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(11) | EP 4 414 620 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
| published in accordance with Art. 153(4) EPC |
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| (54) | AIR CONDITIONING MONITORING SYSTEM |
| (57) An air conditioning monitoring system is provided which is capable of monitoring
the state of an air conditioning device in detail and reducing communication load
when remotely monitoring the air conditioning device. The air conditioning monitoring
system includes: an air conditioning device; and a communication device that acquires
operation data on the air conditioning device from the air conditioning device and
transmits the operation data to a server, in which the air conditioning device has
a monitoring mode including a first monitoring mode where the operation data acquired
every first period of time is transmitted from the communication device to the server
and the server determines an operating state of the air conditioning device, and a
second monitoring mode where the operation data, acquired every second period of time
that is shorter than the first period of time, is transmitted from the communication
device to the server and the server determines the operating state of the air conditioning
device, the second monitoring mode being executed based on operation of a user during
execution of the first monitoring mode. |
[Technical Field]
[Background Art]
[0002] Patent Literature 1 discloses a system that transmits trial operation data on an air conditioner to a server to allow the server to determine abnormality in the air conditioner.
[Citation List]
[Patent Literature]
[Summary of Invention]
[Technical Problem]
[0004] The present disclosure provides an air conditioning monitoring system capable of monitoring the state of an air conditioning device in detail and reducing communication load when remotely monitoring the air conditioning device.
[Solution to Problem]
[0005] This description includes Japanese Patent Application 2021-166229 filed on October 8, 2021 in its entirety.
[0006] An air conditioning monitoring system in the present disclosure includes: an air conditioning device; and a communication device that acquires operation data on the air conditioning device from the air conditioning device and transmits the operation data to a server, in which the air conditioning device has a monitoring mode including a first monitoring mode where the operation data acquired every first period of time is transmitted from the communication device to the server and the server determines an operating state of the air conditioning device, and a second monitoring mode where the operation data, acquired every second period of time that is shorter than the first period of time, is transmitted from the communication device to the server and the server determines the operating state of the air conditioning device, the second monitoring mode being executed based on operation of a user during execution of the first monitoring mode.
[Advantageous Effects of Invention]
[0007] The air conditioning monitoring system in the present disclosure executes, in the case of monitoring an operational state of the air conditioning device, the first monitoring mode where the operation data on the air conditioning device is transmitted to the server to determine the operational state of the air conditioning device and the second monitoring mode where the operation data on the air conditioning device for every period of time that is shorter than that of the first monitoring mode is transmitted to the server to determine the operational state of the air conditioning device. Therefore, the operational state of the air conditioning device can be monitored with a communication load being reduced by using the first monitoring mode, and detailed monitoring of the air conditioning device can be performed by using the second monitoring mode depending on the situation or according to the need, for example.
[Brief Description of Drawings]
[0008]
[Fig. 1] Fig. 1 shows the configuration of an air conditioning monitoring system.
[Fig. 2] Fig. 2 is a block diagram of devices constituting the air conditioning monitoring system.
[Fig. 3] Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of air conditioning devices.
[Fig. 4] Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the air conditioning devices.
[Fig. 5] Fig. 5 shows an example of a determination rule.
[Fig. 6] Fig. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of a server.
[Fig. 7] Fig. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the server.
[Fig. 8] Fig. 8 is a sequence diagram showing the operation of the air conditioning monitoring system.
[Fig. 9] Fig. 9 is a sequence diagram showing the operation of the air conditioning monitoring system.
[Fig. 10] Fig. 10 is a transition diagram showing the transition of screens displayed on a terminal device.
[Fig. 11] Fig. 11 shows an example of a home screen displayed on the terminal device.
[Fig. 12] Fig. 12 shows an example of a detail confirmation setting screen displayed on the terminal device.
[Fig. 13] Fig. 13 shows an example of a 2D graph display screen displayed on the terminal device.
[Fig. 14] Fig. 14 shows an example of a maintenance setting screen displayed on the terminal device.
[Description of Embodiments]
(Knowledge and the Like as Basis of Present Disclosure)
[0009] At the time when inventors come to the idea of the present disclosure, there was a technology to monitor and control an air conditioning system including a plurality of air conditioning devices by using a monitoring and control system. The technology makes it possible to determine whether operation data on the air conditioning system is normal or not normal.
[0010] However, as the frequency of acquiring the operation data on the air conditioning device increases, communication load for transmitting and receiving the operation data becomes excessive, which makes it necessary to lengthen a time interval for acquiring the operation data on the air conditioning device. Due to this restriction, the inventors have found an issue that it is difficult to determine the state of the air conditioning system in detail while shortening the time interval for acquiring the operation data, and have come to constitute the subject matter of the present disclosure in order to solve the issue.
[0011] Accordingly, the present disclosure provides an air conditioning monitoring system capable of monitoring the state of an air conditioning device in detail while reducing communication load when remotely monitoring the air conditioning device.
[0012] Hereinafter, an embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, description of unnecessary details may be omitted. For example, a detailed description of matters that are already well known, or a duplicated description of substantially identical configurations may be omitted.
[0013] Here, the attached drawings and the following descriptions are provided for those skilled in the art to fully understand the present disclosure and are not intended to limit the subject matter described in the claims.
[1. Configuration of Air Conditioning Monitoring System]
[0015] The air conditioning monitoring system 1000, which includes a server 2 that is communicably connected to a plurality of air conditioning devices 1A, 1B, 1C and 1D, is a system that monitors the operating state of the air conditioning devices 1A, 1B, 1C and 1D using the server 2. The server 2 corresponds to an example of the monitoring device.
[0016] In the following description, the air conditioning devices 1A, 1B, 1C and 1D are referred to as the air conditioning device or devices 1 unless otherwise distinguished from each other. The same applies to communication devices 4A and 4B, terminal devices 5A and 5B, and the like, which will be described later.
[0017] The air conditioning monitoring system 1000 includes the server 2 and also the communication device 4. The air conditioning monitoring system 1000 also includes at least one of the terminal device 3 and the terminal device 5 as a terminal device constituting a graphical user interface (GUI) as described later. The server 2, the terminal device 3, the communication device 4, and the terminal device 5 are connected to each other through a communication network N so as to allow data communication. A user who operates the terminal device 3 and an administrator who operates the terminal device 5 as described later correspond to an example of the user of the air conditioning monitoring system 1000.
[0018] The communication network N is a communication line configured by including a dedicated line, a public line network, and the Internet. The communication network N may include unshown network devices, such as a WiFi (registered trademark) router, a switch, a router, a gateway, and various server devices. The communication network N may also include a wireless base station installed by a telecommunications carrier.
[0019] The terminal device 3, which is a device used by a user who operates the server 2, can be called a server management terminal. The terminal device 3 has a function to communicate with the server 2 through the communication network N or through direct connection to the server 2. The specific configuration of the terminal device 3 is not limited, and the terminal device 3 may be a personal computer (PC), a smartphone, a tablet computer, a wearable device such as a smart watch, or the like.
[0020] The terminal device 3 includes a display 35 and an input device 36. The display 35 may have a display panel, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel, and an organic electro luminescence (EL) display panel. The input device 36 is a device for the user to make an input into the terminal device 3. Examples of the input device 36 include a keyboard. The input device 36 includes a pointing device. Examples of the pointing device may include a mouse, a touch sensor disposed so as to be superimposed on the display 35, or other devices. The display 35 can be called a terminal display unit. When the terminal device 3 constitutes a GUI, the input device 36 corresponds to an example of the terminal input unit.
[0021] The terminal device 3 displays various screens on the display 35 based on data transmitted by the server 2. The screens displayed on the display 35 constitute the GUI for operating the server 2. The terminal device 3 accepts input from the input device 36 while the GUI is displayed on the display 35 and transmits the input content to the server 2. As a result, the terminal device 3 functions as a remote console device for the user to operate the server 2 from a remote location.
