Patent Description:
Conventionally, a technology is known in which information related to an external device to be controlled or monitored is set in a device, and the device controls the set external device (refer to, for example, Patent Literature <NUM>).

Patent Literature <NUM> describes automatic commissioning of a network. To determine how the devices are wired together, a device control interface issues appropriate commands that are propagated through the system.

However, with conventional technology, for example, it is sometimes difficult to set information related to an external device to be controlled in the device.

The purpose of the present disclosure is to provide technology that can properly set information related to a device.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that, in the present specification and the drawings, constituent elements having substantially the same functional configuration are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.

First, a system configuration of a communication system <NUM> will be described. <FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example of a system configuration of the communication system <NUM> according to an embodiment. In the communication system <NUM> according to the embodiment, a first electronic device and a second electronic device for the same space are associated among multiple devices based on a situation where wiring of the multiple devices is arranged.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the communication system <NUM> includes a ventilator 10A (an example of a "first electronic device") and a ventilator 10B (hereinafter, when there is no need to distinguish, simply referred to as a "ventilator <NUM>"). The communication system <NUM> includes an outdoor unit 20A (a communication device; an example of a "relay device") and an outdoor unit 20B (hereinafter, when there is no need to distinguish, simply referred to as an "outdoor unit <NUM>"). The communication system <NUM> includes an indoor unit 30A-<NUM> (an example of a "second electronic device"), an indoor unit 30A-<NUM>, an indoor unit 30A-<NUM>, and an indoor unit 30B-<NUM> (hereinafter, when there is no need to distinguish, simply referred to as an "indoor unit <NUM>"). The communication system <NUM> also includes an adapter <NUM> and a controller <NUM>. The number of the ventilator <NUM>, the outdoor unit <NUM>, and the indoor unit <NUM> is not limited to the example illustrated in <FIG>.

The outdoor unit 20A, the indoor unit 30A-<NUM>, the indoor unit 30A-<NUM>, the indoor unit 30A-<NUM>, and the ventilator 10A are installed in a facility, such as a building, to condition the air in a predetermined indoor space including one or more rooms (hereinafter referred to as a "space A"). Further, similarly, the outdoor unit 20B, the indoor unit 30B-<NUM>, and the ventilator 10B are installed in the facility so as to condition the air in a space B other than the space A, which includes one or more rooms.

The ventilator <NUM> is installed, for example, on a roof of a building or the like, and air conditions and ventilates the room by taking in outside air using a ventilation fan or the like and delivering it through a duct (air conduit) to a predetermined room including one or more rooms. The ventilator <NUM> includes a control device <NUM>. The control device <NUM> controls the same indoor space (For example, the space A) in conjunction with other devices for air conditioning.

The outdoor unit <NUM> is, for example, an outdoor unit of an air conditioner. The indoor unit <NUM> is, for example, an indoor unit of the air conditioner. The indoor unit <NUM> may, for example, accept operations such as setting temperatures, an operation mode, starting operation, and terminating operation by remote control or the like. The operation mode may include, for example, a cooling operation and a heating operation. The indoor unit <NUM> may, for example, be a sensor that measures environmental information such as temperature and humidity. A controller <NUM> is, for example, installed in an administrator's room or the like in a facility to control each indoor unit <NUM> or the like in response to a user's operation.

The indoor unit 30A-<NUM>, the indoor unit 30A-<NUM>, and the indoor unit 30A-<NUM> are connected to the outdoor unit 20A by a refrigerant pipe 50A. Further, similarly, the indoor unit 30B-<NUM> is connected to the outdoor unit 20B by a refrigerant pipe 50B. The refrigerant may be, for example, fluorocarbons or water.

The outdoor unit 20A, the indoor unit 30A-<NUM>, the indoor unit 30A-<NUM>, the indoor unit 30A-<NUM>, and the ventilator 10A are connected by a communication wiring 60A (an example of the "first network"). The communication wiring 60A may be, for example, a local area network cable or the like. The communication wiring 60A may be a cable capable of communicating according to a predetermined communication protocol. Further, similarly, the indoor unit 30B-<NUM> and the ventilator 10B are connected to the outdoor unit 20B by the communication wiring 60B.

In the example illustrated in <FIG>, a daisy chain connection (cascade connection) is provided in the order of the outdoor unit 20A, the indoor unit 30A-<NUM>, the indoor unit 30A-<NUM>, the indoor unit 30A-<NUM>, and ventilator 10A. The outdoor unit 20A, the indoor unit 30A-<NUM>, the indoor unit 30A-<NUM>, the indoor unit 30A-<NUM>, and the ventilator 10A are not limited to the daisy chain connection and may be connected by other network topologies such as star or bus.

