JP7332500B2 - Information processing device, information processing system, information processing method and program - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD Embodiments of the present invention relate to an information processing device, an information processing system, an information processing method, and a program.

In general, when a user uses an air conditioner (hereinafter simply referred to as an air conditioner) in an office, residence, etc., the user sets the control value (for example, the set temperature) of the air conditioner to an arbitrary value. If set to , it may not be possible to achieve efficient use of energy (hereinafter referred to as energy saving).

On the other hand, if the control value of the air conditioner is changed with priority given to energy saving, the user's comfort level may decrease.

JP 2018-179378 A

Therefore, the problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an information processing device, an information processing system, an information processing method, and a program that can achieve both user comfort and energy saving.

An information processing apparatus according to an embodiment includes calculation means, determination means, and correction means. The calculating means calculates, based on control value history information including a history of control values of the device, a user's allowable range for the control value of the device that allows the user to maintain a level of comfort that does not make the user feel uncomfortable. Calculate The determination means determines a control value for the device capable of realizing energy saving among the control values falling within the allowable range. The correction means corrects the determined control value so as to maintain the comfort level of the user. The correcting means performs the determination based on environmental value history information including a history of environmental values related to the environment around the device and a difference between the determined control value and a current control value set in the device. corrects the control value.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The figure for demonstrating the outline|summary of the air-conditioning system which concerns on embodiment. The figure for demonstrating the application example of an air-conditioning system. The figure which shows an example of the hardware constitutions of an air-conditioning control apparatus. The figure which shows an example of the functional structure of an air-conditioning control apparatus. The figure which shows an example of the data structure of operation period information. The figure which shows an example of the data structure of search implementation period information. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an arrangement example of a search execution period and a search non-execution period; The figure which shows an example of the data structure of allowable range calculation time information. The figure which shows an example of the data structure of setting temperature change time information. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the relationship between the timing at which the allowable range is calculated and the timing at which the set temperature is changed; The figure which shows an example of the data structure of identification boundary information. The figure which shows an example of the data structure of control value historical information. The figure which shows an example of the data structure of environmental value history information. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing procedure of an air conditioning control device; 4 is a flow chart showing an example of a processing procedure of search execution period processing. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining duration information; The figure which shows an example of the survival function for every setting temperature. The figure which shows an example of the feature-value for every setting temperature. The figure which shows an example of the result by which the feature-value for every setting temperature was plotted. The figure which shows an example of the data structure of allowable range information. The figure which shows an example of the data structure of content-of-control information. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining correction of the set temperature based on the evaluation result by the first evaluation unit; FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining correction of the set temperature based on the evaluation result by the second evaluation unit; The figure which shows an example of the data structure of evaluation result setting information. The figure which shows an example of the data structure of evaluation result selection information. The figure which shows an example of the data structure of weight information. 4 is a flow chart showing an example of a processing procedure of search non-execution period processing. The figure which shows an example of the data structure of correction process setting information.

Embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings.
First, an outline of an air conditioning system (information processing system) according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, an air conditioning system 1 according to this embodiment includes an input device 10, an air conditioner 20, an environment value acquisition device 30, and an air conditioning control device 40. As shown in FIG. The air conditioning system 1 according to this embodiment is used by a user in a space where the air conditioner 20 is installed.

The input device 10 is used to change the control value for controlling the operation of the air conditioner 20 (hereinafter referred to as the control value of the air conditioner 20), for example, a remote controller or a wall-mounted control panel. include. Also, the input device 10 may be a smartphone on which an application program for changing control values runs, or a personal computer that displays a website for changing the control values. The control values of the air conditioner 20 include, for example, the operation mode (heating operation, cooling operation, stop) and set temperature. good. In the following, for the sake of convenience, the control values of the air conditioner 20 will mainly be described as including the operation mode and the set temperature.

The input device 10 receives a user's operation and inputs a control value for the air conditioner 20 as the received operation result. Further, the input device 10 may be provided with a display (panel) for displaying control values of the air conditioner 20 and the like.

The air conditioner 20 is connected to the input device 10 via a wired cable or a wireless network, and operates based on control values input to the input device 10 to achieve air conditioning control for a given space. Various air conditioners and other cooling and heating equipment can be used as the air conditioner 20 in this embodiment. Specifically, the air conditioner 20 may be, for example, a centralized control type air conditioner using a chiller (cooling water circulation device), a package air conditioner, or the like, or may be a boiler and a heater for circulating hot water generated by the boiler. A combination or the like may be used.

The input device 10 and the air conditioner 20 described above are installed, for example, in a space such as an office or a residence. In the present embodiment, the space in which the input device 10 and the air conditioner 20 are installed is assumed to be, for example, a space such as one room in a building. It may be a space or the like separated by an inner wall or the like.

Here, it is assumed that the air conditioner 20 air-conditions the space in which the air conditioner 20 is installed, but the space in which the air conditioner 20 is installed and the space in which air conditioning is performed may be different. For example, the air conditioning of a space different from the space in which the air conditioner 20 is installed may be controlled by sending out hot air or cold air through a duct or the like from the air conditioner 20 placed in the machine room.

The environmental value acquisition device 30 includes various sensors such as a temperature sensor and a humidity sensor, and acquires environmental values related to the environment around the air conditioner 20 . The environmental values acquired by the environmental value acquisition device 30 include the temperature and humidity of the space (indoor) where the air conditioner 20 is installed, or the temperature and humidity of the outside (outdoor) of the space. That is, when acquiring indoor temperature or humidity as an environmental value, the environmental value acquisition device 30 is installed in the room. On the other hand, when acquiring the outdoor temperature or humidity (outside the building, for example) as the environmental value, the environmental value acquisition device 30 is installed outdoors.

The environment value acquisition device 30 may be installed both indoors and outdoors. Also, indoor or outdoor temperature and humidity may be obtained using, for example, a thermo-hygrometer. Although the environment values acquired by the environment value acquisition device 30 are temperature and humidity here, the environment values may be other values.

The air conditioning control device 40 is an information processing device installed in a management room or the like that is different from the space where the air conditioner 20 is installed. Also, the air conditioning control device 40 is connected to the air conditioner 20 and the environmental value acquisition device 30 via a wired network or a wireless network. The air conditioning control device 40 acquires (collects) the control value history and the environmental value history of the air conditioner 20 from the air conditioner 20 and the environmental value acquisition device 30, and uses the control value history and the environmental value history. has a function of changing the control value of the air conditioner 20 (controlling the operation of the air conditioner 20). In the present embodiment, a case where the air conditioning control device 40 changes, for example, the set temperature of the air conditioner 20 as the control value of the air conditioner 20 will be mainly described.

Here, with reference to FIG. 2, an application example (an example of usage mode) of the air-conditioning system 1 according to the present embodiment described above will be described.

In the example shown in FIG. 2, the air-conditioning system 1 is configured as an air-conditioning system (building air-conditioning system) that controls the air-conditioning of an office building, and the air-conditioning system 1 is arranged in an office and a management room of the office building. .

Specifically, an input device 10, an air conditioner 20, and an environment value acquisition device 30 are arranged in an office.

On the other hand, an air conditioning control device 40 is arranged in the management room. In addition, the air conditioning control device 40 is a BEMS (Building Energy Management System) introduced for the purpose of the administrator grasping the air conditioning state of the office (indoor) or changing the setting (that is, set temperature etc.) of the air conditioner 20 ) or the like. A BEMS is a server device that manages power consumption in a building, controls power saving, and the like.

In addition, a local controller 50 is further arranged in the office. The local controller 50 connects the input device 10, the air conditioner 20, and the environmental value acquisition device 30 placed in the office and the air conditioning control device 40 placed in the management room so as to be communicable via a wired or wireless network. As the local controller 50, for example, a dedicated microcomputer device, a general-purpose computer device such as a desktop PC (personal computer), or a network device such as a router can be used.

In addition, the air conditioning control device (BEMS) 40 is communicably connected to another air conditioning system 60 (an air conditioning system different from the air conditioning system 1) installed in another building or the like via an external network, for example. good too. In this case, the air conditioning control device 40 may be configured to control another air conditioning system 60 .

Furthermore, the air conditioning control device 40 may be communicably connected to a cloud server (virtual computer system realized by cloud computing) 70 via an external network. In this case, part of the functions of the air-conditioning control device 40 described later may be provided in the cloud server 70 .

As shown in FIG. 2, by arranging only the minimum necessary equipment in the office and arranging resources such as the air conditioning control device 40 in the management room, the availability, maintainability, airtightness, etc. of the air conditioning control device 40 are improved. can be improved.

Note that, as shown in FIG. 2, the environmental value acquisition device 30 may be placed outside the office (outside the building). Also, the environmental value acquisition device 30 may be connected to the air conditioning control device 40 via an external network, for example, so as to be able to communicate therewith.

Also, here, the case where the air conditioning control device 40 mainly has the function of BEMS for managing the power consumption in the building, etc., but the air conditioning control device 40 has the function of an energy management system (EMS), for example. You may have Specifically, the air conditioning control device 40 includes a home energy management system (HEMS), a factory energy management system (FEMS), an energy management system in a predetermined area, and a factory energy management system (FEMS). It may have functions such as CEMS (Cluster/Community Energy Management System), which is a system.

The air conditioning control device 40 according to this embodiment will be described below. FIG. 3 shows an example of the hardware configuration of the air conditioning control device 40. As shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the air conditioning control device 40 includes a CPU 41, a nonvolatile memory 42, a main memory 43, a communication device 44, and the like.

The CPU 41 is a hardware processor that controls the operation of each component within the air conditioning control device 40 . The CPU 41 executes various programs loaded into the main memory 43 from the non-volatile memory 42, which is a storage device. The programs executed by the CPU 41 include an operating system (OS), an application program for controlling the operation of the air conditioner 20 (hereinafter referred to as an air conditioning control program), and the like.

The communication device 44 is a device configured to communicate with external devices such as the air conditioner 20 and the environmental value acquisition device 30 .

Although FIG. 3 shows only the CPU 41, the nonvolatile memory 42, the main memory 43, and the communication device 44, the air conditioning control device 40 includes, for example, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) and an SSD (Solid State Drive). Alternatively, an input device such as a keyboard or mouse and a display device such as a liquid crystal display may be provided.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the functional configuration of the air conditioning control device 40. As shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the air conditioning control device 40 includes a setting information storage unit 401, an acquisition unit 402, a history information storage unit 403, a calculation unit 404, an allowable range storage unit 405, a determination unit 406, a first evaluation unit 407, a 2 includes an evaluator 408 and a corrector 409 .

