WO2025197321A1 - Home system, server, owner authentication method, and owner authentication program - Google Patents

Abstract

This home system comprises: a server: facility equipment installed in a facility such as a house and capable of communicating with the server; and a terminal device capable of communicating with the server. The server determines whether the terminal device is in the facility, and when the terminal device is in the facility, authenticates a user of the terminal device in the facility as an owner of the facility.

Description

Home system, server, owner authentication method and owner authentication program

This disclosure relates to a home system, a server, an owner authentication method, and an owner authentication program. This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-044903, filed on March 21, 2024, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

The number of home appliances that can be connected to the internet is increasing. Smart home systems have been proposed that utilize internet-connected home appliances to provide residents with comfortable and convenient functions. For example, smart locks that can remotely lock and unlock front doors using a smartphone or other device have been introduced as part of smart home systems.

When the occupant of a home in which a smart home system has been installed changes, the users who can use the smart home system must be changed from the previous occupant to the new occupant. If the registration of users who can use the smart home system (hereinafter also referred to as "user registration") is not changed appropriately, it is difficult to ensure the security of the smart home system.

Methods have been proposed to ensure the security of smart home systems when the occupants of a home in which a smart home system has been installed change. For example, the apartment complex system described in Patent Document 1 deletes personal information stored in the residential terminal when a resident moves out.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2012-124861

However, if the resident of a home where a smart home system has been installed changes and the user registration is not changed appropriately, the conventional smart home system will not be able to determine that the resident has changed, making it difficult for the new resident to begin using the smart home system safely.

In light of the above circumstances, the present disclosure aims to provide a home system, server, owner authentication method, and owner authentication program that new residents of a facility such as a home can begin using easily and safely.

A home system according to a first aspect of the present disclosure comprises a server, facility equipment installed in a facility and capable of communicating with the server, and a terminal device capable of communicating with the server, wherein the server determines whether the terminal device is located at the facility, and, if the terminal device is located at the facility, authenticates the user of the terminal device located at the facility as the owner of the facility.

A server according to a second aspect of the present disclosure is a server capable of communicating with facility equipment and terminal devices installed in a facility, which determines whether the terminal device is located at the facility, and, if the terminal device is located at the facility, authenticates the user of the terminal device located at the facility as the owner of the facility.

The owner authentication method according to a third aspect of the present disclosure is a method for authenticating an owner who can use facility equipment installed in a facility, by determining whether a terminal device is present at the facility, and, if the terminal device is present at the facility, authenticating the user of the terminal device at the facility as the owner of the facility.

The owner authentication program according to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure is a program that authenticates owners who can use facility equipment installed in a facility, determines whether a terminal device is present at the facility, and, if the terminal device is present at the facility, authenticates the user of the terminal device at the facility as the owner of the facility.

1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a home system according to an embodiment; FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a smartphone in the home system. FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram of the home system. FIG. 10 is another sequence diagram of the home system.

A home system 100 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 4.

[Home System 100]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a home system 100. As shown in FIG.
The home system 100 includes a household appliance 1, a control device 2, a dedicated remote control 3, an access point 4, a smartphone 6, and a server 7. The server 7 includes a device management server 8 and a user management server 9. The access point 4, the smartphone 6, the device management server 8, and the user management server 9 are connected via a network NW.

The network NW may be a wide area network (WAN) such as the Internet, a private network (LAN) within the building in which the home system 100 is installed, or a combination of these. The network NW may also be either wired or wireless. Communication between devices may involve other devices such as access points.

The residential equipment 1 is a device installed as equipment in a residential home (HO). The residential home (HO) to which the residential equipment 1 is installed includes not only buildings intended for residential use, but also buildings not intended for residential use such as offices, schools, and hospitals. The residential home (HO) is an example of a "facility." The residential equipment 1 is an example of "facility equipment" installed as equipment in a facility. Facility equipment also includes building equipment in buildings not intended for residential use (for example, buildings). Facility equipment also includes not only equipment installed within the residential home (HO), but also equipment installed on the premises on which the residential home (building) is located.