[0022] The terminal device 5 can be called an administrator terminal because it is used by an administrator who belongs to a maintenance company that performs maintenance and management of the air conditioning device 1.
[0023] The air conditioning monitoring system 1000 can include a plurality of terminal devices 5. The terminal devices 5 are each associated with one or more air conditioning devices 1 or one or more air conditioning systems 10. Fig. 1 shows, as a specific configuration example of the terminal devices 5, a terminal device 5A used by an administrator who maintains and manages an air conditioning system 10A and a terminal device 5B used by an administrator who maintains and manages an air conditioning system 10B. The terminal devices 5 are not limited to examples of the terminal devices 5A and 5B, and may be a tablet computer or a wearable device such as a smart watch.
[0024] The terminal device 5A is, for example, a smartphone having a touch panel 59 including a display screen and a touch sensor. The terminal device 5A displays the content of notification transmitted from the server 2 on the touch panel 59 using a notification function. The terminal device 5B is, for example, a laptop PC including a display 55 and an input device 56. The display 55 is a display device having an LCD panel, an organic EL panel, or the like. The input device 56 is a device for the administrator who uses the terminal device 5B to make an input into the terminal device 5. The input device 56 includes, for example, a keyboard and a pointing device. Examples of the pointing device may include a mouse, a touch sensor disposed so as to be superimposed on the display 55, or other devices. The touch panel 59 corresponds to a configuration including the functions of both a display unit and an input unit. The display 55 can be called a terminal display unit. When the terminal device 5 constitutes the GUI, the input device 56 corresponds to an example of the terminal input unit.
[0025] In the following description, a configuration in which the display 55 and the input device 56 are provided independently of each other as in the case of the terminal device 5B is illustrated as the configuration of the terminal device 5. Both the terminal device 5A and the terminal device 5B can operate as a terminal device that constitutes the GUI. Therefore, the operation of the terminal device 5 in the following description can be executed by both the terminal device 5A and the terminal device 5B. The specific mode of the terminal device 5 is not limited to the configurations of the terminal device 5A and the terminal device 5B, and the terminal device 5 may be any device that includes the configurations corresponding to the communication device that communicates with the server 2, the display unit, and the input unit.
[0026] The terminal device 5 has a communication function to communicate with the server 2 through the communication network N and a notification function to notify the administrator who uses the terminal device 5. The terminal device 5 is connected to the communication network N via a wired or wireless communication line and executes data communication with the server 2. The terminal device 5 displays the content of notification transmitted from the server 2 on the display 55 using the notification function. The details of the configuration of the terminal device 5 will be described later.
[0027] The server 2 may be constituted of a single server computer, or may be configured such that a plurality of server computers function as the server 2. The server 2 may be a so-called cloud server. There is no limit on the number of the terminal devices 3 and the terminal devices 5 included in the air conditioning monitoring system 1000. For example, a plurality of terminal devices 3 and terminal devices 5 may be configured to connect to the server 2 simultaneously or alternately. There is no limit on the installation locations of the terminal devices 3, as long as the terminal devices 3 can be connected to the communication network N. This is also true for the installation location of the terminal devices 5.
[0028] There is no limit on the number and the installation location of the air conditioning devices 1 that are monitoring targets of the air conditioning monitoring system 1000. Fig. 1 shows the air conditioning devices 1A, 1B, 1C, and 1D as the monitoring targets of the air conditioning monitoring system 1000, though these are merely examples. There is also no limitation on the specific configuration of the air conditioning devices 1. In the present embodiment, the air conditioning device 1A is described as a variable refrigerant flow (VRF)-type device as an example. The air conditioning device 1B is described as a packaged air conditioner (PAC). Note that the configuration of the air conditioning device 1 that is a monitoring target of the air conditioning monitoring system 1000 is not limited to the configuration operated by electric power. For example, the air conditioning device 1 may be a gas heat pump (GHP)-type air conditioning device operated by gas energy.
[0029] The communication device 4 is connected to one or more air conditioning devices 1 that are monitoring targets. The air conditioning monitoring system 1000 shown in Fig. 1 includes a communication device 4A and a communication device 4B. The communication device 4A is connected to the air conditioning device 1A and the air conditioning device 1B, while the communication device 4B is connected to the air conditioning device 1C and the air conditioning device 1D. The communication devices 4 are provided, for example, in respective areas where the air conditioning devices 1 are installed. One or more air conditioning devices 1 connected to one communication device 4 constitute an air conditioning system 10. For example, the air conditioning devices 1A and 1B connected to the communication device 4A constitute an air conditioning system 10A. Although the air conditioning devices 1A and 1B are communicably connected to the communication device 4A, the air conditioning device 1A and the air conditioning device 1B may be configured so as not to communicate with each other. There is also no limit on the number or type of the air conditioning devices 1 which are connected to one communication device 4 and the air conditioning devices 1 which are included in one air conditioning system 10.
[0030] The communication device 4 receives control data D1 from the server 2 by executing communication with the server 2 via the communication network N. The control data D1 includes an instruction for the communication device 4 to acquire data indicating the operational status of the air conditioning device 1, information that specifies the cycle of data retrieval, and information to specify the cycle of data transmission to the server 2.
[0031] The communication device 4 executes communication with the air conditioning device 1 to acquire data about the operational state of the air conditioning device 1 at a cycle instructed by the control data D1. The data about the operational state of the air conditioning device 1 is data indicating detection values of various sensors installed in the air conditioning device 1, the operational state of a compressor included in the air conditioning device 1, a switching state of a four-way valve included in the air conditioning device 1, an opening degree of an expansion valve, and an air volume of a fan or the like. Specifically, the communication device 4A executes communication with a control device 11A included in the air conditioning device 1A to acquire data about the operational state from the control device 11A. Similarly, the communication device 4A executes communication with a control device 11B included in the air conditioning device 1B to acquire data about the operational state of the air conditioning device 1B from the control device 11B. The communication device 4B similarly executes communication with the air conditioning devices 1C and 1D to acquire data, such as data about the operational state of the air conditioning devices 1C and 1D. The data about the operational state acquired by the communication device 4 from the air conditioning device 1 can be called operation data. The operation data may be identical to or different from operation data 44 and operation data D2.
[0032] The communication device 4 transmits operation data D2, including data about the operational state acquired from the air conditioning device 1, to the server 2. It can be said that the operation data D2 is data indicating the operational state of the air conditioning device 1. The operation data D2 includes data about the operational state, data acquisition time, and information indicating the air conditioning device 1 corresponding to the acquired data. The operation data D2 may include information indicating a sensor used to acquire detection values, an outdoor unit 12, or an indoor unit 13. Data types and items included in the operation data D2, transmitted by the communication device 4 to the server 2, in a periodic execution mode described later may be different from those in a detailed confirmation mode. For example, the operation data D2 transmitted by the communication device 4 in the detailed confirmation mode may include more types of data than the operation data D2 transmitted by the communication device 4 in the periodic execution mode. Specifically, the operation data D2 in the detailed confirmation mode may be the data that includes more sensor detection values, more data calculated from the sensor detection values and the like than the data in the periodic execution mode.
[0033] The air conditioning device 1A includes the control device 11A, a plurality of outdoor units 12, and a plurality of indoor units 13. The outdoor units 12 included in the air conditioning device 1A include outdoor units 12A and 12B. The outdoor units 13 included in the air conditioning device 1A include indoor units 13A, 13B, 13C, and 13D. The outdoor units 12A and 12B and the indoor units 13A, 13B, 13C and 13D are connected to the control device 11A through a communication line 20A. The control device 11A controls the outdoor units 12A and 12B, the indoor units 13A, 13B, 13C and 13D, based on a target temperature or the like set by operation of an unshown remote control, to execute air conditioning of a conditioning target room. Air conditioning of the conditioning target room includes, for example, at least one of heating, cooling, dehumidification, blowing, ventilation or the like.