In this embodiment, the setting information storage unit 401, the history information storage unit 403, and the allowable range storage unit 405 are realized by the non-volatile memory 42 shown in FIG. 3 or another storage device.

Further, in the present embodiment, some or all of the acquisition unit 402, the calculation unit 404, the determination unit 406, the first evaluation unit 407, the second evaluation unit 408, and the correction unit 409 cause the CPU 41 to execute the air conditioning control program described above. It shall be realized by software. A part or all of these units 402, 404 and 406 to 409 may be implemented by hardware such as an IC (Integrated Circuit), or may be implemented as a combination of software and hardware.

Setting information that determines the operation of the air conditioning control device 40 is stored in advance in the setting information storage unit 401 . The setting information stored in the setting information storage unit 401 includes operation period information, search execution period information, allowable range calculation time information, set temperature change time information, identification boundary information, control content information, and the like, which will be described later. The details of each of these pieces of information will be described later.

The acquisition unit 402 acquires control value history information including the current control values (operation mode and set temperature) of the air conditioner 20 output from the air conditioner 20 . Acquisition unit 402 acquires the control value history information, for example, periodically. The control value history information periodically acquired by the acquisition unit 402 is stored (accumulated) in the history information storage unit 403 . That is, the control value history information stored in the history information storage unit 403 includes the history of the control values of the air conditioner 20 .

The acquisition unit 402 also acquires environmental value history information including current environmental values output from the environmental value acquisition device 30 . Note that the acquisition unit 402 periodically acquires environmental value history information, for example. The environmental value history information periodically acquired by the acquisition unit 402 is stored (accumulated) in the history information storage unit 403 . That is, the environmental value history information stored in the history information storage unit 403 includes a history of environmental values related to the environment around the air conditioner 20 .

The timing at which the control value history information is acquired and the timing at which the environmental value history information is acquired may be the same or different. Alternatively, the acquisition unit 402 may acquire the control value history information and the environment value history information when a predetermined condition such as reaching a predetermined time is met.

The calculation unit 404 calculates the usage for the set temperature of the air conditioner 20 based on the setting information stored in the setting information storage unit 401 and the control value history information (operation mode and set temperature) stored in the history information storage unit 403. Calculate the acceptable range of the person. Note that in the present embodiment, the allowable range is the setting of the air conditioner 20 that allows the user to maintain a level of comfort that does not cause discomfort (that is, it is estimated that the user can tolerate). Corresponds to a range of temperatures.

Information indicating the allowable range calculated by the calculation unit 404 (hereinafter referred to as allowable range information) is stored in the allowable range storage unit 405 .

Based on the setting information stored in the setting information storage unit 401 and the allowable range information stored in the allowable range storage unit 405, the determination unit 406 determines the set temperature corresponding to the allowable range indicated by the allowable range information, for example. The setting temperature of the air conditioner 20 that is the most energy-saving among them is determined. Note that when the air conditioner 20 performs the heating operation, the lower the set temperature, the more energy saving can be achieved. On the other hand, when the air conditioner 20 performs the cooling operation, the higher the set temperature, the more energy saving can be achieved.

The first evaluation unit 407 evaluates the set temperature determined by the determination unit 406 based on the current set temperature of the air conditioner 20 .

A second evaluation unit 408 evaluates the set temperature determined by the determination unit 406 based on the environmental value history information stored in the history information storage unit 403 .

The correction unit 409 corrects the set temperature determined by the determination unit 406 based on at least one of the evaluation result by the first evaluation unit 407 and the evaluation result by the second evaluation unit 408 .

The set temperature corrected by the correction unit 409 is output to the air conditioner 20 . As a result, the set temperature of the air conditioner 20 is changed, and the air conditioner 20 can operate based on the changed set temperature (that is, the set temperature corrected by the correction unit 409).

Next, setting information stored in the setting information storage unit 401 shown in FIG. 4 will be described. As described above, the setting information includes operation period information, search execution period information, allowable range calculation time information, set temperature change time information, identification boundary information, and control content information. do. Note that the control content information will be described later.

FIG. 5 shows an example of the data structure of operating period information (table). As shown in FIG. 5, the operation period information includes an operation start date and time, an operation end date and time, and an operation mode. In this embodiment, "operation" means that the air conditioning control device 40 controls the operation of the air conditioner 20 (that is, the air conditioning control device 40 changes the set temperature of the air conditioner 20).

The operation start date and time indicates the date and time when the air conditioning control device 40 starts controlling the operation of the air conditioner 20 (that is, the date and time when the operation by the air conditioning control device 40 is started). The operation end date and time indicates the date and time when the air conditioning control device 40 ends operation control of the air conditioner 20 (that is, the date and time when the operation by the air conditioning control device 40 ends). In the following description, the period from the operation start date and time to the operation end date and time is referred to as an operation period for convenience.

The operating mode is the operating mode of the air conditioner 20, and includes, for example, heating (operating) or cooling (operating). The operation mode "heating" means that the air conditioner 20 performs heating operation. The operation mode "cooling" means that the air conditioner 20 performs cooling operation.

In the example shown in FIG. 5, the operation period information includes the operation start date and time "2015-12-01 00:00:00", the operation end date and time "2016-03-31 23:59:59", and the operation mode "heating". It is included. According to this operation period information, during the operation period from 00:00:00 on December 1, 2015 to 23:59:59 on March 31, 2016, when the air conditioner 20 performs the heating operation 2 shows that the air conditioning control device 40 controls the operation of the air conditioner 20. FIG.

According to such operation period information, for example, even during the operation period from 0:00:00 on December 1, 2015 to 23:59:59 on March 31, 2016, the air conditioner When the air conditioner 20 performs cooling operation, the air conditioning control device 40 does not control the operation of the air conditioner 20 . That is, the operation (cooling operation) of the air conditioner 20 in this case is controlled based only on the user's operation result received by the input device 10 . Also, when the air conditioner 20 operates (heating operation and cooling operation) outside the operation period from 00:00:00 on December 1, 2015 to 23:59:59 on March 31, 2016 The same is true for

Although only one piece of operation period information is shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of pieces of the operation period information may be prepared for each operation period (operation start date and time and operation end date and time) or operation mode.

FIG. 6 shows an example of the data structure of search execution period information (table). As shown in FIG. 6, the search execution period information includes search execution days and search non-execution days.

The number of search execution days indicates the number of consecutive days (period) during which the user's allowable range search for the set temperature of the air conditioner 20 is executed. The search non-execution days indicates the number of consecutive days (period) in which no search within the permissible range is executed. Note that the search for the allowable range will be described later.

In the example shown in FIG. 6, the search execution period information includes the search execution days "7" and the search non-execution days "14". According to this search execution period information, the period during which the permissible range search is performed (hereinafter referred to as the search execution period) is 7 days, and the period during which the permissible range search is not performed (hereinafter referred to as the search non-execution period). is shown to be 14 days.

As shown in FIG. 7, the search execution period and the search non-execution period are alternately arranged (repeatedly) within the operation period.

In the example shown in FIG. 7, the date and time t1 is the operation start date and time, the date and time t6 is the operation end date and time, and the search execution period and the search non-execution period are repeated within the operation period from the date and time t1 to the date and time t6. ing.

Specifically, the search non-execution period starts from the operation start date and time t1, and at time t2 when, for example, 14 days have passed since the operation start date and time t1, the search non-execution period is switched to the search execution period. Further, at time t3 when, for example, seven days have passed since time t2, the search execution period is switched to the search non-execution period. Thereafter, similarly, the search non-implementation period is switched to the search implementation period at date t4, and the search implementation period is switched to the search non-implementation period at date t5. After time t5, the search execution period and the search non-execution period are alternately repeated until the operation period ends.

In addition, in FIG. 7, it is explained that the search non-execution period starts from the operation start date and time t1, but the search execution period may start from the operation start date and time t1.

FIG. 8 shows an example of the data structure of allowable range calculation time information (table). As shown in FIG. 8, the allowable range calculation time information includes the time at which the allowable range is calculated (hereinafter referred to as allowable range calculation time).

In the example shown in FIG. 8, the allowable range calculation time information includes the allowable range calculation time "07:00:00". This allowable range calculation time information indicates that the allowable range is calculated at 07:00:00.

Although the allowable range calculation time information includes only the allowable range calculation time in FIG. 8, the allowable range calculation time information includes other conditions related to the timing of calculating the allowable range. good too. Specifically, for example, a condition in which the allowable range is calculated on the first day of each repeated search period and non-search period (that is, at the timing when the search period and non-search period are switched). may be included in the allowable range calculation time information. Further, for example, the allowable range calculation time information may include a condition that the allowable range is calculated every day. Note that the allowable range calculation time information may include conditions other than those described here.

FIG. 9 shows an example of the data structure of set temperature change time information (table). As shown in FIG. 9, the set temperature change time information includes the time at which the air conditioning control device 40 changes the set temperature of the air conditioner 20 (hereinafter referred to as set temperature change time). Note that the set temperature change time corresponds to the time (control execution time) at which the air conditioning control device 40 controls the operation of the air conditioner 20 by changing the set temperature of the air conditioner 20 .

In the example shown in FIG. 9, the set temperature change time information includes set temperature change times "10:00:00", "12:00:00" and "15:00:00". According to this set temperature change time information, it is indicated that the air conditioning control device 40 changes the set temperature of the air conditioner 20 at 10:00:00, 12:00:00, and 15:00:00. It is

The change of the set temperature of the air conditioner 20 by the air conditioning control device 40 is performed every day during the operation period, but it may be performed on a predetermined day such as only weekdays or only holidays. .

According to the allowable range calculation time included in the allowable range calculation time information shown in FIG. 8 and the set temperature change time included in the set temperature change time information shown in FIG. 10 is performed at the timing shown in FIG. FIG. 10 shows that the allowable range is calculated at 7:00 and the set temperature is changed at 10:00, 12:00 and 15:00.

FIG. 11 shows an example of the data structure of identification boundary information (table). As shown in FIG. 11, the identification boundary information includes feature quantity types and identification boundary parameters. The feature amount type indicates the type of feature amount used to calculate the allowable range described later. The identification boundary parameter is a parameter that defines a boundary for classifying feature quantities of the type indicated by the feature quantity type.

