiment described above, the control unit <NUM> of the server apparatus <NUM> refers to the past emergency operation history and determines that a predetermined condition is satisfied when an emergency operation caused at the same air conditioner and by the same malfunction code had been performed.

However, the method of determining whether a predetermined condition is satisfied is not limited to this, and for example, even if the malfunction code is different, it may be determined that a predetermined condition is satisfied when an emergency operation caused at the same air conditioner has been performed.

In the above first embodiment, the control unit <NUM> of the server apparatus <NUM> transmits information instructing the air conditioner to stop operation of all indoor units of the air conditioner and then transmits information instructing the air conditioner to set an emergency operation. However, the information instructing the air conditioner to stop operation of all indoor units may be transmitted mainly by the edge apparatus <NUM>.

For example, the server apparatus <NUM> may transmit information instructing the setting of emergency operation to the edge apparatus <NUM> without transmitting information instructing the air conditioner to stop operation of all indoor units. Then, the edge apparatus <NUM> may be configured to transmit information instructing to stop operation of all indoor units, by being triggered by receiving information instructing the setting of the emergency operation, and subsequently transmit information instructing the setting of the emergency operation.

In the first embodiment, the edge apparatus <NUM> is described as having a function of transmitting the air conditioner information output by the air conditioner <NUM> to the server apparatus <NUM> and transmitting the instruction information transmitted by the server apparatus <NUM> to the air conditioner <NUM>. However, the function of the edge apparatus <NUM> is not limited to this, and for example, the edge apparatus <NUM> may have a function of part or all of the control unit <NUM> of the server apparatus <NUM>.

That is, the function of the control unit <NUM> of the server apparatus <NUM> may be implemented by the processor <NUM> of the server apparatus <NUM> or by the processor <NUM> of the edge apparatus <NUM>. Alternatively, the function may be implemented by cooperation between the processor <NUM> of the server apparatus <NUM> and the processor <NUM> of the edge apparatus <NUM>.

Claim 1:
An air conditioner control system (<NUM>) comprising:
an air conditioner (<NUM>);
a server apparatus (<NUM>) communicably connected to the air conditioner (<NUM>); and
a control unit (<NUM>);
characterized in that the control unit (<NUM>) is configured to transmit setting information for an emergency operation to the air conditioner (<NUM>) after instructing to stop operation of all indoor units (<NUM>, <NUM>) of the air conditioner (<NUM>), in response to receiving a report indicating malfunction from the air conditioner (<NUM>).