[0034] The outdoor units 12A and 12B, the indoor units 13A, 13B, 13C, and 13D, and a refrigerant pipe connecting these units in the air conditioning device 1A are equipped with various sensors. The control device 11A transmits the detection value or the like of each sensor to the communication device 4A.
[0035] The air conditioning device 1B includes the control device 11B, an outdoor unit 12F, and an indoor unit 13F. The outdoor unit 12F and the indoor unit 13F are connected to the control device 11B through a communication line 20B. The control device 11B controls the outdoor unit 12F and the indoor unit 13F, based on a target temperature or the like set by operation of an unshown remote control, to perform air conditioning of a conditioning target room equipped with the indoor unit 13F.
[0036] The outdoor unit 12F and the indoor unit 13F of the air conditioning device 1B and a refrigerant pipe connecting these units have various sensors installed therein. The control device 11B transmits the detection value or the like of each sensor to the communication device 4A.
[0037] The server 2 receives operation data D2 transmitted from the communication device 4. The server 2 determines the operational state of the air conditioning device 1 based on the operation data D2. The server 2 determines whether the operational state of each of the air conditioning devices 1 that are the monitoring target of the air conditioning monitoring system 1000 is normal or not normal.
[0038] In the following description, the state where the operational state of the air conditioning device 1 is not normal is referred to as abnormality. Here, as for the abnormality, the abnormality of the air conditioning device 1 does not necessarily refer to failure or defect of the air conditioning device 1. For example, "abnormality" determined by the server 2 includes temporary deviation of the operational state of the air conditioning device 1 from a normal range. In other words, even in the case where the air conditioning device 1, which is in a normal state, is temporarily out of the normal range due to external factors, the server 2 may determine the operating state of the air conditioning device 1 as "abnormal". The server 2 may also determine that the operational state of the air conditioning device 1 is not determinable.
[0039] The server 2 notifies the operational state of the air conditioning device 1 to the terminal device 5 based on the setting described later.
[2. Configuration of Server]
[0040] Fig. 2 is a block diagram of devices constituting the air conditioning monitoring system 1000 to show the functional configuration of the server 2, the terminal device 3, the communication device 4, and the terminal device 5.
[0041] The server 2 includes a processor 201. The server 2 includes a storage unit 210. The storage unit 210 has a non-volatile storage medium. The storage unit 210 may include a volatile storage region to constitute a work area for the processor 201.
[0042] The storage unit 210 stores a program executed by the processor 201, and various data processed by the processor 201. The storage unit 210 stores a control program 211, setting data 212, a first stability determination rule 213, a first normality determination rule 214, a second stability determination rule 215, a second normality determination rule 216, determination result data 217, and diagnosis result data 218.
[0043] The processor 201 controls each unit of the server 2 by executing the control program 211. The processor 201 includes a user interface control unit 202, a monitoring unit 203, and a setting unit 204 as functional units. The user interface control unit 202 is hereinafter referred to as the UI control unit 202. These respective functional units are implemented through collaboration between software and hardware when the processor 201 executes the control program 211.
[0044] The server 2 includes a communication unit 220. The communication unit 220 is a communication device connected to the communication network N. The communication unit 220 includes, for example, a connector for connecting a communication cable, and an interface circuit for inputting and outputting signals through the connector. For example, the communication unit 220 may be a wireless communication device provided with an antenna and a wireless circuit and be connected to the communication network N via a wireless communication line.
[0045] The UI control unit 202 executes data transmission to and data acquisition from a device that functions as a terminal device that constitutes a GUI. The terminal device that constitutes the GUI is one of the terminal device 3 and the terminal device 5. In the present embodiment, the case where the terminal device 5 operates as the terminal device that constitutes the GUI is described as an example. In the following description, the operation of the server 2 targeting the terminal device 5 is similarly executed when the terminal device 3 is targeted.
[0046] The UI control unit 202 generates GUI data for operating and setting the server 2, and transmits the data to the terminal device 5 using the communication unit 220. The UI control unit 202 acquires data that is input from the input device 56 while the terminal device 5 displays the screen that constitutes the GUI on the display 55.
[0047] The UI control unit 202 also generates GUI data for setting regarding the operation of the monitoring unit 203 and transmits the data to the terminal device 5.
[0048] The UI control unit 202 also generates GUI data used to confirm determination results or the like in the periodic execution mode and the detailed confirmation mode executed by the monitoring unit 203, and transmits the data to the terminal device 5.
[0049] The monitoring unit 203 executes the periodic execution mode and the detailed confirmation mode as the operation to determine the operational state of the air conditioning device 1. The periodic execution mode corresponds to an example of the first monitoring mode, and the detailed confirmation mode corresponds to an example of the second monitoring mode.
[0050] The periodic execution mode is an operation mode that is generally executed by the air conditioning monitoring system 1000 to monitor the operational state of the air conditioning device 1. In the periodic execution mode, the communication device 4 acquires data about the operational state of the air conditioning device 1 every first period of time, and transmits the operation data D2 based on the acquired data to the server 2. The operation of the air conditioning device 1 and the communication device 4 in the periodic execution mode is executed regularly without the instruction from the monitoring unit 203.
[0051] The detailed confirmation mode is an operating mode in which the air conditioning monitoring system 1000 monitors the operational state of the air conditioning device 1 based on more detailed data than the data in the periodic execution mode. Specifically, the time interval at which the communication device 4 acquires data about the operation of the air conditioning device 1 is every second period of time, and the second period of time is shorter than the first period of time. For example, in the periodic execution mode, the communication device 4 acquires data about the operational state of the air conditioning device 1 at an interval of 15 minutes, whereas in the detailed confirmation mode, the communication device 4 acquires data about the operational state of the air conditioning device 1 at an interval of 30 seconds or 1 minute. Then, the communication device 4 transmits the operation data D2 based on the data acquired every second period of time to the server 2. This allows the server 2 to check the state of the air conditioning device 1 in detail. The detailed confirmation mode can be called a manual execution mode because an administrator operates the terminal device 5 to manually instruct setting and start of the mode as described later.
[0052] The monitoring unit 203 can select the air conditioning device 1 to be monitored from all the air conditioning devices 1 managed by the communication device 4 connected to the server 2, and execute the detailed confirmation mode. In the detailed confirmation mode, the communication load of the air conditioning monitoring system 1000 is larger than that in the periodic execution mode. This is because the second period of time is shorter than the first period of time, so that communication between the air conditioning device 1 and the communication device 4 is performed more frequently than in the periodic execution mode and the amount of data transmitted by the communication device 4 to the server 2 per unit time is larger than that in the periodic execution mode. In other words, in the detailed confirmation mode, the communication load between the air conditioning device 1 and the communication device 4 and the communication load between the communication device 4 and the server 2 are both higher than those in the periodic execution mode. Therefore, the monitoring unit 203 executes the detailed confirmation mode for the air conditioning device 1 that is specified by the administrator operating the terminal device 5, out of the air conditioning devices 1A and 1B connected to the communication device 4A and the air conditioning devices 1C and 1D connected to the communication device 4B.
[0053] The monitoring unit 203 switches and executes the periodic execution mode and the detailed confirmation mode for the air conditioning device 1. For example, the monitoring unit 203 does not execute the periodic execution mode for the air conditioning device 1A while executing the detailed confirmation mode for the air conditioning device 1A.
[0054] On the other hand, the monitoring unit 203 executes the detailed confirmation mode for some of the plurality of air conditioning devices 1 and executes the periodic execution mode for the other air conditioning devices 1. For example, while the detailed confirmation mode is executed for the air conditioning device 1A, the periodic execution mode is executed for the air conditioning devices 1B, 1C, and 1D that are not the targets of the detailed confirmation mode.