In the example shown in FIG. 11, the identification boundary information includes the feature quantity type "Weibull" and identification boundary parameters "(a, b)". According to this identification boundary information, when calculating the allowable range, the feature amount is calculated by applying the Weibull distribution, and the calculated feature amount is defined by the identification boundary parameter "(a, b)". Boundary sorting is shown. Note that the identification boundary parameter "(a, b)" defines that a linear function (straight line) represented by, for example, y=ax+b is used as the boundary.

As described above, the identification boundary information is used when calculating the allowable range, and the details of the calculation processing of the allowable range will be described later.

Next, control value history information and environment value history information stored in the history information storage unit 403 will be described.

FIG. 12 shows an example of the data structure of control value history information stored in the history information storage unit 403. As shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 12, the control value history information includes control values (operation mode and set temperature) associated with date and time.

The date and time represents the date and time when the control value history information was acquired in the air conditioning control device 40 . The operation mode is an operation mode of the air conditioner 20, and includes, for example, heating, cooling, and stop. Note that the operation mode "stop" means that the operation of the air conditioner 20 is stopped. Since the operation modes "heating" and "cooling" are as described above, their description is omitted here. The set temperature is the temperature set for the air conditioner 20 as a control value for controlling the operation of the air conditioner 20 .

In the example shown in FIG. 12, the history information storage unit 403 stores (accumulates) a plurality of pieces of control value history information including control value history information 403A and 403B.

The control value history information 403A includes the operation mode "stop" and the set temperature "22" in association with the date and time "2016-03-01 07:59:00". According to the control value history information 403A, the operation of the air conditioner 20 was stopped at 7:59:00 on March 1, 2016, and the set temperature of the air conditioner 20 ( The set temperature at the time the operation was stopped) is shown to be 22°C.

In the present embodiment, the control value history information (control value of the air conditioner 20) is periodically acquired, but when the operation of the air conditioner 20 is stopped, the control value of the air conditioner 20 is, for example, BEMS It may be managed within the air conditioning control device 40 by functions such as the above, or may be acquired from another management device (system).

The control value history information 403B includes the operation mode "heating" and the set temperature "22" in association with the date and time "2016-03-01 08:00:00". According to the control value history information 403B, the air conditioner 20 is performing heating operation at 8:00:00 on March 1, 2016, and the set temperature of the air conditioner 20 is 22°C. It is shown.

Note that when the air conditioner 20 is operating (that is, the operation of the air conditioner 20 is not stopped), the air conditioner 20 control value can be obtained from the air conditioner 20 .

Although only the control value history information 403A and 403B have been described here, the same applies to other control value history information.

Also, in the example shown in FIG. 12, the control value history information is acquired (stored in the history information storage unit 403) at intervals of one minute, but the control value history information may be acquired at intervals of five minutes or ten minutes. It may be obtained at intervals.

FIG. 13 shows an example of the data structure of environmental value history information stored in the history information storage unit 403. As shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 13, the control value history information includes environmental values (room temperature, indoor humidity, outdoor temperature, and outdoor humidity) in association with date and time.

The date and time represents the date and time when the environmental value history information was acquired in the air conditioning control device 40 . The room temperature is the temperature of the room (the space where the air conditioner 20 is installed). The indoor humidity is the indoor humidity. The outside air temperature is the temperature outside the room (outside the space where the air conditioner 20 is installed). The outside air humidity is the outdoor humidity.

In the example shown in FIG. 13, the history information storage unit 403 stores (accumulates) a plurality of pieces of environment value history information including environment value history information 403a and 403b.

The environmental value history information 403a stores the room temperature of 20.5, the indoor humidity of 55, the outside temperature of 3.9, and the outside humidity of 38 in association with the date and time of 2016-03-01 07:59:00. "It is included. According to the environmental value history information 403a, the indoor temperature at 7:59:00 on March 1, 2016 is 20.5° C., and the indoor humidity is 55%. It is Further, according to the environmental value history information 403a, the outdoor temperature at 7:59:00 on March 1, 2016 was 3.9° C., and the outdoor humidity was 38%. It is shown.

In the environmental value history information 403b, the room temperature is "20.7", the indoor humidity is "53", the outdoor temperature is "4.0", and the outdoor humidity is "37" in association with the date and time "2016-03-01 08:00:00". "It is included. According to the environmental value history information 403b, the indoor temperature at 8:00:00 on March 1, 2016 is 20.7° C., and the indoor humidity is 53%. It is Further, according to the environmental value history information 403b, the outdoor temperature at 08:00:00 on March 1, 2016 is 4.0° C., and the outdoor humidity is 37%. It is shown.

Although only the environmental value history information 403a and 403b have been described here, other environmental value history information are similarly described. A plurality of pieces of environmental value history information including the environmental value history information 403a and 403b are obtained via the environmental value obtaining devices 30 installed indoors and outdoors as described above.

Further, in the example shown in FIG. 13, the environmental values included in the environmental value history information are the room temperature, the indoor humidity, the outdoor temperature, and the outdoor humidity. may be at least one of

In the example shown in FIG. 13, the environmental value history information is acquired (stored in the history information storage unit 403) at intervals of 1 minute, but the environmental value history information may be acquired at intervals of 5 minutes or 10 minutes. It may be obtained at intervals. Furthermore, the environmental value history information may be acquired at different intervals (timings) for each type of environmental value (room temperature, room humidity, outside temperature, and outside air humidity). Specifically, the room temperature and indoor humidity (including environmental value history information) are acquired at intervals of 1 minute, but the outdoor temperature and outdoor humidity (including environmental value history information) are acquired at 5-minute (or 10-minute) intervals. You can also get it with

Next, an example of the processing procedure of the air conditioning control device 40 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 14 . Note that the process shown in FIG. 14 is periodically executed (at predetermined standby time intervals) after the air conditioning control device 40 is powered on, for example. The interval at which the process shown in FIG. 14 is executed is set in advance, and may be managed using a timer or the like provided in the air conditioning control device 40, for example.

First, the air conditioning control device 40 acquires operation period information and search execution period information stored as setting information in the setting information storage unit 401 (step S1).

Next, the air conditioning control device 40 controls the operation of the air conditioner 20 by the air conditioning control device 40 (hereinafter simply referred to as air conditioning control by the air conditioning control device 40) based on the operation period information acquired in step S1. It is determined whether or not to do so (step S2).

In step S2, for example, the current date and time is acquired from a clock or the like provided in the air conditioning control device 40, and the current date and time is included in the operation period information, and the operation period from the operation start date and time to the operation end date and time is included in the operation period information. It is determined whether it is within Further, in step S2, for example, the current operation mode of the air conditioner 20 is obtained from the air conditioner 20, and it is determined whether or not the operation mode matches the operation mode included in the operation period information. Note that the current date and time and the current operation mode described above are included in the latest control value history information stored in the history information storage unit 403 (control value history information last stored in the history information storage unit 403). You may use the date, time and mode of operation that are specified.

As a result, in step S2, if the current date and time are within the operation period and the current operation mode of the air conditioner 20 matches the operation mode included in the operation period information, the air conditioning control by the air conditioning control device 40 is determined to be implemented. On the other hand, if the current date and time is not within the operation period, or if the current operation mode of the air conditioner 20 does not match the operation mode included in the operation period information, it is determined that the air conditioning control by the air conditioning control device 40 is not to be performed. be done.

For example, in the example shown in FIG. 5, the current date and time is within the operation period from 00:00:00 on December 1, 2015 to 23:59:59 on March 31, 2016, and the air conditioner 20 is performing the heating operation, it is determined that the air conditioning control by the air conditioning control device 40 is to be performed. In the following description, it is assumed that the air conditioner 20 is performing heating operation.

When it is determined that the air conditioning control device 40 performs air conditioning control (YES in step S2), the air conditioning control device 40 sets the current date and time as the operation start date and time included in the operation period information acquired in step S1. , whether or not it is within the search execution period specified based on the number of search execution days and search non-execution days included in the search execution period information (step S3). As described above, since the search execution period and the search non-execution period are alternately repeated from the operation start date and time, the number of days of the search execution period and the number of days of the search non-execution period are arranged alternately based on the operation start date and time. By doing so, it is possible to determine whether the current date and time is the search execution period or the search non-execution period.

If it is determined that the current date and time is within the search implementation period (YES in step S3), the air conditioning control device 40 executes search implementation period processing (step S4). Note that in this search execution period process, a process is executed to change the current set temperature of the air conditioner 20 to a set temperature at which the search for the allowable range is performed.

On the other hand, if it is determined that the current date and time are not within the search execution period (NO in step S3), the air conditioning control device 40 executes search non-execution period processing (step S5). In this search non-execution period process, the search for the permissible range is not executed.

It should be noted that "searching" in the present embodiment means searching for a set temperature range (permissible range) that is permissible for a user who uses the air conditioning system 1 (air conditioner 20). Further, the "tolerance range" is a set temperature range in which the user can tolerate the cold when the air conditioner 20 performs the heating operation, and the user can tolerate the heat when the air conditioner 20 performs the cooling operation. This is the allowable range of set temperatures.

That is, in the present embodiment, different air conditioning control is performed based on whether the current date and time is within the search execution period or within the search non-execution period.

If it is determined in step S2 that the air conditioning control device 40 does not perform the air conditioning control (NO in step S3), the process shown in FIG. 14 is terminated.

The search execution period process executed in step S4 and the search non-execution period process executed in step S5 will be described below.

First, an example of the procedure of the search execution period process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 15 .

In the search execution period process, it is searched whether or not the user can allow the air conditioning control based on the set temperature that can realize further energy saving than the set temperature that is the most energy saving within the allowable range.

In the search execution period process, the calculation unit 404 acquires allowable range calculation time information stored as setting information in the setting information storage unit 401 . The calculation unit 404 determines whether the current time is the allowable range calculation time based on the acquired allowable range calculation time information (step S11).

Specifically, for example, when the allowable range calculation time included in the allowable range calculation time information is "07:00:00" as shown in FIG. If the minute is 0 second, it is determined that the current time is the allowable range calculation time.

As described above, if the allowable range calculation time information includes other conditions related to the timing of calculating the allowable range, in step S11, the current time (date and time) is set to the allowable range if the conditions are satisfied. It is determined that it is the calculation time.

If it is determined in step S11 that the current time is the allowable range calculation time (YES in step S11), the calculation unit 404 stores identification boundary information and history information stored as setting information in the setting information storage unit 401. The control value history information stored in the unit 403 is obtained (step S12).

