Remote management apparatus and remote management system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11438190-B2
Application number	US-201917288840-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 25, 2019
Priority date	Oct 31, 2018
Publication date	Sep 6, 2022
Grant date	Sep 6, 2022

Abstract

A remote management apparatus remotely manages one or more devices. After establishing communication with a communication device incorporated in or connected to each of the one or more devices via a network, the remote management apparatus identifies a model of each of the one or more devices based on information received from the communication device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A remote management apparatus for remotely managing one or more devices, wherein
after establishing communication with a communication device that is incorporated in or connected to each of the one or more devices via a network, the remote management apparatus is configured to
use information received from the communication device to identify a model of each of the one or more devices and a property in which each of the one or more devices is to be installed;
select initial setting information of each of the one or more devices based on the model of each of the one or more devices and a type of the property identified; and
transmit the initial setting information of each of the one or more devices to each of the one or more devices via the communication device.

2. The remote management apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the initial setting information includes at least one of
identification information of the device,
information concerning an installation location of the device, and
information specific to an environment in which the device is to be installed.

3. The remote management apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the remote management apparatus determines, based on the type of the property, whether or not to transmit initial setting information of each of the one or inure devices to each of the one or more devices via the communication device.

4. The remote management apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
each of the one or more devices includes at least one of
an air conditioner,
a ventilator, and
a refrigerator.

5. A remote management system for remotely managing one or more devices installed at a property, the remote management system comprising:
a control terminal configured to be connected to each of the one or more devices at the property, the control terminal identifying a model of each of the one or more devices based on first information received from each of the one or more devices; and
a management apparatus configured to be connected to the control terminal via a network,
the management apparatus being configured to
receive second information from the control terminal and use the second information to identify the property in which the device is installed,
select initial setting information of each of the one or more devices based on a type of the property identified, and
transmit the initial setting information of each of the one or more devices to the control terminal or to each of the one or more devices.

6. The remote management system according to claim 5 , wherein
the management apparatus determines, based on the type of the property, whether to transmit initial setting information of each of the one or more devices to the control terminal or each of the one or more devices.

7. The remote management system according to claim 5 , wherein
the initial setting information includes at least one of identification information of the device, information concerning an installation location of the device, and information specific to an environment in which the device is to be installed.

8. The remote management system according to claim 5 , wherein
each of the one or more devices includes at least one of
an air conditioner,
a ventilator, and
a refrigerator.

9. The remote management system according to claim 5 , wherein
the management apparatus transmits operation setting information of each of the one or more devices to the control terminal or each of the one or more devices, and
the operation setting information includes at least one of
information concerning a schedule of operating the device,
information concerning permission and prohibition of operation of the device, and
a parameter related to operation of the device.

10. The remote management system according to claim 5 , wherein
the management apparatus presents, for each property, at least information concerning whether a person in charge needs to visit the property.

11. The remote management system according to claim 6 , wherein
the initial setting information includes at least one of identification information of the device, information concerning an installation location of the device, and information specific to an environment in which the device is to be installed.

12. The remote management system according to claim 5 , wherein
the control terminal is configured to transmit second information to the management apparatus when the control terminal is initially powered on after installation.

13. The remote management system according to claim 5 , wherein
the second information includes identification information uniquely identifying the control terminal, and
the management apparatus contains stored information in which the identification information is associated with the property in which the control terminal is installed, the management apparatus using the stored information to identify the property in which the device is installed.

14. The remote management system according to claim 5 , wherein
the management apparatus stores a plurality of templates for initial setting information and selects the initial setting information by selecting any template among the plurality of templates that matches the type of the property.

15. The remote management apparatus according to claim 1 ,
the control device is configured to transmit the information to the management apparatus when the one or more devices are initially powered on after installation.

16. The remote management apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the remote management apparatus contains stored information in which identification information included in the information received from the communication device is associated with the property in which the one or more devices are installed, the identification information uniquely identifying the communication device and the management apparatus using the stored information to identify the property in which the device is installed.

17. The remote management apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the management apparatus stores initial setting information and selects the initial setting information for each of a plurality of types of property in advance.

Assignees

• Daikin Ind Ltd

Inventors

• Nogami Daisuke

Classifications

• H04L2012/285

  Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators · CPC title

• F24F11/56 Primary

  Remote control · CPC title

• H04L12/2818

  from a device located outside both the home and the home network (access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless eletrical link G08C17/00; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with remote control systems H04M11/007) · CPC title

• H04L12/2809 Primary

  indicating that an appliance service is present in a home automation network (monitoring functionality H04L43/0817; discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services, H04L67/51) · CPC title

• H04L12/2825

  Reporting to a device located outside the home and the home network (access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with telemetering systems H04M11/002) · CPC title