[0055] In the detailed confirmation mode, since the communication load in the air conditioning monitoring system 1000 increases as described above, execution of the detailed confirmation mode for the plurality of air conditioning devices 1 may be limited. For example, in the air conditioning monitoring system 1000, of the plurality of air conditioning devices 1 connected to one communication device 4, the number of the air conditioning devices 1 for which the detailed confirmation mode can be concurrently executed may be limited. Specifically, while the monitoring unit 203 is executing the detailed confirmation mode for the air conditioning device 1A, the monitoring unit 203 may be controlled so as not to execute the detailed confirmation mode for the air conditioning device 1B, which is connected to the communication device 4A that is the same communication device as the air conditioning device 1A. In other words, an upper limit may be set for the number of the air conditioning devices 1 for which the detailed confirmation mode is concurrently executed, out of the plurality of air conditioning devices 1 belonging to the same air conditioning system 10.
[0056] The monitoring unit 203 executes the detailed confirmation mode by transmitting the control data D1 to the communication device 4. The control data D1 includes information that specifies the air conditioning device 1 as a target of the detailed confirmation mode, an execution instruction of the detailed confirmation mode, and conditions for executing the detailed confirmation mode. Examples of the information that specifies the air conditioning device 1 to be a target of the detailed confirmation mode may include unique identification information given to each of the air conditioning devices 1 in the air conditioning monitoring system 1000, an address of each of the air conditioning devices 1, a device name and serial number of each of the air conditioning devices 1 at the time of manufacturing. Examples of the conditions for executing the detailed confirmation mode may include start timing of the detailed confirmation mode, the time interval of the communication device 4 acquiring data about the operational state of the air conditioning devices 1 in the detailed confirmation mode, execution time of the detailed confirmation mode, and whether or not to perform trial operation of the air conditioning device 1 to be a target of the detailed confirmation mode.
[0057] In the periodic execution mode, the monitoring unit 203 acquires the operation data D2 transmitted by the communication device 4 at a predetermined time cycle and temporarily stores the data in the storage unit 210. The monitoring unit 203 analyzes the operation data D2 for the periodic execution mode stored in the storage unit 210 at a preset cycle, and determines whether or not there is any data in the operation data D2 that indicates an abnormal state. The monitoring unit 203 determines, for the air conditioning device 1 that is an analysis target, any one of normal, abnormal, and not determinable as a determination result, and stores the determination result as the determination result data 217 in the storage unit 210.
[0058] In the detail confirmation mode, the monitoring unit 203 acquires the operation data D2 transmitted by the communication device 4 after the execution of the detail confirmation mode is completed. The monitoring unit 203 analyzes the acquired operation data D2 and determines whether or not there is any data in the operation data D2 that indicates an abnormal state. The monitoring unit 203 determines, for the air conditioning device 1 that is an analysis target, any one of normal, abnormal, and not determinable as a determination result, and stores the determination result as the determination result data 217 in the storage unit 210. Furthermore, when the monitoring unit 203 determines that the air conditioning device 1 is abnormal based on the operation data D2, the monitoring unit 203 executes failure diagnosis of the air conditioning device 1. In the failure diagnosis, the monitoring unit 203 performs processing to identify a component unit that may have abnormality, among the outdoor unit 12, the indoor unit 13, and other devices constituting the air conditioning device 1, and to estimate an abnormality type and an abnormality factor. When executing the failure diagnosis, the monitoring unit 203 stores the diagnosis result in the storage unit 210 as the diagnosis result data 218.
[0059] For example, in the periodic execution mode of the air conditioning monitoring system 1000, the communication device 4 acquires data about the operation of the air conditioning device 1 per 15 minutes, and transmits the operation data D2 to the server 2 every hour. The monitoring unit 203 analyzes at preset time the operation data D2 of 24 hours starting at midnight. In the detailed confirmation mode of the air conditioning monitoring system 1000, the monitoring unit 203 performs analysis of all the operation data D2 during one execution of the detailed confirmation mode immediately after the communication device 4 exits the detailed confirmation mode.
[0060] The time when the communication device 4 operates and the time included in the operation data D2 are, for example, the time in the time zone to which the installation location of the air conditioning system 10 belongs, and that can be local time.
[0061] In the processing to determine whether or not there is any data in the operation data D2 that indicates an abnormal state, the monitoring unit 203 uses the first stability determination rule 213, the first normality determination rule 214, the second stability determination rule 215, and the second normality determination rule 216 stored in the storage unit 210. The first stability determination rule 213 includes a condition for determining whether or not the operation data D2 is stable in the periodic execution mode. The first normality determination rule 214 includes a condition for determining whether or not the operation data D2 is normal in the periodic execution mode. The second stability determination rule 215 includes a condition for determining whether or not the operation data D2 is stable in the detailed confirmation mode. The second normality determination rule 216 includes a condition for determining whether or not the operation data D2 is normal in the detailed confirmation mode.
[0062] The setting unit 204 performs setting regarding the operation of the monitoring unit 203. The setting unit 204 performs setting based on the data input from the input device 56 using the GUI for setting with the terminal device 5 displaying the GUI for setting on the display 55. The setting unit 204 sets, for example, an execution condition related to the execution of the detailed confirmation mode based on the data input from the input device 56. Examples of the condition may include start timing of the detailed confirmation mode, the time interval of the communication device 4 acquiring data about the operational state of the air conditioning devices 1 in the detailed confirmation mode, execution time of the detailed confirmation mode, and whether or not to perform trial operation of the air conditioning device 1 that is a target of the detailed confirmation mode. The setting unit 204 stores a setting content as the setting data 212 in the storage unit 210, or updates the setting data 212.
[3. Configuration of Terminal Device]
[0063] The terminal device 3 includes a processor 31. The terminal device 3 includes a storage unit 32. The storage unit 32 has a non-volatile storage medium. The storage unit 32 may include a volatile storage region and constitutes a work area for the processor 31.
[0064] The storage unit 32 stores a program executed by the processor 31, and various data processed by the processor 31. For example, the storage unit 32 stores a control program 33 and GUI data 34.
[0065] The terminal device 3 includes a communication unit 37. The communication unit 37 is a communication device connected to the communication network N. The communication unit 37 includes, for example, a connector for connecting a communication cable, and an interface circuit for inputting and outputting signals through the connector. For example, the communication unit 37 may be a wireless communication device provided with an antenna and a wireless circuit and be connected to the communication network N via a wireless communication line. When the terminal device 3 constitutes the GUI, the communication unit 37 corresponds to an example of the terminal communication unit.
[0066] The processor 31 controls each unit of the terminal device 3 by executing the control program 33.
[0067] The processor 31 receives GUI data, transmitted by the server 2, with the communication unit 37 and stores the data as the GUI data 34 in the storage unit 32. The processor 31 provides the GUI to the user by displaying various screens on the display 35 based on the GUI data 34. The processor 31 acquires a content input by the user with the input device 36 using the GUI, and transmits the data indicating the input content to the server 2 through the communication unit 37.
[0068] The terminal device 5 includes a processor 51. The terminal device 5 includes a storage unit 52. The storage unit 52 has a non-volatile storage medium. The storage unit 52 may include a volatile storage region and constitute a work area for the processor 51.
[0069] The storage unit 52 stores a program executed by the processor 51, and various data processed by the processor 51. For example, the storage unit 52 stores a control program 53 and GUI data 54.
[0070] The terminal device 5 includes a communication unit 57. The communication unit 57 is a communication device connected to the communication network N. The communication unit 57 includes, for example, a connector for connecting a communication cable, and an interface circuit for inputting and outputting signals through the connector. For example, the communication unit 57 may be a wireless communication device provided with an antenna and a wireless circuit and be connected to the communication network N via a wireless communication line. When the terminal device 5 constitutes the GUI, the communication unit 57 corresponds to an example of the terminal communication unit.
