Patent application EP18173375A (EP), filed 2018-05-18
Publication number: EP3406984A1
Title: DEVICE INFORMATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Abstract: A device information management system is provided that can collectively manage device information without installation of a separate communication device. This system includes: a remote control 30 including a remote control controller 35 that outputs a run control signal for an air conditioning apparatus 1 and obtains device information on devices constituting the air conditioning apparatus 1, and a remote control display 32; and a terminal apparatus 40 including a terminal controller 43, a terminal communicator 45 that communicates with the remote control 30, and a terminal display 41, wherein the terminal apparatus 40 obtains the device information transmitted from the remote control controller 35 through visible light communication, to the terminal communicator 45.
IPC codes: F24F  11/    38            A I
F24F  11/    50            A I
F24F  11/    52            A I
F24F  11/    54            A I
F24F  11/    56            A I
F24F  11/    58            A I
G08C  23/    04            A I
H04L  12/    28            A I
H04W   4/    70            A I
Claims: number: 1
text: A device information management system, characterized by comprising:
number: 2
text: The device information management system according to claim 1,
wherein the device communicator is a light emitter (32, 132, 252), and the terminal communicator is a light receiver (42, 142, 261) that performs visible light communication with the light emitter of the device, and
the terminal apparatus, by the device controller performing light emission control for the light emitter, allows the light receiver to receive the device information transmitted from the light emitter through the visible light communication, and allows the device information to be obtained.
number: 3
text: The device information management system according to claim 1 or 2,
wherein the device is a remote control (30, 130, 250) of the air conditioning apparatus, and
the device controller is a remote control controller (35, 135, 255) provided for the remote control of the air conditioning apparatus, and the device communicator is a remote control display provided for the remote control.
number: 4
text: The device information management system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising
a cloud server (50, 150, 206) communicable with the terminal apparatus,
wherein the terminal controller obtaining the device information transmitted from the device controller transmits the obtained device information to the cloud server, and the cloud server stores therein the device information.
number: 5
text: The device information management system according to claim 4, wherein the terminal apparatus can receive property information on a property where the air conditioning apparatus is installed, the terminal apparatus transmits the property information to the cloud server, and the cloud server stores therein the property information in association with the device information.
number: 6
text: The device information management system according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the terminal apparatus can receive an inspection result of the air conditioning apparatus, the terminal apparatus transmits the inspection result to the cloud server, and the cloud server stores therein the inspection result in association with the device information.
number: 7
text: The device information management system according to any one of claims 4 to 6,
wherein if an account request issued by a user of the terminal apparatus is authenticated, the cloud server sets an account, and allows the user to whom the account is set to browse information stored in the cloud server, and
if the account request is not authenticated, the cloud server sets a temporary account, and limits a part of browsing of the information stored in the cloud server for the user with the set temporary account.
number: 8
text: The device information management system according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
wherein the device stores a specific ID among pieces of the device information on the air conditioning apparatus, and performs management based on the stored specific ID.
number: 9
text: The device information management system according to claim 1,
wherein the device further comprises a device display (32, 132, 252), and
the device controller transmits information corresponding to information displayed on the device display, to the terminal apparatus.
number: 10
text: The device information management system according to claim 9,
wherein the device further comprises a proximity sensor, and
when the proximity sensor detects that the terminal apparatus comes into proximity, the device controller transmits the information from the device to the terminal apparatus.
number: 11
text: The device information management system according to claim 1,
wherein the device further comprises a device display (32, 132, 252),
the terminal apparatus causes the device communicator to receive test run information transmitted from the device controller to the device communicator, and obtains the test run information, and
the terminal controller determines whether a test run result is normal or not based on the test run information, and causes the terminal display to display a determination result of the test run result.
number: 12
text: The device information management system according to claim 11,
wherein the terminal apparatus comprises a table that defines a threshold for determining whether the test run result is normal or not, and
the terminal controller determines whether the test run result is normal or not based on the test run information, based on the threshold of the table.
number: 13
text: The device information management system according to claim 12, wherein if the terminal controller determines that the test run information is not within the threshold and the test run result is abnormal, the terminal controller causes the terminal display to display a factor of an abnormality of the test run result.
number: 14
text: The device information management system according to any one of claims 11 to 13, further comprising a cloud server (50, 150, 206) communicable with the terminal apparatus,
wherein the terminal apparatus transmits the test run result to the cloud server, and the cloud server stores therein the test run result.
number: 15
text: The device information management system according to any one of claims 1 to 14,
wherein the terminal apparatus is a smartphone or a tablet terminal, and the terminal communicator is a camera (42, 142, 261) mounted on the smartphone or the tablet terminal.
Office action: search_report, dated 2018-11-28
Rejection reasons: novelty_epc_54
inventive_step_epc_56
Prior art cited: ref_id: JPS4820313B1
ref_type: patent
severity: background
ref_id: - "Image Sensor-based Visible Light Communication Technology", PANASONIC TECHNICAL JOURNAL, vol. 61, no. 2, November 2015 (2015-11-01)
ref_type: npl
severity: background
ref_id: US2016072638A1
ref_type: patent
severity: background
ref_id: US2015308702A1
ref_type: patent
severity: background
ref_id: US2014319232A1
ref_type: patent
severity: background
ref_id: JP2017163221A
ref_type: patent
severity: background
ref_id: EP2682685A2
ref_type: patent
severity: background
ref_id: EP2682685
ref_type: patent
severity: obviousness
ref_id: US2014319232
ref_type: patent
severity: novelty_destroying
ref_id: US2015308702
ref_type: patent
severity: novelty_destroying
ref_id: US2016072638
ref_type: patent
severity: novelty_destroying
ref_id: JP2017163221
ref_type: patent
severity: novelty_destroying
Final disposition: pending (2018-11-28)