Further, the outdoor unit 20A, the outdoor unit 20B, the adapter <NUM>, and the controller <NUM> are connected by a communication wiring <NUM>. In the example of <FIG>, the outdoor unit 20A and the outdoor unit 20B are connected by a communication wiring 70A (an example of a "second network"). The outdoor unit 20B and the adapter <NUM> are connected by a communication wiring 70B. The adapter <NUM> and the controller <NUM> are connected by a communication wiring 70C. The adapter <NUM> is connected to another adapter (not illustrated) or to another outdoor unit (not illustrated) or the like by a communication wiring 70D (an example of a "third network"). Further, the communication wiring 70C and the communication wiring 70D may be electrically connected.

Next, a hardware configuration of the control device <NUM> of the ventilator <NUM> of a communication system <NUM> according to an embodiment will be described. <FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the control device <NUM> according to the embodiment.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the control device <NUM> may include a Central Processing Unit (CPU) <NUM>, a memory <NUM>, and an I/O unit <NUM>. The control device <NUM> may be a microcontroller including the CPU <NUM>, the memory <NUM>, and the I/O unit <NUM> incorporated into a single integrated circuit.

The CPU <NUM> is an arithmetic device that executes various programs stored in the memory <NUM>. The memory <NUM> stores various programs and data necessary for the CPU <NUM> to execute. The I/O unit <NUM> is a communication device that communicates with an external device.

The memory <NUM> may acquire and store the program recorded in the recording medium through the I/O unit <NUM>. The recording medium may include a medium that records information optically, electrically or magnetically, for example, a CD-ROM, a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk, etc. The recording medium may also include a semiconductor memory or the like for electrically recording information, such as a ROM, flash memory or the like.

The memory <NUM> may acquire and store a program downloaded from the network (not illustrated) through the I/O unit <NUM>.

The control device <NUM> may be implemented, for example, by circuitry such as an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a digital signal processor (DSP), and a field programmable gate array (FPGA).

Next, a functional configuration of the control device <NUM> of the ventilator <NUM> according to the embodiment will be described with reference to <FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the control device <NUM> according to the embodiment.

The control device <NUM> of the ventilator <NUM> includes a storage unit <NUM>, an acquisition unit <NUM>, a communication unit <NUM>, and a control unit <NUM>. These units may be implemented, for example, in cooperation with one or more programs installed in the control device <NUM> and hardware such as the CPU <NUM> of the control device <NUM>.

The storage unit <NUM> stores various information. The acquisition unit <NUM> acquires various information from the external device. The communication unit <NUM> communicates with an external device. The control unit <NUM> controls each part of the control device <NUM>.

Next, an example of processing of the communication system <NUM> according to an embodiment will be described with reference to <FIG> is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of processing of the communication system <NUM> according to the embodiment. Hereinafter, the indoor unit 30A-<NUM>, the indoor unit 30A-<NUM>, and the indoor unit 30A-<NUM>, which are connected to the outdoor unit 20A by the communication wiring 60A, are also referred to as the indoor unit 30A-<NUM> or the like, as appropriate.

In step S1, the outdoor unit 20A transmits a first reply request to the communication wiring 60A by a broadcast communication (broadcast).

The outdoor unit 20A may transmit the first reply request to the communication wiring 60A while communication between the communication wiring 60A and the communication wiring 70A is disconnected. In this case, the outdoor unit 20A may include a first terminal (a first port) to which the communication wiring 60A is connected and a second terminal (a second port) to which the communication wiring 70A is connected, and when the communication between the first terminal and the second terminal is disconnected, the first reply request may be transmitted from the communication wiring 60A. In this case, for example, the outdoor unit 20A may open (turn off or shut down) the relay circuit provided between the first terminal and the second terminal and electrically disconnect between the first terminal and the second terminal so as to disconnect the communication between the communication wiring 60A and the communication wiring 70A.

Further, the outdoor unit 20A may block the communication in the communication wiring 60A with respect to the communication wiring 70A, for example, by a bandpass filter (a high-pass filter or a low-pass filter) provided between the first terminal to which the communication wiring 60A is connected and the second terminal to which the communication wiring 70A is connected. In this case, the outdoor unit 20A may transmit the first reply request from the first terminal to the communication wiring 60A by using, for example, a frequency signal to be blocked by the bandpass filter. In this case, for example, the outdoor unit 20A may electrically connect the communication wiring 60A and the communication wiring 70A through a high-pass filter that blocks the signal of a frequency less than or equal to a threshold value (cutoff frequency). The outdoor unit 20A may transmit the first reply request from the first terminal to the communication wiring 60A by using the signal at a frequency less than or equal to the threshold value (i.e., low frequency pulse). In this case, since the outdoor unit 20A always connects the first terminal and the second terminal through the bandpass filter, a process of Step S6 described later may be omitted. Accordingly, if the signal is at a frequency that is not to be blocked by the bandpass filter, the signal is transmitted (relayed) from the communication wiring 70A to the communication wiring 60A. Therefore, for example, even while the processes of Step S1 to Step S5 are being performed (during a system recognition process), monitoring and control of the indoor unit 30A-<NUM> or the like can be performed by the controller <NUM>.