When the process of step S12 is executed, the calculation unit 404 calculates the user's allowable range for the set temperature of the air conditioner 20 based on the identification boundary information and the control value history information acquired in step S12 ( step S13).

The processing of step S13 will be described in detail below. First, the calculation unit 404 calculates information representing the duration for each set temperature (hereinafter referred to as duration information) based on the control value history information (the operation mode and set temperature included therein) acquired in step S12. Generate.

Here, the duration information described above will be described with reference to FIG. The upper part of FIG. 16 shows part of the transition (change) of the set temperature based on the control value history information. According to the upper part of FIG. 16, for example, at time (date and time) t1, the operation of the air conditioner 20 is started at a set temperature of 22° C., and at time t2, the set temperature is changed from 22° C. to 21° C., It shows that the set temperature is changed from 21° C. to 22° C. at time t3, and the operation of the air conditioner 20 is stopped at time t4.

The lower part of FIG. 16 shows an example of the data structure of duration information generated based on the transition of the set temperature shown in the upper part of FIG. 16 .

Specifically, according to the transition of the set temperature shown in the upper part of FIG. The duration corresponding to the set temperature of °C (set temperature duration) is "t2-t1". Here, the set temperature is lowered by 1° C. at time t2. Assuming that the air conditioner 20 is performing the heating operation as described above, the event (value of) is set to "0" when such a change to lower the set temperature is performed. In this case, as shown in the lower part of FIG. 16, duration information is generated that includes the set temperature "22", the set temperature duration "t2-t1", and the event "0" in association with each other.

The event included in the duration information is determined based on the change in the set temperature (for example, the user's operation on the input device 10) at the end of the duration of the set temperature, as described above.

Next, according to the transition of the set temperature shown in the upper part of FIG. 16, the operation of the air conditioner 20 is continued at the set temperature of 21° C. from the time t2 to the time t3. The duration to do is "t3-t2". Here, the set temperature is raised by 1° C. at time t3. In this case, the user who uses the air conditioning system 1 (that is, the user who is indoors) can tolerate the cold when the air conditioner 20 is operated based on the set temperature of 21° C. (that is, the current set temperature). Therefore, it can be assumed that the set temperature was raised. If a change is made to raise the set temperature during such heating operation, the event is set to "1". In this case, as shown in the lower part of FIG. 16, duration information is generated that includes the set temperature "21", the set temperature duration "t3-t2", and the event "1" in association with each other.

Furthermore, according to the transition of the set temperature shown in the upper stage of FIG. The duration is "t4-t3". Here, at time t4, the operation of the air conditioner 20 is stopped. When the operation of the air conditioner 20 is stopped in this way, the event is set to "0". In this case, as shown in the lower part of FIG. 16, a duration including the set temperature "22", the set temperature duration "t4-t3", and the event "0" in association with each other is generated.

Here, the air conditioner 20 is assumed to perform the heating operation. The event when other changes (a change to raise the set temperature and stop the operation of the air conditioner 20) are made may be set to "0".

That is, in the present embodiment, since the allowable range of the set temperature is calculated, as described above, when it is presumed that the user changed the set temperature because the user could not tolerate the cold or heat, the user is extracted as an event "1" indicating that the set temperature is no longer acceptable.

Note that the period from time t0 to t1 and the period (time) after time t4 during which the operation of the air conditioner 20 is stopped are not included in the duration of the set temperature (that is, duration information is not generated). shall be

Further, the operation mode (start and stop of operation of the air conditioner 20) and the set temperature included in the control value history information may be set by the user operating the input device 10 (for example, a remote controller, etc.). It may be performed by automatic operation of the air conditioner 20 by the air conditioning control device 40 or the like.

Next, the calculation unit 404 performs survival time analysis based on the duration information shown in the lower part of FIG. 16 . Here, the survival time analysis is one of the methods of predicting the survival time of an observation target. used to This observed failure or the like is called an event in survival time analysis. That is, the survival time corresponds to the time from the start of observation to the occurrence of an event.

In this embodiment, the observation target is the set temperature. A change in the set temperature at a certain time) is treated as an event, and survival time analysis is performed to predict the duration of the set temperature as the survival time of the set temperature.

Note that changing the set temperature or stopping the operation of the air conditioner 20 when the event is "0" is discontinued. Censoring means that the observation is terminated in the middle without an event occurring.

Moreover, the observation start date and time and the observation end date and time in the survival time analysis described above are arbitrary. Specifically, the operation start date and time included in the operation period information may be set as the observation start time, and the current date and time may be set as the observation end date and time. Alternatively, the observation start date and time may be a certain period (for example, one month before) from the current date and time, and the observation end date and time may be the current date and time. Furthermore, for example, if the current date and time are within the search period, the start date and end date and time of the search non-execution period arranged immediately before the search period may be used as the observation start date and observation end date and time. Similarly, for example, if the current date and time is within the search non-implementation period, the start date and end date and time of the search implementation period immediately preceding the search non-implementation period may be used as the observation start date and observation end date and time. Moreover, the observation start date and time and the observation end date and time may be dates and times specified in advance by the administrator of the air conditioning system 1 .

In step S12 described above, it is assumed that the control value history information including the date and time corresponding to the period from the observation start date and time to the observation end date and time is acquired.

In the survival time analysis in this embodiment, the duration of each set temperature is represented by the survival function S(t) for each set temperature. The survival function S(t) is a function that represents the probability (survival rate) that the observation subject is alive at time t (t is a real number greater than 0). The survival function S(t) in the present embodiment is S(t)=Prob(T>t) using a random variable T (Equation 1)
is defined mathematically as Prob (T>t) indicates the probability that event "1" will not occur within time t.

Next, the calculation unit 404 calculates the feature amount of the type indicated by the feature amount type included in the identification boundary information acquired in step S12 for each set temperature based on the survival function S(t) obtained by the survival time analysis. Calculate to

Since the identification boundary information shown in FIG. 11 includes "Weibull" as a feature amount type, in the present embodiment, the survival function S(t) for each set temperature is modeled by a Weibull distribution, and the Weibull Assume that the coefficient parameter of the distribution is calculated as the feature amount. Specifically, the survival function S(t) can be expressed by the following equation (2) using a scale parameter λ and a shape parameter p, which are coefficient parameters.
S(t)=exp(−(λt) ^p ) λ, p>0 Equation (2)
Here, FIG. 17 shows an example of a graph (that is, the survival function S(t) represented by Equation (2)) modeled by the Weibull distribution of the survival function S(t) for each set temperature described above. there is In the example shown in FIG. 17, the vertical axis represents the survival rate, and the horizontal axis represents time (time).

Curves 81 to 83 shown in FIG. 17 correspond to graphs obtained by modeling the survival function S(t) with the Weibull distribution when the set temperatures are 19° C., 20° C. and 21° C., respectively.

According to the example shown in FIG. 17, for example, the survival function S(t) when the set temperature is 19° C. is the survival function S(t) when the set temperature is 20° C. and the set temperature is 21° C. The decrease in the survival rate (the rate at which the set temperature is maintained) due to time t is large with respect to the survival function S(t) in the case. That is, when the set temperature is set to 19° C., it is shown that the temperature set by the user is likely to rise more quickly (events are more likely to occur) than when the set temperature is set to 20° C. or 21° C. ing.

In the present embodiment, the calculator 404 calculates the scale parameter λ and the shape parameter p used in the equation (2) representing the survival function S(t) for each set temperature as feature quantities for each set temperature.

Note that FIG. 18 shows an example of the scale parameter λ and the shape parameter p for each set temperature calculated as feature amounts by the calculator 404 .

The example shown in FIG. 18 indicates that the scale parameter λ is 0.2 and the shape parameter p is 1.3 when the set temperature is 19°C. Also, it is shown that the scale parameter λ is 0.02 and the shape parameter p is 5 when the set temperature is 20°C. Further, it shows that the scale parameter λ is 0.015 and the shape parameter p is 4 when the set temperature is 21°C.

In the present embodiment, the feature amount for each set temperature is calculated as described above. It may be all or part of it. Further, for example, when a plurality of air conditioners 20 are installed in the same room, the feature amount may be calculated for each air conditioner 20 .

In the present embodiment, the survival function S(t) is modeled by the Weibull distribution, and the scale parameter λ and the shape parameter p of the Weibull distribution are calculated as feature quantities. λ and the shape parameter p may not be used, and a distribution model other than the Weibull distribution may be applied to calculate the feature amount. Further, for example, the average value and the variance value of the duration time for each set temperature may be used as the feature quantity. For example, a maximum likelihood method or the like may be used as a method of calculating the feature amount.

Also, a plurality of combinations of feature amount types and identification boundary parameters (that is, a plurality of identification boundary information) are prepared, and the administrator of the air conditioning system 1 or the like selects an appropriate combination from the plurality of combinations. can be

Next, the calculation unit 404 divides the feature amount (set temperature) into groups within the allowable range and out of the allowable range based on the calculated feature amount for each set temperature and the identification boundary parameter included in the identification boundary information described above. group and classify.

Here, FIG. 19 shows an example of the result of plotting the feature amount (scale parameter λ and shape parameter p) for each set temperature. In FIG. 19, the vertical axis represents the shape parameter p and the horizontal axis represents the scale parameter λ. In addition, the circles shown in FIG. 19 represent feature amounts (plotted values) for each set temperature.

The feature values plotted for each set temperature as shown in FIG.

Note that the identification boundary line 90 can be obtained based on identification boundary parameters. Specifically, the identification boundary parameter included in the identification boundary information shown in FIG. 11 is "(a, b)", which is the slope a and the intercept b represents. That is, the identification boundary line 90 in FIG. 19 is a linear function (straight line) of the slope a and the intercept b. This identification boundary parameter is, for example, a support vector machine (SVM: Support Vector Although it is determined in advance by machine learning such as a Machine model, it may be determined using other techniques. Further, the identification boundary parameter may be determined, for example, based on the user's judgment result regarding the duration of the set temperature.

In the example shown in FIG. 19, the area located to the upper left of the identification boundary line 90 is the area within the allowable range. On the other hand, the area located to the lower right of the identification boundary line 90 is an area outside the allowable range. According to this, the calculation unit 404 can classify the set temperatures “20° C.” and “21° C.” into the group within the allowable range, and the set temperature “19° C.” into the group outside the allowable range.