The housing equipment 1 includes an open/close sensor 1A, an electric lock 1B, an electric shutter 1C, a camera 1D, an air conditioner 1E, etc. The housing equipment 1 may also include energy management devices such as a distribution board or a solar power generation system, sensors such as a temperature/humidity sensor or a human presence sensor, a faucet system, a toilet system, smart home appliances, etc. The housing equipment 1 has a manual control input mechanism that accepts manual control instructions from the user, and a remote control input mechanism that accepts remote control instructions from a server 7, etc.

The home appliance 1 can communicate with the access point 4 via wireless LAN communication WC1 such as Wi-Fi or via wired LAN communication. The home appliance 1 may also communicate with the access point 4 via a control device 2 that can communicate via short-range wireless communication WC2 such as Bluetooth (registered trademark), ZigBee (registered trademark), or NFC (Near Field Communication).

In this embodiment, the opening/closing sensor 1A, electric lock 1B, and electric shutter 1C communicate with the control device 2 via short-range wireless communication WC2, and then communicate with the access point 4 via the control device 2. The camera 1D and air conditioner 1E communicate with the access point 4 via wireless LAN communication WC1 such as Wi-Fi. Note that the communication format of the housing equipment 1 is not limited to this.

The residential equipment 1 has a facility network that includes a LAN (Local Area Network) connected via wireless LAN communication WC1 or wired LAN communication, and a PAN (Personal Area Network) connected via short-range wireless communication WC2. The facility network may also include other networks.

The control device 2 is a device that controls the connected home appliances 1. The control device 2 also relays communication between the home appliances 1 and the access point 4.

The control device 2 has an antenna and the like, and has the ability to communicate via wireless LAN communication WC1 such as Wi-Fi or wired LAN communication, and the ability to communicate via short-range wireless communication WC2 such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) or ZigBee (registered trademark). The control device 2 can communicate with the housing equipment 1 via short-range wireless communication WC2. The control device 2 can communicate with the access point 4 via wireless LAN communication WC1 or wired LAN communication.

The control device 2 can also communicate with a smartphone 6 via wireless LAN communication WC1 or short-range wireless communication WC2. For example, the control device 2 can control multiple household equipment 1 based on instructions from the smartphone 6.

Open/close sensor 1A detects the open/close state of an opening in the house HO. For example, open/close sensor 1A detects a door or shoji screen attached to the opening using magnetism or other means.

The open/closed state of the opening detected by the opening/closing sensor 1A is acquired by the smartphone 6 via the server 7. For example, the user can use the smartphone 6 to check the open/closed state of the opening detected by the opening/closing sensor 1A whether they are at home or out.

Electric lock 1B is a device attached to an opening in home HO that prevents doors or sliding screens from opening or closing, and is a lock that can be locked and unlocked electrically. Electric lock 1B is also called a "smart lock." Users can lock and unlock electric lock 1B using a card key, tag key, remote control key, smartphone 6, etc. as a key. In the following explanation, card keys, tag keys, remote control keys, smartphones 6, etc. used as keys for electric lock 1B are also referred to as "key devices." Electric lock 1B may also be an electronic lock powered by a battery built into it.

Electric lock 1B has an antenna and the ability to communicate via short-range wireless communication WC2 such as Bluetooth (registered trademark), ZigBee (registered trademark), or NFC (Near Field Communication). Electric lock 1B can communicate with key devices via short-range wireless communication WC2.

Electric lock 1B has a remote control input mechanism that accepts remote control instructions from smartphone 6 via server 7. For example, the user can remotely control electric lock 1B using smartphone 6 whether they are at home or out.

The locked/unlocked status of electric lock 1B is obtained by smartphone 6 via server 7. For example, the user can check the locked/unlocked status of electric lock 1B using smartphone 6 whether they are at home or out.

The electric shutter 1C is a device that electrically drives the shutter to open and close an opening in the home HO. For example, the electric shutter 1C is a device that is attached to a window and drives the shutter to open and close the window. The electric shutter 1C is an example of an electric opening and closing device.

The electric shutter 1C communicates with the dedicated remote control 3 via infrared communication or the like. The electric shutter 1C is operated from a short distance using the dedicated remote control 3. The electric shutter 1C may also be able to communicate with a paired smartphone 6 via short-range wireless communication WC2. In this case, the electric shutter 1C is operated from a short distance using the smartphone 6.