The outdoor unit 20A may be able to switch between a mode in which the communication between the communication wiring 60A and the communication wiring 70A is blocked by the relay circuit through an operation using a button or the like and a mode in which the communication in the communication wiring 60A with respect to the communication wiring 70A is blocked by the bandpass filter.

The outdoor unit 20A may perform the process in step S1, for example, when the power of the outdoor unit 20A is turned on, when a predetermined operation such as pressing a switch is performed, or when a predetermined command is received from an external device.

Subsequently, upon receiving the first reply request, the communication unit <NUM> of the ventilator 10A, the indoor unit 30A-<NUM>, or the like respectively returns identification information (i.e., ID) of their own device to the communication wiring 60A (step S2). Subsequently, the outdoor unit 20A stores the ID of each device returned in response to the first reply request (step S3).

Subsequently, the outdoor unit 20A uses the ID of each device to transmit the ID of the outdoor unit 20A to each device (step S4). The ID of the outdoor unit 20A is also used as identification information (i.e., system ID) of the refrigerant system by the communication wiring 60A and the refrigerant pipe 50A. The ID of the outdoor unit <NUM> may be set to the outdoor unit <NUM> in advance, for example, at the time of factory shipment of the outdoor unit <NUM>.

Subsequently, the storage unit <NUM> of the ventilator 10A and the indoor unit 30A-<NUM> respectively store the received ID of the outdoor unit 20A (step S5).

Subsequently, the outdoor unit 20A connects the communication wiring 60A with the communication wiring 70A (step S6). Accordingly, for example, the controller <NUM> can communicate with the indoor unit 30A-<NUM> or the like connected to the communication wiring 60A. The outdoor unit 20A may notify the controller <NUM> of the ID of each device returned in response to the first reply request and the ID of the outdoor unit 20A by, for example, broadcasting communication specifying a range of "in-facility" to be described later through the adapter <NUM>.

Subsequently, the acquisition unit <NUM> of the ventilator 10A transmits a second reply request including the ID of the outdoor unit 20A and the ID of the ventilator 10A through the broadcast communication (step S7). Here, the second reply request may include information specifying a type of an electronic device requesting a reply. The type of the electronic device may include, for example, a model of the electronic device, an item to be measured by the electronic device, and a command to be executed by the electronic device.

The model of the electronic device may include, for example, an indoor unit of an air conditioner and a sensor for measuring environmental information. The item to be measured by the electronic device may include, for example, an outside air temperature, which is the outside air temperature of the facility in which the ventilator 10A is installed, an indoor room temperature, which is the temperature of the space A, and a set temperature, which is set by the user with respect to the space A. The commands to be executed by the electronic device may include, for example, a shutdown operation and a start operation.

In Step S7, the acquisition unit <NUM> of the ventilator 10A may transmit the second reply request including information specifying a transfer range according to the type of the electronic device. The transfer range may include, for example, "in same system (within the same internal and external wiring)," "under same adapter," and "in-facility. " When "in same system" is specified, the ventilator 10A may transmit a second reply request including the system ID information stored in the process of step S5.

When "under same adapter" is specified, the outdoor unit 20A transmits the second reply request received from the communication wiring 60A to the communication wiring 70A. Further, the outdoor unit 20B transmits the second reply request received from the communication wiring 70A to the communication wiring 70B. Then, the adapter <NUM> does not transmit the second reply request received from the communication wiring 70B to the communication wiring 70C and the communication wiring 70D.

When "in-facility" is specified, the outdoor unit 20A transmits the second reply request received from the communication wiring 60A to the communication wiring 70A. Further, the outdoor unit 20B transmits the second reply request received from the communication wiring 70A to the communication wiring 70B. Then, the adapter <NUM> transmits the second reply request received from the communication wiring 70B to the communication wiring 70C and the communication wiring 70D.

Accordingly, for example, the acquisition unit <NUM> of the ventilator 10A may specify the "in-facility" as the transfer range with respect to the electronic device that measures the outside air temperature, and specify the "in same system" as the transfer range with respect to the electronic device that stores the set temperature for the space A. Hereinafter, an example in which "in same system" is specified as the transfer range will be described.