[0071] The processor 51 controls each unit of the terminal device 5 by executing the control program 53. The processor 51 receives GUI data transmitted by the server 2 with the communication unit 57 and stores the data as GUI data 54 in the storage unit 52. The processor 51 provides the GUI to an administrator by displaying various screens on the display 55 based on the GUI data 54. The processor 51 acquires a content input by the administrator with the input device 56 using the GUI, and transmits the data indicating the input content to the server 2 through the communication unit 57.
[4. Configuration of Communication Device]
[0072] The configuration of the communication device 4 shown in Fig. 2 is the same for the communication devices 4A and 4B. The communication device 4 includes a processor 41. The communication device 4 includes a storage unit 42. The storage unit 42 has a non-volatile storage medium. The storage unit 42 may include a volatile storage region and constitutes a work area for the processor 41.
[0073] The storage unit 42 stores a program executed by the processor 41, and various data processed by the processor 41. For example, the storage unit 42 stores a control program 43 and the operation data 44.
[0074] The communication device 4 includes a communication unit 45. The communication unit 45 is a communication device connected to the communication network N. The communication unit 45 includes, for example, a connector for connecting a communication cable, and an interface circuit for inputting and outputting signals through the connector. For example, the communication unit 45 may be a wireless communication device provided with an antenna and a wireless circuit and be connected to the communication network N via a wireless communication line. The communication unit 45 is connected to the air conditioning device 1 and performs data communication with the air conditioning device 1. For example, under the control of the processor 41, the communication unit 45 transmits to the air conditioning device 1 an instruction to execute trial operation and an instruction to transmit detection values of various sensors included in the air conditioning device 1. In response to the instruction transmitted by the communication unit 45, the air conditioning device 1 executes trial operation. When the air conditioning device 1 acquires and transmits the detection values of sensors in response to an instruction transmitted by the communication unit 45, the communication unit 45 acquires the detection values transmitted from the air conditioning device 1.
[0075] The processor 41 controls each unit of the communication device 4 by executing the control program 43.
[0076] The processor 41 executes communication with the air conditioning device 1 through the communication unit 45 and acquires data about the operational state of the air conditioning device 1. The processor 41 executes the periodic execution mode under normal circumstances, and acquires data about the operational state from the air conditioning device 1 that is a monitoring target at a time interval set as the cycle of the periodic execution mode. The processor 41 stores the acquired detection values and the like as the operation data 44 in the storage unit 42. The operation data 44 includes data about the operational state of each of the air conditioning devices 1 that are connected to the communication device 4.
[0077] The processor 41 generates the operation data D2 for transmission based on the operation data 44, and transmits the data to the server 2 at a preset cycle. The cycle at which the processor 41 transmits the operation data D2 is equal to or longer than the cycle at which the processor 41 acquires data about the operational state of the air conditioning device 1. For example, the processor 41 acquires the data about the operational state at an interval of 15 minutes in the periodic execution mode, and transmits the operation data D2 to the server 2 at an interval of 1 hour.
[0078] When the processor 41 receives the control data D1 from the server 2, the processor 41 executes the detailed confirmation mode for the air conditioning device 1 specified by the control data D1. In the detailed confirmation mode, the processor 41 acquires data about the operational state at the time interval specified by the control data D1. The time for which the processor 41 executes the detailed confirmation mode is specified by the control data D1. Until the execution time of the detailed confirmation mode elapses, the processor 41 accumulates the data about the operational state acquired from the air conditioning device 1 as the operation data 44 in the storage unit 42. After the execution time of the detailed confirmation mode elapses, the processor 41 generates the operation data D2 from the operation data 44 accumulated in the storage unit 42, and transmits the data to the server 2.
[5. Layout Example of Sensors in Air Conditioning Device]
[0079] Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the air conditioning device 1A, in which a layout example of sensors in the air conditioning device 1A is shown. As shown in Fig. 1, the air conditioning device 1A includes the plurality of outdoor units 12A and 12B, and the plurality of indoor units 13A, 13B, 13C and 13D. For the convenience of understanding, a system 101 configured by connecting one outdoor unit 12A and one indoor unit 13A is shown and described in Fig. 3.
[0080] The outdoor unit 12A includes two compressors 102 and two outdoor heat exchangers 103 connected in parallel, two expansion valves 104 connected to the outdoor heat exchangers 103, respectively, and a four-way valve 121. The four-way valve 121 is connected to a discharge side of the compressors 102 to change the direction of refrigerant discharged from the compressors 102 to the outdoor heat exchanger 103 and to the indoor unit 13A. The four-way valve 121 is connected to a refrigerant pipe 120. The refrigerant pipe 120 has a supercooling expansion valve 106 installed therein so as to constitute a supercooling heat exchanger 107.
[0081] The four-way valve 121 switches the flow of refrigerant between heating operation and cooling operation. In Fig. 3, the flow of refrigerant during the cooling operation in the air conditioning device 1A is shown by an arrow with sign C, and the flow of refrigerant during the heating operation is shown by an arrow with sign H.
[0082] The indoor unit 13A is provided with an indoor heat exchanger 111 and an expansion valve 112, and is connected to the outdoor unit 12A through the refrigerant pipe.
[0083] The outdoor unit 12A and the indoor unit 13A have temperature sensors 15A, 15B, 15C, 15D, 15F, 15G, 15H, 15I, 15J, 15K, 15L and 15M disposed therein. Pressure sensors 16A, 16B are also disposed.
[0084] The temperature sensor 15A is installed in the refrigerant pipe on an intake side of the compressors 102 to detect the temperature of the refrigerant taken in by the compressors 102. The detection value of the temperature sensor 15A indicates compressor intake temperature.
[0085] The temperature sensors 15B and 15C are installed in the refrigerant pipe on the discharge side of the compressors 102 to detect the temperature of the refrigerant discharged by the compressors 102. The detection values of the temperature sensors 15B and 15C indicate compressor discharge temperature.
[0086] The temperature sensors 15D and 15E are installed in the refrigerant pipe carrying liquid refrigerant in the outdoor heat exchangers 103 to detect the temperature of the refrigerant. The detection values of the temperature sensors 15D and 15E indicate outdoor heat exchange liquid side temperature.
[0087] The temperature sensors 15F and 15G are installed in the refrigerant pipe carrying vaporized refrigerant in the outdoor heat exchangers 103 to detect the temperature of the refrigerant. The detection values of the temperature sensors 15F and 15G indicate outdoor heat exchange gas side temperature.
[0088] The temperature sensor 15H is disposed in the refrigerant pipe 120 between the four-way valve 121 and the supercooling expansion valve 106 to detect the temperature of the refrigerant. The detection value of the temperature sensor 15F indicates supercooling circuit gas temperature.
[0089] The temperature sensor 151 is provided in close proximity to the outdoor heat exchangers 103 to detect the temperature of air blown by an unshown outdoor fan toward the outdoor heat exchangers 103. The detection value of the temperature sensor 151 indicates outside air temperature.
[0090] The temperature sensor 15J is disposed in a refrigerant pipe carrying vaporized refrigerant in the indoor heat exchanger 111 to detect the temperature of the refrigerant. The detection value of the temperature sensor 15J indicates indoor heat exchange gas side temperature.
[0091] The temperature sensor 15K is disposed in the refrigerant pipe carrying liquid refrigerant in the indoor heat exchanger 111 to detect the temperature of the refrigerant. The detection value of the temperature sensor 15K indicates indoor heat exchange liquid side temperature.
[0092] The temperature sensor 15M detects the temperature of air blown into the conditioning target room by an unshown indoor fan through the indoor heat exchanger 111. The detection value of the temperature sensor 15M indicates indoor blow temperature.
[0093] The temperature sensor 15L detects the temperature of air taken in from the conditioning target room by an unshown indoor fan. The detection value of the temperature sensor 15L indicates indoor temperature.