The electric shutter 1C has a remote control input mechanism that accepts remote control instructions from the smartphone 6 via the server 7. For example, the user can remotely operate the electric shutter 1C using the smartphone 6 whether they are at home or out.

The open/closed status of the opening controlled by the electric shutter 1C is acquired by the smartphone 6 via the server 7. For example, the user can use the smartphone 6 to check the open/closed status of the opening controlled by the electric shutter 1C whether they are at home or out.

Camera 1D is an outdoor camera or an indoor camera attached to the residence HO. For example, camera 1D is a security camera installed near the front door of the residence HO.

The images captured by camera 1D are acquired by server 7 or the like. The images captured by camera 1D are acquired by smartphone 6 via server 7. For example, the user can check the images captured by camera 1D using smartphone 6 whether they are at home or out.

Camera 1D communicates with dedicated remote control 3 via infrared communication or the like. Camera 1D is operated from a short distance using dedicated remote control 3. Camera 1D may also be able to communicate with a paired smartphone 6 via short-range wireless communication WC2. In this case, camera 1D is operated from a short distance using smartphone 6.

Camera 1D has a remote control input mechanism that accepts remote control instructions from smartphone 6 via server 7. For example, the user can remotely control camera 1D using smartphone 6 whether they are at home or out.

The operating status of the camera 1D is acquired by the smartphone 6 via the server 7. For example, the user can check the operating status of the camera 1D using the smartphone 6 whether they are at home or out.

Air conditioner 1E is an air conditioning unit installed in a home HO. Air conditioner 1E can detect the temperature and humidity of the room in which it is installed.

The air conditioner 1E communicates with the dedicated remote control 3 via infrared communication or the like. The air conditioner 1E is operated from a short distance using the dedicated remote control 3. The air conditioner 1E may also be able to communicate with a paired smartphone 6 via short-range wireless communication WC2. In this case, the air conditioner 1E is operated from a short distance using the smartphone 6.

Air conditioner 1E has a remote control input mechanism that accepts remote control instructions from smartphone 6 via server 7. For example, a user can remotely control air conditioner 1E using smartphone 6 whether they are at home or out.

The operating status of the air conditioner 1E is obtained by the smartphone 6 via the server 7. For example, the user can check the operating status of the air conditioner 1E using the smartphone 6 whether they are at home or out.

[Access Point 4]
The access point 4 is installed in the home HO and has the function of communicating via wireless LAN communication WC1 such as Wi-Fi or via wired LAN communication. The access point 4 communicates with the household equipment 1 via wireless LAN communication WC1 or wired LAN communication. The access point 4 relays communication with the household equipment 1 via wireless LAN communication WC1 or wired LAN communication to the network NW via the Internet provider ISP.

[Smartphone 6]
FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the smartphone 6.
The smartphone 6 is an example of a mobile terminal or a terminal device. The mobile terminal or the terminal device is not limited to the smartphone 6, and may be, for example, a mobile phone, a smart watch, a tablet terminal, a personal computer, or the like.

As shown in FIG. 2, the smartphone 6 has a control unit 61, a wireless communication unit 62, a touch panel 63, a camera 64, and a microphone 65.

The control unit 61 is a programmable computer that has a processor such as a CPU, memory from which programs can be read, a storage unit that can store programs and data, and an input/output control unit. The functions of the control unit 61 are realized by the processor executing a program provided to the control unit 61. The program provided to the control unit 61 is also called an application. The control unit 61 controls the wireless communication unit 62, touch panel 63, camera 64, and microphone 65.

The wireless communication unit 62 has an antenna and other components, and has the following functions: communication via wireless LAN communication WC1 such as Wi-Fi; communication via short-range wireless communication WC2 such as Bluetooth (registered trademark), ZigBee (registered trademark), or NFC (Near Field Communication); and communication via high-speed wireless communication WC3 that can connect to a network NW using fourth-generation or fifth-generation communication standards.