The calculation unit 404 determines whether or not each set temperature is within the allowable range based on the classification results described above. The calculation unit 404 identifies the allowable range based on this determination result, and generates allowable range information (table) indicating the allowable range.

Note that the method for determining whether or not the set temperature is within the allowable range is not limited to the one described here. For example, using a logistic distribution whose coefficient parameter is calculated in advance, the value of the logistic distribution obtained by substituting the feature value calculated for each set temperature into the explanatory variable of the logistic distribution is determined whether the set temperature is within the allowable range. It may be used to determine whether or not.

FIG. 20 shows an example of the data structure of allowable range information. As shown in FIG. 20, the allowable range information includes the set temperature and the allowable range determination result in association with the operation mode (cooling/heating type).

The operation mode includes "heating" or "cooling", but in the present embodiment, the air conditioner 20 performs heating operation, so the operation mode shown in FIG. 20 is "heating". The allowable range judgment result is "within the allowable range" when the corresponding set temperature is classified into the allowable range group, and when the set temperature is classified into the out of allowable range group. is "out of range".

In the example shown in FIG. 20, the allowable range information includes the set temperature "21" and the allowable range determination result "within the allowable range" in association with the operation mode "heating". According to this, when the air conditioner 20 is performing the heating operation, the set temperature of 21° C. is within the allowable range for the user.

In addition, the allowable range information includes the set temperature "20" and the allowable range determination result "within the allowable range" in association with the operation mode "heating". According to this, when the air conditioner 20 is performing the heating operation, the set temperature of 20° C. is within the allowable range for the user.

In addition, the allowable range information includes the set temperature "19" and the allowable range determination result "outside the allowable range" in association with the operation mode "heating". According to this, when the air conditioner 20 is performing the heating operation, the set temperature of 19° C. is outside the allowable range (not within the allowable range) for the user.

That is, in the example shown in FIG. 20, the set temperature "20° C." is the boundary of the allowable range, and the set temperature "19° C." or lower is outside the allowable range. Although not shown in FIG. 20, when the operation mode is "heating", a set temperature equal to or higher than a predetermined value may be out of the allowable range. Similarly, when the operation mode is "cooling", the set temperature below a predetermined value may be out of the allowable range.

In the present embodiment, as described above, the feature amount related to the duration is calculated based on the duration (set temperature duration) during which each set temperature of the air conditioner 20 specified based on the control value history information continues. Then, the user's allowable range for the set temperature of the air conditioner 20 is calculated based on the feature amount.

Returning to FIG. 15 again, the allowable range information (allowable range information indicating the allowable range calculated in step S13) is stored in the allowable range storage unit 405 (step S14).

Next, the determination unit 406 acquires set temperature change time information stored as setting information in the setting information storage unit 401 . The determination unit 406 determines whether or not the current time is the set temperature change time based on the acquired set temperature change time information (step S15).

Specifically, for example, when the set temperature change time information includes the set temperature change time "10:00:00" as shown in FIG. If the minute is 0 second, it is determined that the current time is the set temperature change time. The same applies to the set temperature change times "12:00:00" and "15:00:00" included in the set temperature change time information.

If it is determined that the current time is the set temperature change time (YES in step S15), the determination unit 406 sets the allowable range information stored in the allowable range storage unit 405 and the setting information storage unit 401 in step S14. Based on the control content information stored as information, set temperature determination processing for the search execution period (hereinafter referred to as first set temperature determination processing) is executed (step S16). The set temperature of the air conditioner 20 is determined by this first set temperature determination process.

Here, FIG. 21 shows an example of the data structure of the control content information. As shown in FIG. 21, the control content information includes period, operation mode, set temperature, and control content in association with each other. In addition, when the control content information satisfies the conditions (narrowing down conditions) based on the period, operation mode, and set temperature included in the control content information, the processing (control) based on the control content associated with these is executed. indicates that

In the example shown in FIG. 21, a plurality of pieces of control content information including first to fourth control content information are prepared in advance.

The first control content information includes a period "search execution period", an operation mode "heating", a set temperature "below optimal temperature - Td", and a control content "no change" in association with each other. According to this first control content information, the current date and time is within the search execution period, the air conditioner 20 is performing heating operation, and the current set temperature of the air conditioner 20 is the optimum temperature -Td or less. In this case, it is assumed that the operation that realizes energy saving has already been performed, and the set temperature of the air conditioner 20 is not changed.

In the present embodiment, the optimum temperature (optimal set temperature) is the set temperature that is the most energy-saving among the set temperatures within the allowable range indicated by the allowable range information. Specifically, in the case of the allowable range information shown in FIG. 20, the optimum temperature is 20.degree.

Here, the optimum temperature is the set temperature within the allowable range that results in the most energy saving. , and within a predetermined threshold) may be the most energy-saving set temperature, for example, the time, the number of users in the room, the installation environment of the air conditioner 20, etc. may be The number of users in the room can be obtained by, for example, various sensors, and the installation environment of the air conditioner 20 may be set in advance in the air conditioning control device 40, for example.

Also, Td in the first control content information may be predetermined within a range in which, for example, optimum temperature - Td is a numerical value (set temperature) that can be set for the air conditioner 20 .

The second control content information includes the period "search execution period", the operation mode "heating", the set temperature "higher than optimum temperature - Td", and the control content "optimum temperature - Td" in association with each other. According to this second control content information, the current date and time is within the search execution period, the air conditioner 20 is performing heating operation, and the current set temperature of the air conditioner 20 is higher than the optimum temperature -Td , it indicates that the set temperature of the air conditioner 20 is determined (changed) to the optimum temperature -Td. In this embodiment, by changing the set temperature of the air conditioner 20 to the optimum temperature -Td in this way, the user can allow a set temperature outside the current allowable range (that is, the optimum temperature -Td). You can explore whether

The third control content information includes the period "search non-execution period", the operation mode "heating", the set temperature "below the optimum temperature", and the control content "no change" in association with each other. According to this third control content information, when the current date and time is within the search non-execution period, the air conditioner 20 is performing heating operation, and the current set temperature of the air conditioner 20 is equal to or lower than the optimum temperature indicates that it is assumed that the operation for realizing energy saving is already being performed, and the set temperature of the air conditioner 20 is not changed. The fourth control content information includes the period "search non-execution period", the operation mode "heating", the set temperature "higher than the optimum temperature", and the control content "optimum temperature" in association with each other. According to this fourth control content information, if the current date and time is within the search non-execution period, the air conditioner 20 is performing heating operation, and the current set temperature of the air conditioner 20 is higher than the optimum temperature indicates that the set temperature of the air conditioner 20 is determined (changed) to the optimum temperature.

Hereinafter, the processing of step S16 (first set temperature determination processing) will be specifically described using the control content information shown in FIG. 21 described above. Here, since the process shown in FIG. 15 is a search execution period process (that is, the current time is within the search execution period), the determination unit 406 selects , acquire the first and second control content information whose period is the "search execution period".

In this case, assuming that the air conditioner 20 is performing heating operation as described above, for example, if the current set temperature of the air conditioner 20 is the optimum temperature (eg, 20 ° C.) - Td or less, the determination The unit 406 determines not to change the current set temperature of the air conditioner 20 based on the control content included in the first control content information.

On the other hand, for example, when the current set temperature of the air conditioner 20 is higher than the optimum temperature −Td, the determination unit 406 determines the optimum temperature as the set temperature of the air conditioner 20 based on the control content included in the second control content information. - Determine Td.

Note that the current operation mode and set temperature of the air conditioner 20 for narrowing down the control content (control content information) as described above may be acquired from the air conditioner 20, for example, or stored in the history information storage unit 403, for example. may be obtained from the most recent control value history information that has been stored.

When the optimum temperature −Td is determined as the set temperature of the air conditioner 20 in the above-described first set temperature determination process, the following processes after step S17 are executed. On the other hand, when the optimum temperature −Td is not determined as the set temperature of the air conditioner 20 in the first set temperature determination process (that is, when it is determined not to change the set temperature of the air conditioner 20), the search shown in FIG. The implementation period process is terminated.

Although the description here assumes that the allowable range information is stored in the allowable range storage unit 405, for example, if the allowable range information is not stored in the allowable range storage unit 405, it is determined in advance. The first set temperature determination process may be executed with the set temperature as the optimum temperature.

When the set temperature (optimum temperature - Td) of the air conditioner 20 is determined in step S16 as described above, the process of evaluating the set temperature of the air conditioner 20 is executed (step S17). At least one of the first evaluation unit 407 and the second evaluation unit 408 executes the process of step S17.

When the process of step S17 is executed by the first evaluation unit 407, the first evaluation unit 407 evaluates the set temperature of the air conditioner 20 determined in step S16 based on the current set temperature of the air conditioner 20. do.

On the other hand, when the process of step S17 is executed by the second evaluation unit 408, the second evaluation unit 408 sets the temperature setting of the air conditioner 20 determined in step S16 based on the temperature setting of the air conditioner 20. Evaluate based on the acquired environment value history information.

Next, the correction unit 409 adjusts the set temperature of the air conditioner 20 determined in step S16 based on the evaluation result in step S17 (the evaluation result by the first evaluation unit 407 or the evaluation result by the second evaluation unit 408). is corrected (step S18).

The processing of steps S17 and S18 described above will be specifically described below. First, referring to FIG. 22, a case of correcting the control value of the air conditioner 20 based on the evaluation result (hereinafter referred to as the first evaluation result) by the first evaluation unit 407 will be described.

Here, the set temperature (optimal temperature - Td) of the air conditioner 20 determined in step S16 is set as the set temperature Sa, the current set temperature of the air conditioner 20 is set as the set temperature S0, and the corrected set temperature of the air conditioner 20 is set. A temperature S will be described.

In this case, the first evaluation unit 407 compares the set temperature Sa and the set temperature S0, and calculates the difference between the set temperature Sa and the set temperature S0.

Here, as shown in the upper part of FIG. 22, it is assumed that the difference between the set temperature Sa and the set temperature S0 is equal to or greater than a predetermined value (hereinafter referred to as ΔT). In this case, first evaluation section 407 outputs to correction section 409 as the first evaluation result that the difference between set temperature Sa and set temperature S0 is ΔT (° C.) or more.

When such a first evaluation result is obtained, the correction unit 409 sets the set temperature S0−Ds as the set temperature S. FIG. Ds is a predetermined value, and 0<Ds<ΔT.