[0094] The pressure sensor 16A detects the pressure of refrigerant in the refrigerant pipe on the intake side of the compressors 102. The pressure sensor 16B detects the pressure of refrigerant in the refrigerant pipe on the discharge side of the compressors 102. The pressure sensor 16A can be called a low pressure sensor, and the pressure sensor 16B can be called a high pressure sensor.
[0095] Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the air conditioning device 1B, in which a layout example of sensors in the air conditioning device 1B is shown. The air conditioning device 1B has a system 151 formed by connecting one outdoor unit 12F and one indoor unit 13F.
[0096] The outdoor unit 12F includes a compressor 152, an outdoor heat exchangers 153, an expansion valve 154, and a four-way valve 161. The four-way valve 161 is connected to a discharge side of the compressors 152 to switch the refrigerant discharged from the compressors 152 to the outdoor heat exchanger 153 and to the indoor unit 13A. The four-way valve 161 is connected to a refrigerant pipe 160. The four-way valve 161 switches the flow of refrigerant between heating operation and cooling operation. In Fig. 4, the flow of refrigerant during the cooling operation in the air conditioning device 1B is shown by an arrow with sign C, and the flow of refrigerant during the heating operation is shown by an arrow with sign H.
[0097] The indoor unit 13F, which includes an indoor heat exchanger 156, is connected to the outdoor unit 12F through the refrigerant pipe.
[0098] The outdoor unit 12F and the indoor unit 13F have temperature sensors 17A, 17B, 17C, 17D, 17F, 17G, 7H, and 171 disposed therein.
[0099] The temperature sensor 17A is installed in the refrigerant pipe on an intake side of the compressor 152 to detect the temperature of the refrigerant taken in by the compressor 152. The detection value of the temperature sensor 17A indicates compressor intake temperature.
[0100] The temperature sensor 17B is installed in the refrigerant pipe on the discharge side of the compressor 152 to detect the temperature of refrigerant discharged from the compressor 152. The detection value of the temperature sensor 17B indicates compressor discharge temperature.
[0101] The temperature sensor 17C is installed in the refrigerant pipe carrying liquid refrigerant in the outdoor heat exchanger 153 to detect the temperature of the refrigerant. The detection value of the temperature sensor 17C indicates outdoor heat exchange liquid side temperature.
[0102] The temperature sensor 17D is disposed in the outdoor heat exchanger 153. The detection value of the temperature sensor 17D indicates outdoor heat exchange temperature.
[0103] The temperature sensor 17E is provided in close proximity to the outdoor heat exchanger 153 to detect the temperature of air blown by an unshown outdoor fan toward the outdoor heat exchanger 153. The detection value of the temperature sensor 17E indicates outside air temperature.
[0104] The temperature sensor 17F is installed in the refrigerant pipe carrying liquid refrigerant in the indoor heat exchanger 156 to detect the temperature of the refrigerant. The detection value of the temperature sensor 17F indicates indoor heat exchange liquid side temperature.
[0105] The temperature sensor 17G is installed in the indoor heat exchanger 156. The detection value of the temperature sensor 17G indicates indoor heat exchange temperature.
[0106] The temperature sensor 17H detects the temperature of air blown into the conditioning target room by an unshown indoor fan through the indoor heat exchanger 156. The detection value of the temperature sensor 17H indicates indoor blow temperature.
[0107] The temperature sensor 17I detects the temperature of air taken in from the conditioning target room by an unshown indoor fan. The detection value of the temperature sensor 171 indicates indoor temperature.
[0108] The communication device 4 acquires the detection values of the temperature sensors 15A to 15M, the temperature sensors 17A to 171, and the pressure sensors 16A and 16B, included in the air conditioning device 1A. The detection values acquired by the communication device 4 are, for example, instantaneous values at the point of time when the control device 11 acquires the detection values of the temperature sensors 15A to 15M, the temperature sensors 17A to 171, and the pressure sensors 16A and 16B, included in the air conditioning device 1A.
[0109] The communication device 4 may transmit to the server 2 the operation data D2 including the detection value of each sensor itself. The communication device 4 may also generate the operation data D2 including the type and name of data indicating the detection value of each sensor and the data values, and may transmit the operation data D2 to the server 2. Examples of the types and names of data may include compressor intake temperature, compressor discharge temperature, outdoor heat exchange liquid side temperature, outdoor heat exchange gas side temperature, supercooling circuit gas temperature, outside air temperature, indoor heat exchange gas side temperature, indoor heat exchange liquid side temperature, indoor blow temperature, indoor temperature, outdoor heat exchange temperature, indoor heat exchange temperature, low pressure-side pressure, and high pressure-side pressure. The communication device 4 obtains the data values from the detection value of each sensor described above and generates the operation data D2.
[0110] The communication device 4 may also generate data by arithmetic processing using the detection value of each sensor. For example, the communication device 4 may calculate saturation temperature (HP_TEMP) from the high pressure-side pressure, calculate saturation temperature (LP_TEMP) from the low pressure-side pressure, and may obtain a compressor intake superheat degree from the difference between the compressor intake temperature and the saturation temperature (LP_TEMP). The communication device 4 may obtain a condenser outlet supercooling degree from the difference between the saturation temperature (HP_TEMP) and the outdoor heat exchange liquid side temperature. The communication device 4 may obtain room temperature-heat exchange temperature difference from the difference between indoor temperature and indoor heat exchange temperature. The communication device 4 may obtain condensation temperature and evaporation temperature from saturation temperature (HP_TEMP) and saturation temperature (LP_TEMP). The communication device 4 may obtain compressor discharge superheat degree from the difference between the compressor discharge temperature and the saturation temperature (HP_TEMP). The communication device 4 may obtain a supercooling circuit gas superheat degree from the difference between the supercooling circuit gas temperature and the saturation temperature (LP_TEMP).
[0111] The communication device 4 may generate the operation data D2 including the compressor intake superheat degree, the condenser outlet supercooling degree, the room temperature-heat exchange temperature difference, the condensation temperature, the evaporation temperature, the compressor discharge superheat degree, and the supercooling circuit gas superheat degree, which are calculated as described above.
[0112] When the compressors 102 and 152 have variable rotational speed, the operation data D2 may include the rotational speed of the compressors 102 and 152. When the compressors 102 and 152 are constant speed compressors having constant rotational speed, the operation data D2 may include ON/OFF state of the compressors 102 and 152. The operation data D2 may include data indicating a switch state of the four-way valves 121 and 161. The operation data D2 may include data indicating an opening degree of the expansion valves 104, 106, 112, and 154.
[6. Determination Regarding Air Conditioning Device]
[0113] Fig. 5 shows an example of determination rules referred to by the monitoring unit 203. For example, the determination rule in Fig. 5 is part of the first stability determination rule 213 and is part of the rule applied when the air conditioning device 1 is a PAC.
[0114] The monitoring unit 203 sorts the data of each item included in the operation data D2 in chronological order, and divides the data into segments at every preset time. The monitoring unit 203 performs determination for each segment based on whether or not the first stability determination rule 213, the first normality determination rule 214, the second stability determination rule 215, and the second normality determination rule 216 are satisfied.
[0115] For example, the determination rule shown in Fig. 5 is the rule to determine whether or not the operation of the air conditioning device 1 is stable in the periodic execution mode. The determination rule includes determination items, stability conditions, and duration time.
[0116] The determination rule in Fig. 5 includes the determination items to determine whether or not the operational state of the air conditioning device 1 is stable, such as compressor rotational speed, a variation width of condensation temperature and evaporation temperature, a variation width of indoor heat exchange liquid side temperature, a variation width of outdoor heat exchange liquid side temperature, a variation width of compressor intake temperature, a variation width of compressor discharge temperature, and a variation width of expansion valve opening degree. Here, the condensation temperature is the outdoor heat exchange temperature during cooling operation and the indoor heat exchange temperature during heating operation. The evaporation temperature is the indoor heat exchange temperature during cooling operation and the outdoor heat exchange temperature during heating operation. The "variation width" of each sensor is a differential value between a maximum value and a minimum value of the detection value of each sensor over the duration time described later.