Based on instructions from the control unit 61, the wireless communication unit 62 can communicate with the home appliance 1, control device 2, and access point 4 via wireless LAN communication WC1 (LAN). Based on instructions from the control unit 61, the wireless communication unit 62 can communicate with the home appliance 1 and control device 2 via short-range wireless communication WC2 (PAN). Based on instructions from the control unit 61, the wireless communication unit 62 can communicate with the device management server 8 and user management server 9 via high-speed wireless communication WC3 connected to a base station and network NW.

The touch panel 63 is, for example, a capacitive touch panel. Input operations entered by the user on the touch panel 63 are acquired by the control unit 61. The touch panel 63 displays a display screen based on instructions from the control unit 61. The touch panel 63 functions as an operation unit for inputting operations and a display unit for displaying the display screen.

A smart home application AP is installed on the smartphone 6, which is an application that utilizes the home appliances 1 connected to the network NW to provide the user with comfortable and convenient functions.

The smart home application AP can check the status of the residential equipment 1 based on a user request. The user can use the smart home application AP to check the status of the residential equipment 1 whether they are at home or away. For example, the smart home application AP can obtain the lock status of the electric lock 1B via the network NW and notify the user by displaying it on the touch panel 63. The user can use the smart home application AP to check the locked/unlocked status of the electric lock 1B whether they are at home or away.

The smart home application AP can generate remote control instructions for the household equipment 1. The remote control instructions for the household equipment 1 are acquired by the device management server 8 via the network NW. The household equipment 1 performs control based on the control instructions acquired via the network NW. The user can remotely control the household equipment 1 using the smart home application AP whether they are at home or away. For example, the user can remotely control the electric shutter 1C using the smart home application AP whether they are at home or away.

The smart home application AP can register and change the setting information of the control device 2 by communicating with the control device 2 via the network NW or by communicating with the control device 2 via short-range wireless communication WC2.

[Server 7]
The server 7 is configured, for example, by one or more servers and can be connected to a network NW. The server includes hardware such as a processor such as a CPU, memory, a recording medium such as a hard disk or flash memory, and a communication device. The functions of the server 7 are realized by a program executed in the processor of the server. The server may be an on-site server, or a cloud server that provides IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service), PaaS (Platform as a Service), SaaS (Software as a Service), or the like, or may be a server that combines these. In the following description, "server" includes any of the above servers.

Server 7 includes a device management server 8 and a user management server 9. Note that the device management server 8 and the user management server 9 may be the same server.

[Device Management Server 8]
The device management server 8 is a server that manages the household equipment 1. The device management server 8 acquires control instructions for the household equipment 1 that are generated in the smart home application AP. The control instructions for the household equipment 1 are acquired by the household equipment 1.

The device management server 8 acquires the status of the home appliance 1 based on a user request. The status of the home appliance 1 is acquired by the smart home application AP.

[User Management Server 9]
The user management server 9 is configured by, for example, one or more servers and can be connected to a network NW. The functions of the user management server 9 are realized by a program executed on a processor of the server.

The user management server 9 is a server that manages the registration of users who can use the home system 100 (hereinafter also referred to as "user registration"). The user management server 9 assigns a user code to registered users. The user code is a code that is unique within the home system 100 and identifies the user within the home system 100. The user code is, for example, a user ID.

User registration is information that associates a user code that identifies a user with the home appliances 1 that the user can use. User registration may be recorded collectively for multiple home appliances 1 installed in the home HO, or may be recorded separately for each home appliance 1. A registered user can use the associated home appliance 1.

A user of the home system 100 can obtain a user code from the user management server 9. The user code obtained by the user is registered in the smart home application AP of the smartphone 6. The user code is also recorded in the device management server 8. Control instructions for the home appliance 1 generated by the user in the smart home application AP are obtained by the device management server 8 and the home appliance 1, which are associated based on the user code.

Next, the operation of home system 100 will be explained. Hereinafter, the operation of home system 100 will be explained using the sequence diagram of home system 100 shown in Figure 3.

In step S100, the server 7 detects a change in the owner of the home HO. For example, the server 7 determines that the Internet provider ISP of the home HO has changed by detecting a change in the global IP address of any of the communication paths with the home equipment 1 (such as the access point 4, the control device 2, or the home equipment 1, which have been assigned a global IP address). The server 7 detects a change in the owner of the home HO by determining that the Internet provider ISP of the home HO has changed. Note that the detection of a change in the owner of the home HO is not limited to this, and other detection methods may also be used.

