KR20070098172A - How to control home network system and home appliances - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a home network system and a method for controlling home appliances, and more particularly, at least one home appliance; A remote meter reading unit for extracting meter reading information from a meter for metering energy usage according to the operation of the home appliance; And a home appliance and a remote meter reading unit connected to the home appliance via a home communication network, and calculates a residual energy amount according to a preset target rate by using the meter reading information extracted by the remote meter reading unit. The present invention relates to a home network system including a home gateway for controlling the home appliances in an energy saving mode according to a lack thereof, and a method for controlling the home appliances. According to the present invention, since it is possible to provide the power saving function according to the target energy usage fee by acquiring the meter reading information read from the meter in the house, it is possible to drastically reduce the burden on the user, such as electricity bills, gas bills, etc. There is this.

Description

Home Network System and Method for Control Electronic Device

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a home network system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the detailed configuration of the home gateway shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining an operation of the home network system shown in FIG. 1.

<Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

100: home gateway

101: control module

110: external interface module

120: energy usage calculation module

130: target rate information setting module

140: message transmission module

150: home interface module

160: database

200: remote meter reading unit

210: Meter

300: home appliances

400: home communication network

500: external communication network

The present invention relates to a home network system and a method for controlling home appliances. More particularly, the present invention can acquire reading information read from a meter in a home and provide a power saving function according to a target energy usage fee. It relates to a home network system and a method for controlling home appliances.

In general, a home network system is a device desired by a user by connecting devices installed in a home, for example, TV, audio, video, computer, refrigerator, washing machine, electric kettle, air conditioner, boiler, etc., to a wired or wireless network. It means a system that can freely control them anytime, anywhere.

This home network system is developed from the home automation system of the past, and can provide basic automation functions such as opening and closing of door, intruder detection, gas alarm, and fire alarm in the home automation system in an upgraded form. In addition, entertainment services such as high-quality multimedia services, distance education and video-on-demand services, information services such as personal and family information management, home shopping, e-commerce, home security, and integrated control of information appliances , Communication services such as remote energy resource management, and the like.

Typically, such a home network system includes a plurality of home appliances connected to a home communication network, a home gateway for connecting an external communication network such as the Internet to a home communication network, and a home server for controlling a plurality of home appliances connected to the home communication network. It is composed.

In this case, the home gateway and the home server are generally implemented integrally on the same terminal to reduce the complexity of the system and reduce the network node. For example, since the home gateway is an essential device for interworking with an external communication network, the home gateway can be configured as one device by including the functions of the home server in the home gateway.

On the other hand, the current home network system provides a function to actively control air purification, lighting, air conditioning and the like to maintain a comfortable environment in the home.

For example, if a user enters a desired setpoint such as room temperature, illuminance, air freshness, etc. into the home gateway, the home gateway continuously monitors the items from the sensors installed in the home and matches the setpoint entered by the user. By controlling the boiler, lighting device, air cleaner, etc., the user's desired home environment is realized. In this case, the setting value may be input from the user, but the manufacturer may provide an appropriate setting value in advance as a default value.

By the way, such a function can be seen as positive in terms of providing a comfortable environment and increasing convenience, but there is a very bad problem in energy consumption such as electricity or gas.

In particular, when the user sets the room temperature too high in winter, or conversely lowers the room temperature in summer, energy consumption increases due to excessive operation of the boiler or air conditioner. In addition, excessive use of digital home appliances such as refrigerators, lighting devices, TVs, etc., results in excessive consumption of electrical energy.

Excessive use of electricity or gas increases the electricity bill or gas bill imposed on the home, which in turn increases the burden on the user. However, the conventional home network system does not provide functions to solve this problem.

Therefore, in order to reduce an electric charge or a gas charge, a user must use a "power saving function" provided for each individual device in the related art. However, the device providing the power saving function is not only limited to a few, but the power saving function has to be selected by the user one by one.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve this problem, and a first object of the present invention is to provide a home network system that can provide an energy saving function by adjusting the use of home appliances using remotely read energy usage information. .

In addition, a second object of the present invention is to provide a method for controlling a home appliance that can adjust a usage mode of the home appliance using remotely read energy usage information.

Home network system according to the present invention for achieving the first object of the present invention, at least one home appliance; A remote meter reading unit for extracting meter reading information from a meter for metering energy usage according to the operation of the home appliance; And a home appliance and a remote meter reading unit connected to the home appliance via a home communication network, and calculates a residual energy amount according to a preset target rate by using the meter reading information extracted by the remote meter reading unit. And a home gateway for controlling the home appliances in an energy saving mode depending on whether there is a shortage.