That is, when the difference between the set temperature Sa and the set temperature S0 is equal to or greater than ΔT, the set temperature Sa is corrected to a set temperature S that is higher than the set temperature Sa but lower than the set temperature S0.

Here, the setting temperature Sa is corrected to the setting temperature S obtained by subtracting Ds from the setting temperature S0. may be corrected to the set temperature S obtained by (that is, S=S0*Ds). Note that the correction from the set temperature Sa to the set temperature S may be performed by other methods.

On the other hand, as shown in the lower part of FIG. 22, it is assumed that the difference between the set temperature Sa and the set temperature S0 is less than ΔT. In this case, the fact that the difference between the set temperature Sa and the set temperature S0 is less than ΔT is output from the first evaluation section 407 to the correction section 409 as the first evaluation result.

When such a first evaluation result is obtained, the correction unit 409 sets the set temperature Sa to the set temperature S (that is, S=Sa).

That is, when the difference between the set temperature Sa and the set temperature S0 is less than ΔT, it is estimated that the user is unlikely to feel uncomfortable as described above even if the set temperature S0 is changed to the set temperature Sa. , the set temperature Sa is used as the set temperature S without correction.

Next, referring to FIG. 23, a case will be described in which the set temperature of the air conditioner 20 is corrected based on the evaluation result (hereinafter referred to as the second evaluation result) by the second evaluation unit 408. FIG.

Here, as described above with reference to FIG. 22, the set temperature (optimal temperature - Td) of the air conditioner 20 determined in step S16 is the set temperature Sa, the current set temperature of the air conditioner 20 is the set temperature S0, and the air conditioning The set temperature after correction of the machine 20 will be described as a set temperature S. FIG.

In this case, the second evaluation unit 408 acquires the current environment value (hereinafter referred to as environment value T0). The environment value T0 may be acquired from the environment value acquisition device 30, or may be the most recent environment value history information stored in the history information storage unit 403 (the last environment value stored in the history information storage unit 403). history information).

Next, the second evaluation unit 408 acquires environmental values (including environmental value history information) when the operation of the air conditioner 20 was controlled using the set temperature Sa in the past. Specifically, the second evaluation unit 408 refers to the history information storage unit 403 to identify the date and time included in the control value history information including the set temperature Sa, and the environment value history information including the specified date and time. is obtained from the history information storage unit 403 .

The second evaluation unit 408 generates a histogram representing the distribution of environmental values (for example, room temperature) included in the acquired environmental value history information. A second evaluation unit 408 calculates a threshold Tb of the generated histogram. Note that the threshold Tb can be, for example, the environmental value of the lower 10% tile point of the histogram (that is, the lower 10% position in the histogram). Note that the threshold Tb may be another representative value (for example, an average value) of the environmental values included in the acquired environmental value history information, or may be calculated by another method.

Next, the second evaluation unit 408 compares the threshold value Tb calculated as described above with the environment value T0.

Here, as shown in the upper part of FIG. 23, it is assumed that the environment value T0 is smaller (lower) than the threshold value Tb. In this case, the fact that the environmental value T0 is smaller than the threshold value Tb is output from the second evaluation unit 408 to the correction unit 409 as the second evaluation result.

When such a second evaluation result is obtained, the correction unit 409 sets the set temperature S0−Dr as the set temperature S. FIG. Although Dr is a predetermined value, it is assumed that the set temperature S0-Dr (=S) is set to a value that does not fall below the set temperature Sa. Also, Dr may have the same value as Ds described above, or may have a different value from Ds.

That is, when the environment value T0 is smaller than the threshold Tb, the environment value smaller than the threshold Tb is further deteriorated (for example, the room temperature is lowered) according to the change from the set temperature S0 to the set temperature Sa, and the user In order to avoid discomfort, the set temperature Sa is corrected to a set temperature S that is higher than the set temperature Sa but lower than the set temperature S0. With such correction, for example, when the current room temperature or the like is low, it is possible to perform control so as not to lower the set temperature excessively.

Here, the setting temperature Sa is corrected to the setting temperature S obtained by subtracting Dr from the setting temperature S0. may be corrected to the set temperature S obtained by (that is, S=S0*Dr). Note that the correction from the set temperature Sa to the set temperature S may be performed by other methods.

On the other hand, as shown in the lower part of FIG. 23, it is assumed that the environment value T0 is larger (higher) than the threshold value Tb. In this case, the fact that the environment value T0 is greater than the threshold value Tb is output from the second evaluation unit 408 to the correction unit 409 as the second evaluation result.

When such a second evaluation result is obtained, the correction unit 409 sets the set temperature Sa to the set temperature S (that is, S=Sa).

That is, when the environmental value T0 is greater than the threshold value Tb, it is estimated that the environmental value is unlikely to decrease to the extent that the user feels uncomfortable even if the set temperature S0 is changed to the set temperature Sa. is used as the set temperature S without correction.

In the present embodiment, environmental values include, for example, room temperature, indoor humidity, outside temperature, outside air humidity, etc., and the processing described with reference to FIG. and may be implemented with more than one. When using two or more of the room temperature, the indoor humidity, the outside temperature, and the outside humidity, the process described in FIG. One set temperature S (for example, an average value or a mode value) may be determined based on this.

Returning to FIG. 15 again, the correction unit 409 outputs (transmits) the set temperature (S) obtained by executing the process of step S18 from the air conditioning control device 40 to the air conditioner 20 (step S19). As a result, the current set temperature of the air conditioner 20 is changed to the set temperature output in step S20, and the operation of the air conditioner 20 is controlled based on the changed set temperature (that is, the air conditioning control device 40 performs air conditioning control).

If it is determined in step S11 that the current time is not the allowable range calculation time (NO in step S11), steps S12 to S14 are not executed, and steps S15 and subsequent steps are executed.

Also, if it is determined in step S15 that the current time is not the set temperature change time (NO in step S15), the processes of steps S16 to S19 are not executed, and the search execution period process ends.

According to the search execution period process described above, the user Tolerance can be explored.

Specifically, when the user can allow the air conditioning control by the air conditioner 20 based on the set temperature outside the allowable range, the air conditioning control (that is, the operation of the air conditioner 20) is maintained. On the other hand, when the user cannot allow the air conditioning control by the air conditioner 20 based on the set temperature outside the allowable range, the user can change the set temperature of the air conditioner 20 by operating the input device 10. become.

Note that the set temperature of the air conditioner 20 that operates in this manner is periodically acquired by the acquisition unit 402 as described above, and is accumulated in the history information storage unit 403 as control value history information.

Therefore, as described above, for example, when the user can allow the air conditioning control based on the optimum temperature -Td, the set temperature duration corresponding to the optimum temperature -Td becomes longer, and the next processing shown in FIG. It is highly probable that an acceptable range will be calculated such that the optimal temperature −Td will be the optimal temperature when executed.

That is, according to such a search execution period process, it is possible to change the set temperature so as to widen the user's allowable range during the search execution period.

Also, in order to achieve energy saving, it is preferable to widen the allowable range of the user. The current set temperature is changed to the set temperature (S0-Ds or S0-Dr) obtained by correcting the optimum temperature -Td.

The search execution period process shown in FIG. 15 is periodically executed during the search execution period. (i.e., the set temperature is changed by the user), the value of Td is changed (for example, the value of Td is decreased). may be configured.

Here, in FIG. 15, the setting temperature of the air conditioner 20 determined by the determining unit 406 is corrected using the first or second evaluation result. Whether to use the result or the second evaluation result may be dynamically changed according to, for example, the date when the search execution period process is executed.

Note that FIG. 24 shows an example of the data structure of evaluation result setting information (table) in which evaluation results used for correcting the set temperature are set. This evaluation result setting information may be stored in the setting information storage unit 401 or the like as setting information, for example.

In the example shown in FIG. 24, the evaluation result setting information includes, for example, the evaluation result "first evaluation result" in association with the date "2016-12-15". According to this evaluation result setting information, it is set to correct the set temperature using the first evaluation result in the search execution period process (or search non-execution period process) to be executed on December 15, 2016. there is

Also, the evaluation result setting information includes, for example, the evaluation result “second evaluation result” in association with the date “2016-12-25”. According to this evaluation result setting information, it is set to correct the set temperature using the second evaluation result in the search execution period process (or search non-execution period process) to be executed on December 25, 2016. there is

Further, the evaluation result setting information includes, for example, the evaluation result "selected" in association with the date "2017-01-10". According to this evaluation result setting information, in the search execution period process (or search non-execution period process) executed on January 10, 2017, for example, based on predetermined information, out of the first and second evaluation results is dynamically selected to correct the set temperature.

Here, FIG. 25 shows an example of the data structure of evaluation result selection information (table) for selecting the evaluation result (first or second evaluation result) used for correcting the set temperature as described above. Note that the evaluation result selection information may be stored in the history information storage unit 403, for example.

As shown in FIG. 25, the evaluation result selection information includes, for example, the total number of the set temperatures corrected using the first evaluation result (hereinafter referred to as the total number of first evaluation results) and the number of successes (hereinafter referred to as the first evaluation result). number of successful evaluation results and notation) are included. Note that "success" in the number of successes included in the evaluation result selection information means, for example, that the set temperature corrected using the first evaluation result is permitted (accepted) by the user. Specifically, “success” means that when the air conditioner 20 is operated based on the corrected set temperature, the user is allowed to control the air conditioner 20 for a certain period of time (for example, two hours). It means that it was permissible (that is, the set temperature was not changed by the user). Note that the certain period for counting the number of successes may be, for example, 3 hours or 4 hours, and the definition of "success" may be different from that described here.

Note that the evaluation result selection information includes the total number of second evaluation results and the number of successes in the same manner as the first evaluation result.

The total number of first evaluation results and the number of successes included in the evaluation result selection information described above are stored in the set temperature (corrected set temperature) of the air conditioner 20 output from the correction unit 409 and in the history information storage unit 403. Based on the control value history information, the set temperature is corrected using the first evaluation result, and updated each time the operation of the air conditioner 20 is controlled based on the corrected set temperature. The same applies to the total number of second evaluation results and the number of successes.

Here, according to the total number of first evaluation results and the number of successes included in the evaluation result selection information, the success rate of the first evaluation results can be calculated. In the example shown in FIG. 25, the total number of first evaluation results is 180, and the number of successes of the first evaluation results is 160, so the success rate of the first evaluation results is 89% (=160/180). .