[0117] The stability condition is a threshold used to determine whether or not the operational state of the air conditioning device 1 is stable. The threshold and a range that the operational state of the air conditioning device 1 is considered to be stable are determined in association with each determination item described above. The duration time is a time-based threshold. When the state where the value of each determination item satisfies the stability condition continues for the set duration time or more, the operational state of the air conditioning device 1 is determined to be stable.
[0118] Thus, the first stability determination rule 213 includes the threshold used to determine whether or not the operational state of the air conditioning device 1 is stable, for every determination item. The threshold may include a quantitative threshold that is compared with data values, and a time threshold. This also applies to the second stability determination rule 215 which is applied in the detailed confirmation mode, though the second stability determination rule 215 may include determination items different from the determination items of the first stability determination rule 213. The first normality determination rule 214 and the second normality determination rule 216 include a threshold used to determine whether or not the operational state of the air conditioning device 1 is normal, for every determination item. While the threshold includes a quantitative threshold that is compared with the data value, the threshold may also include a time threshold. The first normality determination rule 214 and the second normality determination rule may include different determination items. The types of data included in the operation data D2 may correspond to, for example, the determination items of the first stability determination rule 213, the first normality determination rule 214, the second stability determination rule 215, and the second normality determination rule 216. For example, there may be a mode in which the types of data included in the operation data D2 that is transmitted to the server 2 in the periodic execution mode may correspond to the first stability determination rule 213 and the first normality determination rule 214, and the types of data included in the operation data D2 that is transmitted to the server 2 in the detailed confirmation mode may correspond to the second stability determination rule 215 and the second normality determination rule 216.
[0119] There may be the plurality of first stability determination rules 213, first normality determination rules 214, second stability determination rules 215, and second normality determination rules 216 corresponding to the configuration, format, or usage of the air conditioning device 1. For example, the storage unit 210 may store the first stability determination rule 213, the first normality determination rule 214, the second stability determination rule 215, and the second normality determination rule 216 corresponding to each of the case where the air conditioning device 1 is a VRF-type device and the case where the air conditioning device 1 is a PAC. These rules may also include a plurality of thresholds in accordance with the specifications of a compressor, a heat exchanger, an expansion valve, and the like. For example, the first stability determination rule 213, the first normality determination rule 214, the second stability determination rule 215, and the second normality determination rule 216 may be stored corresponding to each of the air conditioning device 1 for use in air conditioning of a server room and the air conditioning device 1 for use in air conditioning of general office space where office work or the like is performed. In this case, the server 2 selects the rule according to the configurations, format, and usage of the air conditioning device 1, and performs determination or estimation of a factor described below by using the selected rule.
[7. Operation of Air Conditioning Monitoring System]
[7-1. Determination of Operating state of Air Conditioning Device]
[0120] Figs. 6 and 7 are flowcharts showing the operation of the server 2, in which processing to determine whether or not the operating state of the air conditioning device 1 is normal is shown. The processing shown in Figs. 6 and 7 is executed by the monitoring unit 203 in the server 2.
[0121] The server 2 selects the air conditioning device 1 that is a determination target, out of the air conditioning devices 1 connected to the server 2 via the communication device 4 (step S11). The server 2 identifies the outdoor units 12 and the indoor units 13 included in the selected air conditioning device 1, and selects a combination of one outdoor unit 12 and one indoor unit 13 (step S12).
[0122] In step S12, virtual combinations of one outdoor unit 12 and one indoor unit 13 are created, and one combination is selected as a processing target. For example, the air conditioning device 1A shown in Fig. 1 has two outdoor units 12A and 12B and four indoor units 13A, 13B, 13C and 13D. There are eight combinations of one outdoor unit 12 and one indoor unit 13 in the air conditioning device 1A. When the air conditioning device 1A is selected as a determination target in step S11, the server 2 selects one combination out of the eight possible combinations of the air conditioning device 1A in step S12.
[0123] The server 2 acquires operation data D2 on the outdoor unit 12 and the indoor unit 13 that constitute the combination selected in step S12 (step S13). The server 2 divides the operation data D2 acquired in step S13 into segments at every predetermined time as described above, and determines whether or not each segment is in a stable state, based on whether or not the operation data D2 of each segment satisfies the threshold included in the first stability determination rule 213 (step S14). The determination in step S14 is performed for each determination item included in the operation data D2 for the combination of the outdoor unit 12 and the indoor unit 13. In other words, based on whether data on one determination item included in the operation data D2 corresponds to the threshold of the first stability determination rule 213 related to the one determination item, the server 2 determines whether the determination item is stable or not. The server 2 executes the determination for all the respective determination items. When all the determination items are determined to be stable, the pertinent segment is determined to be in a stable state. On the other hand, when there are one or more determination items that are determined to be unstable, the pertinent segment is determined to be in an unstable state.
[0124] The server 2 determines, for all the segments of the operation data D2 acquired in step S13, whether or not there is any segment where the air conditioning device 1 is determined to be in the stable state (step S15). When there is no segment determined to be in the stable state (step S15; NO), the server 2 determines not determinable for the combination selected in step S12 as the determination result (step S16).
[0125] When there is any segment determined that the air conditioning device 1 is in the stable state (step S15; YES), the server 2 performs determination for the segment determined to be in the stable state, based on the first normality determination rule 214 (step S17) . In step S17, the server 2 determines whether or not the operating state of the air conditioning device 1 is normal based on whether or not the operation data D2 of the segment determined to be in the stable state satisfies the threshold included in the first normality determination rule 214. Here, the segment where the operating state of the air conditioning device 1 is not normal is called an abnormal segment. The server 2 performs determination of step S17 for all the segments determined to be in the stable state in step S14.
[0126] The determination in step S17 is performed for each determination item included in the operation data D2 on the combination of the outdoor unit 12 and the indoor unit 13, as in step S14. In other words, based on whether data on one determination item included in the operation data D2 corresponds to the threshold of the first normality determination rule 214 related to the one determination item, the server 2 determines whether the determination item is normal or not. The server 2 executes the determination for all the respective determination items. When all the determination items are determined to be normal, the pertinent segment is determined to be normal. When one or more determination items are determined to be not normal, the pertinent segment is determined to be abnormal.
[0127] The server 2 determines whether or not there is an abnormal segment as a result of the determination in step S17 (step S18). When there is at least one segment determined as an abnormal segment in step S17 (step S18; YES), the server 2 determines as the determination result that the operating state of the combination selected in step S12 is abnormal (step S19).
[0128] When there is no segment determined as the abnormal segment in step S17 (step S18; NO), the server 2 determines as the determination result that the operating state of the combination selected in step S12 is normal (step S20).
[0129] After determining the determination result in steps S16, S19, and S20, the server 2 determines whether or not determination for all the combinations of the air conditioning device 1 selected in step S11 is completed (step S21). When determination for all the combinations is not completed (step S21; NO), the server 2 returns to step S12. When determination for all the combinations is completed (step S21; YES), the server 2 shifts to step S22 in Fig. 7.
[0130] The server 2 selects a unit that is a determination target in the air conditioning device 1 selected in step S11 (step S22). The unit that is a determination target is any one of the outdoor units 12 and the indoor units 13 included in the air conditioning device 1 selected in step S11.
[0131] The server 2 acquires the determination results of all the combinations including the unit selected in step S22 (step S23). Here, the determination results are the results of determination in steps S16, S19, and S20.
[0132] The server 2 determines whether or not there is any result determined to be abnormal in the determination results acquired in step S23 (step S24). When there is no determination result indicating abnormality (step S24; NO), the server 2 determines whether or not there is any determination result indicating normality (step S25). When there is a determination result indicating normality (step S25; YES), the server 2 determines that the operational state of the unit selected in step S22 is normal (step S26).