In step S110, the server 7 requests the smartphone 6 to search for home appliances 1 connected via the facility network. The smartphone 6 for which the server 7 requests a search is the smartphone 6 of a user who has registered for the home appliances 1 of the home HO. The server 7 may also request the smartphone 6 to search for control devices 2 and access points 4 connected via the facility network.

In step S120, the smart home application AP on the smartphone 6 searches for home appliances 1 connected via the facility network.

In step S130, the housing equipment 1 that can communicate with the smartphone 6 via the facility network responds to the smartphone 6.

In step S140, the smart home application AP of the smartphone 6 reports the detection of the household equipment 1 to the server 7.

In step S150, the server 7 determines whether the smartphone 6 is located in the home HO. Specifically, if the home equipment 1 detected by the smart home application AP of the smartphone 6 is installed in the home HO, the server 7 determines that the smartphone 6 is located in the home HO. This is to indicate that the smartphone 6 is connected to the facility network of the home HO and has communicated with the home equipment 1.

In step S160, the server 7 authenticates that the user registered in the smart home application AP on the smartphone 6 is the new owner who has moved into the house HO (owner authentication).

In step S170, the server 7 registers the user (new owner) registered in the smart home application AP of the smartphone 6 as a user who can use the home system 100, and permits the new owner to use the home system 100.

If the smart home application AP of the smartphone 6 cannot detect the household equipment 1, or if the household equipment 1 detected by the smart home application AP of the smartphone 6 is not installed in the home HO, the server 7 will determine that the user registered in the smart home application AP of the smartphone 6 is the previous owner of the home HO. The server 7 will invalidate the registration of the user who could use the household equipment 1. The previous owner of the home HO who was registered as a user will no longer be able to use the household equipment 1.

Next, another operation of home system 100 will be explained using the sequence diagram of home system 100 shown in Figure 4.

In step S200, the server 7 detects a change in the owner of the residence HO, similar to step S100.

In step S210, the server 7 sends an operation instruction for the household equipment 1 to the smartphone 6. The smartphone 6 for which the server 7 requests a search is the smartphone 6 of a user who has been registered for the household equipment 1 of the house HO.

At this time, it is desirable for the server 7 to disable remote control instructions to the household equipment 1 from the smart home application AP of the smartphone 6.

In step S220, the smart home application AP of the smartphone 6 notifies the user of the operation instructions for the household equipment 1, for example by displaying them on the touch panel 63.

The user performs operations in accordance with the operational instructions given to the household equipment 1. For example, operational instructions given to the household equipment 1 include "open and close the door on which the opening/closing sensor 1A is installed twice," "lock and unlock the electric lock 1B twice," "open and close the electric shutter 1C twice," "change the settings of the camera 1D," and "change the set temperature of the air conditioner 1E to 25 degrees." The operational instructions given to the household equipment 1 relate to operations that cannot be performed unless the user of the smartphone 6 is present at the house HO.

In step S230, the dedicated remote control 3 operates the household equipment 1 from a short distance based on the user's operation input. The paired smartphone 6 may also operate the household equipment 1 from a short distance based on the user's operation input.

In step S240, the server 7 acquires changes in the status of the household equipment 1.

In step S250, if the state of the household equipment 1 has changed in accordance with the operation instructions for the household equipment 1, the server 7 determines that the smartphone 6 is in the home HO. This is because if the user of the smartphone 6 is not in the home HO, they cannot operate the household equipment 1 from a short distance by operating the dedicated remote control 3 or smartphone 6.

In step S260, the server 7 authenticates that the user registered in the smart home application AP on the smartphone 6 is the new owner who has moved into the house HO (owner authentication).

In step S270, the server 7 registers the user (new owner) registered in the smart home application AP of the smartphone 6 as a user who can use the home system 100, and permits the new owner to use the home system 100.