Similarly, according to the total number of second evaluation results and the number of successes included in the evaluation result selection information, the success rate of the second evaluation results can be calculated. In the example shown in FIG. 25, the total number of second evaluation results is 130, and the number of successes of the second evaluation results is 110, so the success rate of the second evaluation results is 85% (110/130).

In this case, an evaluation result with a higher success rate (here, the first evaluation result) is selected as the evaluation result used for correcting the set temperature.

Here, the configuration for selecting one of the first and second evaluation results based on the success rate calculated using the evaluation result selection information shown in FIG. 25 has been described. An evaluation result (first or second evaluation result) may be selected according to, for example, a priority (condition) set in advance for each of the first and second evaluation results.

Although omitted in FIG. 24, the evaluation result "both" may be set in the evaluation result setting information. When the evaluation result "both" is set, both the first evaluation result and the second evaluation result are used to correct the set temperature. The operation of the air conditioning control device 40 when correcting the set temperature using both the first and second evaluation results will be specifically described below.

Here, as shown in the upper part of FIG. 22, the first evaluation is that the difference between the set temperature Sa (the set temperature determined by the determination unit 406) and the set temperature S0 (the current set temperature of the air conditioner 20) is ΔT or more. It is assumed that a result is obtained and a second evaluation result is obtained that the environment value T0 is smaller than the threshold value Tb as shown in the upper part of FIG.

In this case, the set temperature S (the set temperature after correction) can be expressed by the following equation (3).
S=S0-ws*Ds-wr*Dr formula (3)
where ws in equation (3) is the weight for Ds and wr is the weight for Dr. In FIGS. 22 and 23, when the difference between the set temperature Sa and the set temperature S0 is ΔT or more, S=S0−Ds, and when the environment value T0 is smaller than the threshold value Tb, S=S0− Although Dr is described above, when both the first evaluation result and the second evaluation result are used, the weights ws and wr are added to the Ds and Dr as shown in Equation (3). By doing so, it is possible to obtain an appropriate set temperature S in consideration of both the first and second evaluation results.

Note that information in which the weights ws and wr used in Equation (3) are set (hereinafter referred to as weight information) may be stored in advance in the setting information storage unit 401 as setting information, for example.

Here, FIG. 26 shows an example of the data structure of weight information. In the example shown in FIG. 26, the weight information includes multiple combinations of weights ws and wr, and the set temperature S is calculated by applying one of the multiple combinations to equation (3). shall be Specifically, when the combination (including weight information) of ws “0.5” and wr “0.5” shown in FIG. 26 is applied to equation (3), S=S0−0.5* Ds-0.5*Dr.

26 may be specified in advance by an administrator or the like of the air conditioning system 1, or may It may be changed dynamically according to the environment or the like.

Also, the combination of ws and wr shown in FIG. 26 is an example, and ws and wr may each be a value smaller than 1 (that is, 0<ws<1, 0<wr<1).

For example, it is conceivable to calculate and use the values of ws and wr from the success rate of the first evaluation result and the success rate of the second evaluation result in FIG. In this case, ws = (success rate of first evaluation result) / (success rate of first evaluation result + success rate of second evaluation result), wr = (success rate of second evaluation result) / (first evaluation result (success rate + success rate of the second evaluation result). The method of calculating ws and wr from the success rate of the first evaluation result and the success rate of the second evaluation result in FIG. 25 is not limited to the one shown here.

Furthermore, the method of correcting the set temperature using both the first and second evaluation results (that is, the method of calculating the set temperature S) may be a method other than the method described here. The set temperature S may be an average value of the set temperature (S0-Ds) when using the evaluation result and the set temperature (S0-Dr) when using the second evaluation result.

Here, the set temperature obtained using the first evaluation result is S0-Ds, and the set temperature obtained using the second evaluation result is S0-Dr. Even if one of the set temperature obtained using the second evaluation result and the set temperature obtained using the second evaluation result is Sa (optimal temperature - Td), each of the set temperatures is similarly weighted. The set temperature S may be determined according to factors such as the above. If both the set temperature obtained using the first evaluation result and the set temperature obtained using the second evaluation result are Sa (optimal temperature - Td), the set temperature S may be set to Sa.

Next, an example of the processing procedure of the search non-implementation period processing will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 27 .

First, the determination unit 406 acquires set temperature change time information stored as setting information in the setting information storage unit 401 . The determination unit 406 determines whether or not the current time is the set temperature change time based on the acquired set temperature change time information (step S21). The processing of step S21 is the same as the processing of step S15 shown in FIG. 15 described above.

If it is determined that the current time is the set temperature change time (YES in step S21), the determination unit 406 stores the allowable range information stored in the allowable range storage unit 405 and the setting information storage unit 401 as setting information. Based on the stored control content information, set temperature determination processing for the search non-execution period (hereinafter referred to as second set temperature determination processing) is executed (step S22).

Hereinafter, the process of step S22 (second set temperature determination process) will be specifically described using the control content information shown in FIG. 21 described above. Here, the processing shown in FIG. 27 is search non-execution period processing (that is, the current time is within the search non-execution period). Among them, the third and fourth control content information whose period is "search non-execution period" is acquired.

In this case, assuming that the air conditioner 20 is performing the heating operation as described above, for example, if the current set temperature of the air conditioner 20 is equal to or lower than the optimum temperature, the determination unit 406 determines the third control content It is determined not to change the set temperature of the air conditioner 20 based on the control contents included in the information.

On the other hand, for example, when the current set temperature of the air conditioner 20 is higher than the optimum temperature, the determination unit 406 determines the optimum temperature as the set temperature of the air conditioner 20 based on the control content included in the fourth control content information. do.

Note that the current operation mode and set temperature of the air conditioner 20 for narrowing down the control content (control content information) as described above may be acquired from the air conditioner 20, for example, or stored in the history information storage unit 403, for example. may be obtained from the most recent control value history information that has been stored.

In the second set temperature determination process described above, when the optimum temperature is determined as the set temperature of the air conditioner 20, the following processes after step S23 are executed. On the other hand, in the second set temperature determination process, when the optimum temperature is not determined as the set temperature of the air conditioner 20 (that is, when it is determined not to change the set temperature of the air conditioner 20), the search non-execution shown in FIG. Period processing is terminated.

Note that the second set temperature determination process is different from the first set temperature performed in step S16 shown in FIG. This process is similar to the determination process.

When the set temperature (optimal temperature) of the air conditioner 20 is determined in step S22, the processes of steps S23 to S25 corresponding to the processes of steps S17 to S19 shown in FIG. 15 are executed. Specifically, the processing of steps S23 to S25 is the same as the processing of steps S17 to S19 except that the optimum temperature −Td in steps S17 to S19 shown in FIG. 15 is set as the optimum temperature.

According to the search non-execution period process described above, the current set temperature of the air conditioner 20 can be changed to the set temperature within the allowable range indicated by the allowable range information (that is, the optimum temperature).

Here, in the present embodiment, the process of calculating the allowable range (the process of steps S11 to S14 shown in FIG. 15) is executed in the search execution period process, and the process of calculating the allowable range in the search non-execution period process. is not executed, the processing for calculating the allowable range may be executed in both the search execution period process and the search non-execution period process, or may be executed only in the search non-execution period process. do not have. As described above, when the allowable range calculation time information includes a condition related to the timing of calculating the allowable range, the process of calculating the allowable range may be executed at the timing according to the condition.

Further, in the present embodiment, the process of correcting the set temperature of the air conditioner 20 in both the search execution period process and the search non-execution period process (steps S17 and S18 shown in FIG. 15, steps S23 and S24 shown in FIG. 27). is executed, but the process for correcting the set temperature (hereinafter simply referred to as correction process) may be executed during at least one of the search execution period process and the search non-execution period process, or may be executed during the search execution period process and It may be configured such that it is not executed in both of the search non-execution period processes. If the correction process is not executed, the current set temperature of the air conditioner 20 may be changed to the set temperature determined by the determination unit 406 .

Whether or not to execute the correction process in the search execution period process and the search non-execution period process can be set, for example, in information shown in FIG. 28 (hereinafter referred to as correction process setting information). This correction processing setting information may be stored in the setting information storage unit 401 as setting information, for example.

As shown in FIG. 28, in the correction process setting information, whether or not to execute the correction process (whether or not correction is performed) is set for each search execution period (process) and search non-execution period (process). When execution of correction processing is set, the type of correction is further set.

The types of correction include "0" and "1". The correction type "0" indicates that the set temperature is corrected using the first evaluation result. Correction type "1" indicates that the set temperature is corrected using the second evaluation result. Although not shown in FIG. 28, the types of correction include, for example, "2" indicating that one of the first and second evaluation results is selected to correct the set temperature, and the first and second evaluation results. "3" or the like may be included to indicate that the set temperature is corrected using both of the two evaluation results.

In addition, the correction processing setting information includes a usage flag associated with each combination of the presence or absence of correction and the type of correction set for each of the search execution period and the search non-execution period, and the utilization flag is changed. By doing so, it is possible to change whether or not the correction is executed during the search execution period and the search non-execution period, or to change the type of correction. Note that the use flag "1" indicates that the setting (presence or absence of correction and type of correction) corresponding to the use flag is valid. On the other hand, the use flag "0" indicates that the setting (presence or absence of correction and type of correction) corresponding to the use flag is not valid (invalid).

In the example shown in FIG. 28, the presence/absence of correction “yes” and the type of correction “0” during the search period are associated with the presence/absence of correction “yes” and the type of correction “0” during the non-search period. The used flag is "1". In this case, it is set that the correction process using the first evaluation result is executed in the search execution period process, and the correction process using the first evaluation result is executed in the search non-execution period process.

It should be noted that the use flag associated with the presence or absence of correction "yes" and the type of correction "0" in the search execution period and the presence or absence of correction "yes" and the type of correction "0" in the search non-execution period is set to " 1” to “0”, corresponding to presence/absence of correction “no” and type of correction “-” during search period, and presence/absence of correction “yes” and correction type “0” during search non-execution period When the attached utilization flag is changed from "0" to "1", the correction process is not executed in the search execution period process, and the correction process using the first evaluation result is executed in the search non-execution period process. You can change the settings to run.