At this time, the home gateway is a database; An energy usage calculation module configured to calculate energy usage from a reference time point to the present time by using the meter reading information extracted by the remote meter reading unit and meter reading information of a reference time point stored in the database; A target fee information setting module for setting a target energy use fee and storing the set target fee information in the database; And calculating the energy usage corresponding to the set target rate information, calculating the remaining energy usage by subtracting the energy usage used up to the calculated energy usage, and calculating the energy usage in consideration of the energy usage used up to now. It may include a control module for determining whether the remaining energy consumption is insufficient.

The energy usage calculation module calculates the energy usage used so far by subtracting the reading information of the previous month from the reading information read by the remote reading unit. The target fee information may be set to at least one of energy type and period.

The control module may control the home appliance to at least one of a power saving mode and a gas saving mode when the remaining energy amount is insufficient as a result of the determination.

On the other hand, the home gateway is an indoor interface module for providing an interface function to enable interworking with the indoor communication network; An external interface module providing an interface function to interwork with an external communication network; And a message transmission module for notifying an external user terminal of an unusual matter that may occur during operation of the home gateway through the external communication network.

The database may store meter reading information of the reference time point, charge information according to unit energy use, settlement date information, the target charge setting information, and energy consumption of each home appliance.

On the other hand, the home appliance control method for achieving the above-described second object of the present invention comprises the steps of receiving the meter information detected from the meter in the premises remotely through the premises communication network; Calculating the amount of energy consumed up to the present time by using the provided metering information and the metering information of a pre-stored reference time point; Calculating an energy consumption corresponding to the target fee information preset by the user; Calculating a remaining energy amount by subtracting the used energy amount up to the present from the calculated energy amount; Determining whether the amount of remaining energy is insufficient in consideration of the energy usage up to now; And when the remaining energy amount is insufficient, controlling the at least one home appliance connected to the indoor communication network to a power saving mode.

In this case, the step of determining whether the remaining amount of energy is insufficient to calculate the average amount of energy up to the present by dividing the amount of energy used up to the present by a specific time unit, and divides the remaining amount of energy by the specific time unit, and then compare with each other Can be done.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a home network system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a home network system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of home appliances 300, a remote meter reading (AMR) unit 200, and a home gateway 100. It is composed.

The home appliance 300, the remote meter reading unit 200, and the home gateway 100 may be interoperable with each other through an indoor communication network 400. The indoor communication network 400 may be implemented as a wired or wireless network. In this case, the wired or wireless network may mean a wired network, a wireless network, or a network in which wired and wireless are mixed.

The wired network includes a power line communication (PLC) network using a power line installed in a home, a home phone network (HomePNA) network using a telephone line installed in a home, and real-time high-speed data transmission of AV devices. The IEEE 1394 network, an RS-485 network using a multipoint communication line, may be used.

In addition, the wireless network includes a wireless LAN network using the 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz band as an IEEE 802.11 series, a Bluetooth network that is an industry standard for wireless access in the 2.4 GHz band to support communication between short-range devices, Ultra Wide Band (UWB) network, a short-range broadband communication technology, and ZigBee network, an industry standard for home automation and data networks with low transmission rates, may be used.

The home appliance 300 is interlocked with the home gateway 100 through the in-house communication network 400 and performs its own function according to an operation control signal applied from the home gateway 100. In this case, the home appliance 300 may include a boiler, an air conditioner, a refrigerator, a lighting device, an air purifier, a washing machine, a TV, a gas range, a microwave oven, and the like.

The remote meter reading unit 200 is interlocked with the home gateway 100 through the indoor communication network 400. In this case, the indoor communication network 400 may be different from the indoor communication network between the home appliance 200 and the home gateway 100. Preferably, the home appliance 300 and the home gateway 100 may be linked through a power line communication network, and the remote meter reader 200 and the home gateway 100 may be linked through a Zigbee network.

The remote meter reading unit 200 extracts the meter information from the meter 210 installed in the home, and transmits it to the home gateway 100. In this case, the meter 210 refers to an electric meter, a gas meter, and the like. Therefore, the energy usage information may be an electric meter reading of the home extracted from the electricity meter or a gas meter reading of the home extracted from the gas meter.

On the other hand, the home gateway 100 is interlocked with the home appliance 300 and the remote meter reading unit 200 through the home communication network 400, and is set in advance by using the meter reading information extracted by the remote meter reading unit 200 The remaining energy consumption is calculated according to a target fee, and the home appliances 300 are controlled in a power saving mode according to whether the calculated remaining energy consumption is insufficient.

In addition, the home gateway 100 is linked with the external communication network 500. That is, it performs a function of interworking with the external communication network 500 and the indoor communication network 300. Accordingly, the external user terminal 600 or the service server 700 may be connected to the indoor communication network 400. In this case, the external communication network 500 may be a wired or wireless Internet, a mobile communication network, or the like.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the detailed configuration of the home gateway 100 shown in FIG.