If the state of the household equipment 1 has not changed in accordance with the operation instructions for the household equipment 1, the server 7 determines that the user registered in the smart home application AP on the smartphone 6 is the previous owner of the home HO. The server 7 invalidates the registration of the user who could use the household equipment 1. The previous owner of the home HO who was registered as a user will no longer be able to use the household equipment 1.

The home system 100 of this embodiment allows a new resident of a home to easily and safely begin using the home system 100 as a user. The user authenticated as the new owner may be any resident residing in the home HO, or may be a group of multiple people, such as a family. When a group of multiple people is registered as users, all registered users may be authenticated as the owner, or an arbitrarily set user may be authenticated as the owner.

Although one embodiment of the present disclosure has been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment and includes design modifications within the scope of the gist of the present disclosure. Furthermore, the components shown in the above-described embodiment and modified examples can be configured in any suitable combination.

The programs for the smartphone 6, server 7, etc. are recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. The programs recorded on this recording medium are loaded into a computer system and executed. The term "computer system" here includes hardware such as the OS and peripheral devices. Furthermore, "computer-readable recording medium" refers to portable media such as flexible disks, optical magnetic disks, ROMs, and CD-ROMs, as well as storage devices such as hard disks built into computer systems. Furthermore, "computer-readable recording medium" may also include devices that dynamically store programs for a short period of time, such as communication lines used when transmitting programs over networks like the Internet or over communication lines like telephone lines, or devices that store programs for a fixed period of time, such as volatile memory within the computer system that serves as the server or client in such cases. Furthermore, the programs may be designed to implement some of the functions described above, or may be capable of implementing the functions described above in combination with programs already stored in the computer system, or may be implemented using a programmable logic device such as an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array).

100...Home system, AP...Smart home application, 1...Housing equipment, 2...Control device, 3...Dedicated remote control, 4...Access point, 6...Smartphone, 7...Server, 8...Device management server, 9...User management server,

Claims (12)

A server;
Facility equipment installed in a facility and capable of communicating with the server;
a terminal device capable of communicating with the server;
Equipped with
The server
determining whether the terminal device is located at the facility;
When the terminal device is at the facility, authenticating a user of the terminal device at the facility as an owner of the facility;
Home system. the terminal device is connectable to a facility network installed in the facility,
The server determines that the terminal device is in the facility when the terminal device is connectable to the facility network.
The home system of claim 1 . the server determines that the terminal device is located in the facility when the terminal device is capable of communicating with the facility equipment connected via the facility network;
The home system of claim 2 . The server
transmitting an operation instruction for the facility equipment to the terminal device;
acquiring a status of the facility equipment from the facility equipment;
When the state of the facility equipment changes in accordance with the operation instruction, it is determined that the terminal device that received the operation instruction is located within the facility.
The home system of claim 1 . the server performs authentication of the facility owner when any global IP address of a communication path to the facility equipment is changed;
The home system of claim 1 . A server capable of communicating with facility equipment and terminal devices installed in a facility,
determining whether the terminal device is located at the facility;
When the terminal device is at the facility, authenticating a user of the terminal device at the facility as an owner of the facility;
server. the terminal device is connectable to a facility network installed in the facility,
When the terminal device is connectable to the facility network, it is determined that the terminal device is located in the facility.
The server of claim 6. determining that the terminal device is located in the facility when the terminal device is capable of communicating with the facility equipment connected via the facility network;
The server of claim 7. transmitting an operation instruction for the facility equipment to the terminal device;
acquiring a status of the facility equipment from the facility equipment;
When the state of the facility equipment changes in accordance with the operation instruction, it is determined that the terminal device that received the operation instruction is located within the facility.
The server of claim 6. When any global IP address of a communication path to the facility equipment is changed, authentication of the facility owner is performed.
The server of claim 6. A method for authenticating an owner who can use facility equipment installed in a facility, comprising:
determining whether the terminal device is located at the facility;
When the terminal device is at the facility, authenticating a user of the terminal device at the facility as an owner of the facility;
Owner authentication method. A program for authenticating an owner who can use facility equipment installed in a facility,
determining whether the terminal device is located at the facility;
When the terminal device is at the facility, a user of the terminal device at the facility is authenticated as an owner of the facility.
Owner Verification Program.