Here, it is assumed that the presence or absence of correction and the type of correction are set in the correction process setting information, but if the above evaluation result setting information is prepared in advance, the correction type , only the presence or absence of correction may be set in the correction processing setting information.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the control value history information including the history of the control values (for example, operation mode, set temperature, etc.) of the air conditioner 20 is acquired, and based on the control value history information, the air conditioner 20 The user's allowable range for the set temperature is calculated, the set temperature of the air conditioner 20 (hereinafter referred to as the energy saving set temperature) is determined based on the allowable range, and the current set temperature of the air conditioner 20 (hereinafter , simply written as the current set temperature), the energy-saving set temperature is corrected. The set temperature corrected in this way is output to the air conditioner 20, and the operation of the air conditioner 20 is controlled based on the set temperature.

In this embodiment, with such a configuration, it is possible to change the current set temperature to an energy saving set temperature that can achieve energy saving within the user's allowable range, and change to the energy saving set temperature. Therefore, if there is a possibility that the user may feel uncomfortable, the energy-saving setting temperature can be corrected, so it is possible to achieve both user comfort and energy saving.

The energy-saving set temperature is corrected based on the difference between the energy-saving set temperature and the current set temperature. Specifically, the energy-saving set temperature is not corrected, for example, when the difference between the energy-saving set temperature and the current set temperature is less than a predetermined value (ΔT). (ΔT) or more is corrected. In this case, the energy-saving set temperature is corrected, for example, to a value between the energy-saving set temperature and the current set temperature. According to such a configuration, it is possible to prevent the user from feeling uncomfortable due to a large discrepancy between the new set temperature (energy-saving set temperature) and the current set temperature (that is, the set temperature is changed abruptly). can do.

Here, the configuration for correcting the energy-saving temperature setting based on the current temperature setting has been mainly described. good too.

In this case, the energy-saving set temperature is the environmental value (the past environmental value specified based on the environmental value history information) when the operation of the air conditioner 20 was controlled using the energy-saving set temperature and the current environmental value. corrected based on Specifically, if the current environmental value is greater than the environmental value when the operation of the air conditioner 20 is controlled using the energy saving set temperature, it is not corrected, but the energy saving set temperature is used to control the air conditioner 20. Correction is made when the current environmental value is smaller than the environmental value when the operation was controlled. In this case, the energy-saving set temperature is corrected, for example, to a value between the energy-saving set temperature and the current set temperature. According to such a configuration, it is possible to prevent the user from feeling uncomfortable due to a large discrepancy between the environmental value estimated to change due to the change in the set temperature of the air conditioner 20 and the current environmental value. can be done. That is, in the present embodiment, the set temperature of the air conditioner 20 can be changed in consideration of the influence of the environment around the air conditioner 20 (the space targeted by the air conditioner 20 and the external environment).

Furthermore, the energy-saving set temperature is corrected using the difference between the energy-saving set temperature and the current set temperature. It is possible to select either correction based on the relationship of environmental values. Further, by combining the difference between the energy-saving set temperature and the current set temperature, and the relationship between the environmental value when the operation of the air conditioner 20 is controlled using the energy-saving set temperature and the current environmental value, Correct the energy saving set temperature. According to such a configuration, the difference between the new set temperature (energy-saving set temperature) and the current set temperature, and the environmental value estimated to change due to the change in the set temperature of the air conditioner 20 and the current environmental value It is possible to avoid that the user feels uncomfortable due to either or both of the deviation from.

Further, according to the present embodiment, in the search execution period (predetermined first period) in which the search for the allowable range is performed, the energy-saving setting temperature outside the allowable range (for example, the optimum temperature -Td) is determined. be done. On the other hand, in the search non-execution period (predetermined second period) in which no search for the allowable range is performed, an energy-saving set temperature (for example, optimum temperature) within the allowable range is determined. In the present embodiment, by repeating such a search execution period and a search non-execution period, it is possible to control the operation of the air conditioner 20 at a set temperature that searches for an allowable range during the search execution period. During the search non-execution period, the operation of the air conditioner 20 can be controlled at the optimum set temperature (optimal temperature) based on the searched allowable range.

In addition, in the present embodiment, for example, the allowable range is calculated during the search execution period, but the timing of calculating the allowable range may be another timing. Specifically, the allowable range may be calculated during the search non-execution period, or may be calculated during both the search execution period and the search non-execution period.

Also, the permissible range may be calculated at the timing when the search execution period and the search non-execution period are switched.

Here, it is assumed that the search execution period and the search non-execution period are alternately arranged in this embodiment, and the allowable range is calculated at the timing of switching from the search non-execution period to the search execution period, for example. As described above, the operation of the air conditioner 20 is controlled based on the optimum temperature during the search non-execution period. It is highly likely that it will be changed by the user. Since such changes in the set temperature by the user are accumulated as control value history information, the control value Allowable range (optimum temperature) can be modified based on historical information.

On the other hand, for example, a case is assumed in which the permissible range is calculated at the timing of switching from the search execution period to the search non-execution period. As described above, during the search execution period (processing), the set temperature (that is, the allowable range) that the user can allow is searched for. By calculating, it is possible to calculate an allowable range including the searched set temperature (that is, to widen the allowable range), thereby further improving the energy saving effect.

As described above, the allowable range can be calculated at various timings, but the allowable range may be calculated at predetermined timings, for example, and may be calculated at timings other than those described here. .

It should be noted that the allowable range described above can be calculated based on the feature amount calculated based on the duration of the set temperature of the air conditioner 20, which is related to the duration.

In the present embodiment, the air conditioning control device 40 changes the set temperature of the air conditioner 20 in order to achieve both user comfort and energy saving, but the set temperature is an example of the control value of the air conditioner 20. , and the present embodiment may be applied to change control values other than the set temperature (for example, humidity, air direction, air volume, etc.).

Further, in the present embodiment, the air conditioning control device 40 is described as a single device, but the air conditioning control device 40 may be incorporated in the air conditioner 20, for example, or each unit 401 to 409 shown in FIG. may be composed of a plurality of distributed devices. At least some of the storage units 401, 403, and 405 shown in FIG. Further, the air conditioning control device 40 may be configured integrally with the local controller 50 or the cloud server 70 shown in FIG. 2 described above.

While several embodiments of the invention have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and spirit of the invention, as well as the scope of the invention described in the claims and equivalents thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10... Input device, 20... Air conditioner, 30... Environment value acquisition apparatus, 40... Air-conditioning control apparatus, 41... CPU, 42... Non-volatile memory, 43... Main memory, 44... Communication device, 401... Setting information storage part, 402...acquisition unit, 403...history information storage unit, 404...calculation unit, 405...permissible range storage unit, 406...decision unit, 407...first evaluation unit, 408...second evaluation unit, 409...correction unit.

Claims (15)

Calculation means for calculating, based on control value history information including a history of control values of the device, a user's allowable range for the control value of the device that allows the user to maintain comfort to the extent that the user does not feel uncomfortable. and,
a determining means for determining a control value for the device capable of realizing energy saving among the control values falling within the allowable range;
a correction means for correcting the determined control value so as to maintain the comfort level of the user ;
The correcting means performs the determination based on environmental value history information including a history of environmental values related to the environment around the device and a difference between the determined control value and a current control value set in the device. correct the control value
Information processing equipment. 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said device is controlled based on said corrected control value. The correcting means is
not correcting the determined control value if the difference is less than a predetermined value;
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the determined control value is corrected when the difference is equal to or greater than the predetermined value. Calculation means for calculating, based on control value history information including a history of control values of the device, a user's allowable range for the control value of the device that allows the user to maintain comfort to the extent that the user does not feel uncomfortable. and,
a determining means for determining a control value for the device capable of realizing energy saving among the control values falling within the allowable range;
correction means for correcting the determined control value so as to maintain the user's comfort level;
and
The correcting means determines the environmental value and the equipment when the operation of the equipment is controlled using the determined control value specified from the environmental value history information including the history of the environmental values related to the environment around the equipment. correcting the determined control value based on environmental values for the current environment around the
Information processing equipment. The correcting means is
When the environmental value of the current environment around the device is greater than the environment value of the environment around the device when the operation of the device is controlled using the determined control value, the determined control value without correcting the value
When the environmental value of the current environment around the device is smaller than the environment value of the environment around the device when the operation of the device is controlled using the determined control value, the determined control value The information processing apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the value is corrected. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , wherein the determination means determines a control value outside the allowable range during a first period of searching for the allowable range that can be calculated by the calculation means. . 7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein said determining means determines a control value within said permissible range during a second period in which said permissible range is not searched. 8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein said calculation means calculates said allowable range at a predetermined timing. 9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein said calculation means calculates said allowable range based on timing at which said first and second periods switch. 10. The information processing apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein said first and second periods are alternately arranged. 3. The calculating means calculates a feature amount related to the duration based on the duration of the control value specified from the control value history information, and calculates the allowable range based on the feature amount. 11. The information processing device according to any one of 1 to 10 . The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 11 , wherein the device is an air conditioner. A system comprising a device, an input device for inputting a control value for the device by receiving a user's operation, and an information processing device for controlling the operation of the device,
The information processing device is
Based on the control value history information including the history of the control values of the device input to the input device, the user can maintain a level of comfort to the extent that the user does not feel uncomfortable. a calculation means for calculating the allowable range of
a determining means for determining a control value for the device capable of realizing energy saving among the control values falling within the allowable range;
correction means for correcting the determined control value so as to maintain the comfort level of the user ;
The correcting means performs the determination based on environmental value history information including a history of environmental values related to the environment around the device and a difference between the determined control value and a current control value set in the device. correct the control value
Information processing system. A step of calculating the user's allowable range for the control value of the device that allows the user to maintain a level of comfort that does not make the user feel uncomfortable, based on the control value history information including the history of the control value of the device. and,
determining a control value for the device that can achieve energy saving among the control values falling within the allowable range;
correcting the determined control value to maintain the comfort level of the user ;
In the correcting step, based on environmental value history information including a history of environmental values related to the environment around the device and a difference between the determined control value and a current control value set in the device, including the step of correcting the determined control value
Information processing methods. a step of calculating the user's allowable range for the control value of the device that allows the user to maintain comfort to the extent that the user does not feel uncomfortable, based on control value history information including the history of the control value of the device; ,
determining a control value for the device that can achieve energy saving among the control values falling within the allowable range;
causing a computer to perform a step of correcting the determined control value so as to maintain the comfort level of the user ;
In the correcting step, based on environmental value history information including a history of environmental values related to the environment around the device and a difference between the determined control value and a current control value set in the device, including the step of correcting the determined control value
program .

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