1 and 2, the home gateway 100 includes an indoor interface module 150, an external interface module 110, a database 160, an energy usage calculation module 120, and a target fee information setting module 130. , A message transmission module 140 and a control module 101.

The indoor interface module 150 provides an interface function so that the home gateway 100 may interoperate with the home appliances 300 and the remote meter reading unit 200 through the indoor communication network 400. Preferably, the premises interface module 150 includes a power line modem and a ZigBee Coordinator. In this case, the home gateway 100 may interwork with the home appliance 300 through power line communication, and interwork with the remote meter reading unit 200 through Zigbee. At this time, each home appliance 300 and the remote meter reading unit 200 should be provided with a power line modem and a Zigbee module, respectively.

The external interface module 110 provides an interface function so that the home gateway 100 can interwork with the external communication network 500. In this case, the external communication network 500 may be a wired or wireless Internet, a mobile communication network, or the like.

The database 160 stores reference reading information, unit energy rate information, settlement date information, target rate setting information, energy consumption amount of each home appliance 300, and the like.

In this case, reference reading information refers to reading information at a reference time. The reference time point is meter reading information that is used as a reference for calculating energy usage used up to now. For example, since the energy usage fee is usually charged on a monthly basis, the reference reading information may be the last reading information of the previous month.

The unit energy charge information means charge information charged according to unit energy use. In addition, the settlement date information means setting information on the date to settle the energy use fee. For example, settlement date information may be set as "25th of every month".

Such unit energy fee information and settlement date information may be input by a user or set as a default value. In addition, the unit energy fee information and settlement date information may be updated at any time whenever the energy use fee is changed or the fee is changed. Such an update may be performed online by an external service provider 800 through, for example, KEPCO, gas corporation, or the like. In addition, the service providers 800 may also acquire meter reading information by the remote meter reading unit 200.

The energy usage calculation module 120 calculates the energy usage used from the reference time point to the present time by using the meter reading information provided by the remote meter reading unit 200 and the reference meter information stored in the database 160.

Preferably, the energy usage calculation module 120 calculates energy usage by subtracting reference reading information, for example, previous month reading information, from reading information provided by the remote reading unit 200. Therefore, it is possible to obtain the energy consumption used in the house so far this month.

The target fee information setting module 130 allows the user to set a target energy usage fee and stores the set target fee information in the database 160. In this case, the target fee information is preferably set by the user, but may be set to a predetermined value by the manufacturer.

The target fee setting information 130 may be divided and set by energy type (electricity, gas), period (monthly unit, full unit, etc.).

The control module 101 calculates a target energy consumption corresponding to the fee set by the target fee setting module 130 by using unit energy fee information stored in the database 160, and calculates the calculated target energy usage by the energy usage. Compared with the energy usage calculated by the calculation module, the home appliance 300 is controlled to satisfy the target fee according to the comparison information.

That is, the control module 101 calculates the residual energy amount by subtracting the energy consumption used to date from the target energy consumption, and then determines whether the calculated residual energy amount is sufficient or insufficient considering the energy usage trend to date. Determine.

This determination can be determined by comparing the energy usage thus far divided by a predetermined time unit, for example, a day, and a value obtained by dividing the remaining energy amount by the time unit. In other words, it compares the virtual average energy usage of the average energy consumption to the present.

In addition, the control module 101 may control the home appliances 200 in a saving mode when energy saving is necessary in consideration of the determination result. For example, the air conditioner, the boiler, and the like reduce the use of the lighting fixtures. It can be controlled by lowering the illuminance of the light. In addition, when there is a power saving mode of the device itself, such as a refrigerator, a TV, an air purifier, and the like, the mode of the home appliance is switched to the power saving mode.

The control module 101 also has a function of controlling the overall interaction and data flow of the modules 110 to 160 existing in the home gateway 100 as a whole.

On the other hand, the message transmission module 140 performs a function of notifying the user terminal 600 of unusual items that may occur during operation. In this case, the user terminal 600 may be a mobile phone, a PDA, a computer terminal, or the like.

The above-mentioned particulars mean, for example, matters such as whether energy consumption to date is imminent at the target rate or inevitably needs to exceed the target rate. In addition, the above-mentioned special matters include matters such as gas leakage and a short circuit.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the home network system shown in FIG. 1 and illustrates an operation flow when a power saving function is provided using meter reading information of an electric meter.

1 and 3, first, the remote meter reading unit 200 detects the meter reading information according to the electricity consumption of the home from the electricity meter (step: S1), and then through the home communication network 400 such as Zigbee home Send to the gateway 100.

Subsequently, the home gateway 100 calculates the amount of electricity used up to this month by using the electric meter reading information provided by the remote meter reading unit 200 and the previously stored electric meter reading information in the previous month (step: S2). That is, the previous month's electric meter reading information is subtracted from the detected electric meter reading information.