Subsequently, the indoor unit 30A-<NUM> or the like determines whether the system ID included in the second reply request received from the ventilator 10A matches the system ID set from the outdoor unit 20A, and returns the ID of its own device to the ventilator 10A only when the system ID matches the system ID set from the outdoor unit 20A (Step S8). Here, the indoor unit 30A-<NUM> or the like that received the second reply request responds to the second reply request only when the system ID included in the second reply request matches the system ID stored in the process in step S5. Further, when the received second reply request includes information specifying the type of the electronic device requesting a reply, the indoor unit 30A-<NUM> or the like may determine whether the specified type matches the type of its own device, and may reply with the ID of its own device only when the specified type matches the type of its own device.

Each of the indoor unit 30A-<NUM> or the like may set the ID of the ventilator 10A as a destination and transmit a communication packet including information such as the ID of the indoor unit 30A-<NUM> to the communication wiring 60A.

Subsequently, the storage unit <NUM> of the ventilator 10A stores the ID of each device returned in response to the second reply request (Step S9). Here, when IDs of the plurality of electronic devices are returned in response to the second reply request, the plurality of electronic devices are stored in association with each other. In the example of <FIG>, the ventilator 10A stores the indoor unit 30A-<NUM>, the indoor unit 30A-<NUM>, and the indoor unit 30A-<NUM> in association. Accordingly, devices for air conditioning or the like in the same space are associated with each other.

Subsequently, the control unit <NUM> of the ventilator 10A transmits a predetermined request to the indoor unit 30A-<NUM> or the like by using the ID of each device (step S10). Here, when the ventilator 10A operates, the ventilator 10A transmits a command for controlling the indoor unit 30A-<NUM> or the like to the indoor unit 30A-<NUM> or the like. Further, the ventilator 10A receives data from the indoor unit 30A-<NUM> or the like when the ventilator 10A operates.

Here, the control unit <NUM> of the ventilator 10A may perform cooling by ventilation without operating the indoor unit 30A-<NUM> and the outdoor unit 20A, for example, in the case where the user instructs the start of cooling operation by a remote control operation of the indoor unit 30A-<NUM> or the like at a time when, for example, the difference in temperature between daytime and night (the difference in cold and warm temperatures) is relatively large and the outside temperature is lower than the cooling setting temperature, depending on the time of day in some time periods.

In this case, the ventilator 10A receives a notification from the indoor unit 30A-<NUM> that the user instructs the ventilator to start the cooling operation. Then, the ventilator 10A acquires the current outside air temperature from, for example, the outdoor unit 20A. Then, the ventilator 10A acquires, for example, the set temperature, the room temperature, and the operation mode currently set for the indoor unit 30A-<NUM> from the indoor unit 30A-<NUM>. Then, the ventilator 10A, for example, transmits a command to stop operation to the indoor unit 30A-<NUM> and operates a ventilation fan to take in outdoor air when the current outside air temperature is lower than the indoor temperature, the currently set operation mode is a cooling operation, and the indoor temperature is higher than the set temperature.

Then, the ventilator 10A may stop the ventilation fan and transmits a command for starting an operation to the indoor unit 30A-<NUM> when the current outside air temperature and the indoor temperature are approximately the same, the operation mode currently set in the indoor unit 30A-<NUM> is the cooling operation, and the indoor temperature is higher than the set temperature.

According to the above-described embodiment of disclosure, the information of the external device can be appropriately set in the device. For example, when the indoor units 30A-<NUM> or the like is connected with the ventilator 10A, if the communication wiring 60A is arranged and connected so that the respective indoor units 30A-<NUM> and the ventilator 10A are placed under the same outdoor unit 20A, the pairing between the respective indoor units 30A-<NUM> and the ventilator 10A is automatically made. Accordingly, a labor for setting the pairing of the construction workers can be reduced. Further, according to the disclosed embodiment, setting mistakes can be prevented compared to the case where the ventilator 10A manually sets information such as the indoor unit 30A-<NUM>. It is also possible to eliminate the need for workers who perform pairing settings. Further, even when the relatively expensive controller <NUM> is not provided, the indoor unit <NUM> and the ventilator <NUM> can be operated in coordination.

Each of the functions of the control device <NUM> may be implemented, for example, by cloud computing executed by one or more computers.

Although a description has been given of the embodiments, it may be understood that various modifications may be made to the configurations and details thereof, without departing from the subject matter and scope of the claims.

Claim 1:
A communication system (<NUM>) in which a first electronic device (10A, 10B) and a second electronic device (30A, 30B) connected to a same wiring (60A, 60B), among a plurality of electronic devices, are associated with each other as being installed for a same space, based on an arrangement state of wirings of the plurality of electronic devices arranged according to a configuration of a plurality of spaces, wherein the first electronic device (10A, 10B) is configured to transmit a reply request including identification information of a first network to the second electronic device, characterized in that the second electronic device (30A, 30B) is configured to return the identification information of the second electronic device to the first electronic device in a case where received identification information of the first network received from a relay device (20A) configured to connect a communication between the first network and a second network matches the identification information of the first network received from the first electronic device.