Management apparatus, management method, and program

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022236705-A1
Application number	US-201917613657-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 23, 2019
Priority date	May 23, 2019
Publication date	Jul 28, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

Provided is, e.g., a management apparatus configured to manage multiple types of instruments at low cost. A management apparatus includes a first communication unit connected to an air-conditioner via a first instrument network (ka), a second communication unit connected to instruments including a monitoring camera, a door lock mechanism, and an illuminating apparatus via a second instrument network, a third communication unit connectable to an upper apparatus, and a control unit configured to control the air-conditioner or the instruments based on a combination of the state of the air-conditioner received via the first communication unit and the states of the instruments received via the second communication unit.

First claim

1 .- 11 . (canceled)

12 . A management apparatus comprising:
a first communication unit connected to an air-conditioner via a first instrument network; a second communication unit connected to one or more types of instruments different from the air-conditioner via a second instrument network; a third communication unit connectable to an upper apparatus; and a control unit configured to control the air-conditioner or the instruments based on a combination of a state of the air-conditioner received via the first communication unit and states of the instruments received via the second communication unit, wherein the upper apparatus is connected to the third communication unit via a third instrument network, a management subject managing the air-conditioner and the instruments is switched based on at least one of a time period, a day of a week, or a date, in a case where the upper apparatus is the management subject, the control unit reflects a control command from the upper apparatus on control of the air-conditioner or the instruments, and in a case where the management apparatus itself is the management subject, the control unit controls the air-conditioner or the instruments based on the combination regardless of a presence or absence of the control command from the upper apparatus.

13 . The management apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein
in a case where the management apparatus itself is the management subject, when the management apparatus receives the control command from the upper apparatus, the control unit replies a signal, which indicates that the control command is not transmitted to the air-conditioner or the instruments, to the upper apparatus.

14 . The management apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein
in a case where the management apparatus itself is the management subject, when the management apparatus receives the control command from the upper apparatus, the control unit transmits the control command to the air-conditioner or the instruments if the control command is a predetermined control command set in advance, and does not transmit the control command to the air-conditioner or the instruments if the control command is not the predetermined control command set in advance.

15 . The management apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein
in a case where the management apparatus itself is the management subject, when the management apparatus receives the control command from the upper apparatus, the control unit replies a signal, which indicates that the control command is transmitted to the air-conditioner or the instruments, to the upper apparatus although not actually transmitting the control command to the air-conditioner or the instruments.

16 . The management apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein
the management apparatus does not notify the upper apparatus of information on a predetermined cooperation rule defining a control content based on the combination.

17 . The management apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein
in a case where the upper apparatus is the management subject, the control unit repeats processing of transmitting a signal, which indicates the states of the air-conditioner and the instruments, to the upper apparatus, and in a case where the management apparatus itself is the management subject, the control unit does not transmit the signal, which indicates the states of the air-conditioner and the instruments, to the upper apparatus.

18 . The management apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein
when the management subject is switched from the management apparatus to the upper apparatus, the management apparatus transmits a signal, which indicates latest states of the air-conditioner and the instruments, to the upper apparatus.

19 . The management apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein
in a case where the upper apparatus is the management subject, the control unit repeats processing of transmitting a signal, which indicates the states of the air-conditioner and the instruments, to the upper apparatus, and even in a case where the management apparatus itself is the management subject, the control unit repeats the processing of transmitting the signal, which indicates the states of the air-conditioner and the instruments, to the upper apparatus.

20 . A management method executed by a management apparatus including a first communication unit connected to an air-conditioner via a first instrument network, a second communication unit connected to one or more types of instruments different from the air-conditioner via a second instrument network, a third communication unit connectable to an upper apparatus, and a control unit, wherein
the upper apparatus is connected to the third communication unit via a third instrument network, the control unit controls the air-conditioner or the instruments based on a combination of a state of the air-conditioner received via the first communication unit and states of the instruments received via the second communication unit, a management subject managing the air-conditioner and the instruments is switched based on at least one of a time period, a day of a week, or a date, in a case where the upper apparatus is the management subject, the control unit reflects a control command from the upper apparatus on control of the air-conditioner or the instruments, and in a case where the management apparatus itself is the management subject, the control unit controls the air-conditioner or the instruments based on the combination regardless of a presence or absence of the control command from the upper apparatus.

21 . A program for causing a computer to execute the management method according to claim 20 .

Assignees

• Hitachi Johnson Controls Air Conditioning Inc

Inventors

• Machida Yoshihiro

Classifications

• G05B2219/2614

  HVAC, heating, ventillation, climate control · CPC title

• G05B19/042 Primary

  using digital processors (G05B19/05 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H04Q9/00

  Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom · CPC title

• G06F13/00

  Interconnection of, or transfer of information or other signals between, memories, input/output devices or central processing units (interface circuits for specific input/output devices G06F3/00 {; multiprogram control therefor  G06F9/46}; multiprocessor systems  G06F15/16 ) · CPC title

• H04L67/12

  specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks · CPC title