When the current electricity usage is detected, the home gateway 100 converts the preset target electricity charge into electricity usage (step: S3), and subtracts the electricity consumption to the calculated current from the converted target electricity usage. The remaining electricity consumption is calculated (step S4).

Subsequently, the home gateway 100 determines whether the calculated remaining electricity use amount is a sufficient amount or insufficient amount considering the current electricity use trend up to now (step: S5). For example, if the average daily usage is calculated using the electricity consumption to date, and substituted the calculated daily usage on the remaining days, it is possible to determine whether the remaining electricity consumption is insufficient.

As a result of the determination, when the remaining electricity consumption is insufficient, the home gateway 100 controls the operation of the home appliances 300 using electricity so that a power saving mode may be performed (step S6). For example, when a power saving mode is provided in a device such as a refrigerator, a TV, or an air purifier, the home appliance is switched to a power saving mode, and in the case of an air conditioner, a heater, or a lighting device, a target temperature or illuminance is reduced. Reduce action

At this time, priority can be given to preferentially controlling a specific device when switching to a power saving mode. Higher electric devices such as air conditioners and heaters have higher priority, and electricity consumption is relatively high, such as an air purifier. Small devices can lower their priority. Putting these priorities can further increase power savings.

On the other hand, the home gateway 100 notifies the user terminal 600 when the amount of electricity used exceeds the target because the amount of electricity used up to now is imminent in the amount of electricity corresponding to the target electricity rate, or heating and heating are inevitably required. Send a message. Thus, the user can take action to increase the target electricity bill or to more strictly save power by referring to the transmitted message.

As described above, the power saving effect of the home network system can be easily performed. In addition, it will be appreciated that gas-equipment devices, such as boilers, may be controlled using processes equivalent to those described above.

Although the present invention has been described above with reference to its preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will variously modify the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the claims below. And can be practiced with modification. Accordingly, modifications to future embodiments of the present invention will not depart from the technology of the present invention.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to acquire the meter reading information read from the meter in the home and provide a power saving function according to the target energy usage fee, thereby significantly reducing the burden of the electric charge, gas fee, etc. imposed on the user. There is an advantage that can be reduced.

Claims (9)

At least one home appliance; A remote meter reading unit for extracting meter reading information from a meter for metering energy usage according to the operation of the home appliance; And Interworking with the home appliance and the remote meter reading unit through a home communication network, using the meter reading information extracted by the remote meter reading unit calculates the remaining energy amount according to a predetermined target rate, the lack of the calculated remaining energy amount And a home gateway for controlling the home appliances in an energy saving mode according to whether or not. The method of claim 1, wherein the home gateway, Database; An energy usage calculation module that calculates energy usage from a reference time point to the present time by using the meter reading information extracted by the remote meter reading unit and meter reading information of a reference time point stored in the database; A target fee information setting module for setting a target energy use fee and storing the set target fee information in the database; And Calculating the energy usage corresponding to the set target rate information, subtracting the energy usage used up to the present from the calculated energy usage, calculating the remaining energy usage, and considering the energy usage used up to now A home network system comprising a control module for determining whether energy consumption is insufficient. The home network system according to claim 2, wherein the energy usage calculation module calculates the energy usage used up to now by subtracting the previous month's reading information from the reading information read by the remote reading unit. The home network system of claim 2, wherein the target fee information may be set to at least one of energy type and period. The home network system of claim 2, wherein the control module controls the home appliance to at least one of a power saving mode and a gas saving mode when the amount of remaining energy is insufficient. The method of claim 2, wherein the home gateway, An indoor interface module providing an interface function to interwork with the indoor communication network; An external interface module providing an interface function to interwork with an external communication network; And And a message transmission module for notifying an external user terminal of an unusual matter that may occur during operation of the home gateway through the external communication network. The method of claim 2, wherein the database stores at least one of meter reading information at the reference time point, fee information based on unit energy usage, settlement date information, the target fee setting information, and energy consumption of each home appliance. Home network system. Receiving meter reading information detected from an indoor meter remotely through an indoor communication network; Calculating energy usage up to the present time by using the provided metering information and metering information of a pre-stored reference time point; Calculating energy usage corresponding to target fee information preset by a user; Calculating a remaining energy amount by subtracting the used energy amount up to the present from the calculated energy amount; Determining whether the amount of remaining energy is insufficient in consideration of the energy usage up to now; And And controlling the at least one home appliance connected to the home communication network to a power saving mode when the remaining energy amount is insufficient. The method of claim 8, wherein the determining whether the amount of remaining energy is insufficient comprises calculating the average amount of usage up to the present by dividing the amount of energy used up to the present by a specific time unit, dividing the amount of residual energy by the specific time unit, and then Home appliance control method characterized in that the comparison.

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