[0133] When there is no determination result indicating that the target unit is normal (step S25; NO), the server 2 determines that the operational state of the unit selected in step S22 is not determinable (step S27).
[0134] When there is at least one determination result indicating that the target unit is abnormal (step S24; YES), the server 2 determines that the operational state of the unit selected in step S22 is abnormal (step S28).
[0135] The server 2 stores the determination results of steps S26, S27, and S28 in the storage unit 210 as the determination result data 217 (step S29). The server 2 determines whether or not determination of all the units, included in the air conditioning device 1 that is a determination target, is completed (step S30). When determination of all the units is not completed (step S30; NO), the server 2 returns to step S22. When determination of all the units is completed (step S30; YES), the server 2 ends the present processing.
[0136] The server 2 executes the operation shown in Figs. 6 and 7 for each of the air conditioning devices 1. The server 2 can also perform determination according to the procedures shown in Figs. 6 and 7 in both the periodic execution mode and the detailed confirmation mode.
[0137] In the above description, an example has been described in which determination based on the first stability determination rule 213 is performed in step S13, and determination based on the first normality determination rule 214 is performed in step S17 as the operation of the server 2 in the periodic execution mode. In the case of executing the detailed confirmation mode, the server 2 may perform determination based on the second stability determination rule 215 in step S13, and perform determination based on the second normality determination rule 216 in step S17.
[0138] When the server 2 performs determination in the periodic execution mode, the operation data D2 corresponding to, for example, one day is acquired in step S13. In the case of performing determination in the detailed confirmation mode, the server 2 acquires all the operation data D2 under execution of the detailed confirmation mode in step S13.
[0139] In this way, the server 2 determines whether or not the operating state of the air conditioning device 1 is normal based on the operation data D2 in the periodic execution mode and the detailed confirmation mode.
[0140] In Fig. 7, an example has been described in which the server 2 virtually constructs combinations of one outdoor unit 12 and one indoor unit 13, and determines whether the operation of the outdoor unit 12 and indoor unit 13 are stable. This is merely an example, and the number of outdoor units 12 and indoor units 13 that constitutes one combination can be changed as needed.
[7-2. Operation of Air conditioning Monitoring System in Periodic Execution Mode]
[0141] Fig. 8 is a sequence diagram showing the operation of the air conditioning monitoring system 1000, the operation being in the periodic execution mode. In Fig. 8, steps SA11 to SA16 show the operation of the monitoring unit 203 in the server 2. Steps SB11 to SB13 show the operation of the processor 41 in the communication device 4.
[0142] The communication device 4 acquires data about the operational state of one or more air conditioning devices 1 that are connected to the communication device 4, at a time interval set in the periodic execution mode (step SB11). The communication device 4 accumulates the acquired data in the storage unit 42, and determines whether or not a cycle of transmission to the server 2 has elapsed (step SB12). When the cycle of transmission to the server 2 has not yet come (step SB12; NO), the communication device 4 repeats the operation of step SB11.
[0143] When the cycle of transmission to the server 2 has elapsed (step SB12; YES), the communication device 4 generates the operation data D2 from the data accumulated in the storage unit 42, and transmits the operation data D2 to the server 2 (step SB13). Although the communication device 4 is described to end the operation in Fig. 8, the communication device 4 repeats the operation of steps SB11 to SB13 during execution of the periodic execution mode in actuality.
[0144] The server 2 receives the operation data D2 from the communication device 4 (step SA11) and temporarily stores the data in the storage unit 210 (step SA12). The server 2 determines whether or not a cycle of determination performed in the periodic execution mode has elapsed (step SA13). When the cycle of determination performed in the periodic execution mode has not yet elapsed (steps SA13; NO), the server 2 returns to step SA11 and waits.
[0145] When the cycle of determination performed in the periodic execution mode has elapsed (step SA13; YES), the server 2 executes determination based on the operation data D2 of the determination cycle (step SA14). In step SA14, the server 2 executes, for example, the operation described in Figs. 6 and 7.
[0146] The server 2 determines whether or not there is any air conditioning device 1 that is determined to be abnormal in step SA14 (step SA15). When there is no air conditioning device 1 that is determined to be abnormal (step SA15; NO), the server 2 ends the present processing.
[0147] Although the server 2 is described to end the operation in Fig. 8, the server 2 repeats the operation of steps SA11 to SB16 for all the air conditioning devices 1 that are management targets of the air conditioning monitoring system 1000 during execution of the periodic execution mode in actuality.
[0148] When there is any air conditioning device 1 that is determined to be abnormal (step SA15; YES), the server 2 refers to the setting data 212 to perform notification in accordance with notification setting (step SA16), and ends the present processing. The notification setting is the setting of a notification destination and a notification method used when the server 2 performs notification when the operating state of the air conditioning device 1 is determined to be abnormal. Examples of the notification destination may include the terminal device 5 associated with the air conditioning device 1 determined that the operating state is abnormal. Examples of the notification method may include E-mail addressed to the terminal device 5, and push notification to an application program that is installed on the terminal device 5 and executed by the processor 51, though the GUI that is displayed on the display 55 of the terminal device 5 may also be used. Specifically, the content of notification in step SA16 may be displayed on the display 55.
[0149] The notification of step SA16 may be a notification that includes the content to recommend execution of the detailed confirmation mode for the air conditioning device 1, which is the air conditioning device 1 determined that the operating state is abnormal in the periodic execution mode. The notification of step SA16 may further be a notification that includes the content to recommend execution of trial operation of the air conditioning device 1 in the detailed confirmation mode. In this case, it is possible to make the administrator using the terminal device 5 execute the detailed confirmation mode so as to monitor the operational state of the air conditioning device 1 in detail.
[0150] The server 2 may further determine based on the determination result of step SA14 whether or not to recommend execution of the detailed confirmation mode for the air conditioning device 1 determined that the operational state is abnormal in step SA15. Then, when the server 2 determines to recommend execution of the detailed confirmation mode, the server 2 may notify that the execution of the detailed confirmation mode is recommended in step SA16.
[7-3. Operation of Air conditioning Monitoring System in Detailed Confirmation Mode]
[0151] Fig. 9 is a sequence diagram showing the operation of the air conditioning monitoring system 1000, the operation being in the detailed confirmation mode. In Fig. 9, steps SA21 to SA28 show the operation of the monitoring unit 203 in the server 2. Steps SB21 to SB26 show the operation of the processor 41 in the communication device 4.
[0152] When instructed to execute the detailed confirmation mode through the GUI as described later, the server 2 generates the control data D1 including execution conditions of the detailed confirmation mode (step SA21). The execution conditions include the air conditioning device 1 as a target of the detailed confirmation mode, start timing of the detailed confirmation mode, a time interval of the communication device 4 acquiring data about the operational state of the air conditioning device 1 in the detailed confirmation mode, execution time of the detailed confirmation mode, and whether or not to perform trial operation of the air conditioning device 1 that is a target of the detailed confirmation mode. As described above, the air conditioning monitoring system 1000 executes the periodic execution mode under normal circumstances, and instructs execution of the detailed confirmation mode based on the operation of the terminal device 3 or the operation of the terminal device 5 during execution of the periodic execution mode. In other words, based on the operation performed by the user or the administrator during execution of the periodic execution mode, instruction is made to execute the detailed confirmation mode, and the detailed confirmation mode is executed. Here, during execution of the periodic execution mode includes both the cases where the server 2 is executing the operation of steps SA11 to SA13 and where the server 2 is executing steps SA14 to SA16.
[0153] The server 2 transmits the control data D1 to the communication device 4 connected to the air conditioning device 1 that is a target of the detailed confirmation mode (step SA22).
[0154] The communication device 4 receives the control data D1 from the server 2 (step SB21). At the timing specified in the control data D1, the communication device 4 stops the periodic execution mode of the air conditioning device 1 that is the target of the detailed confirmation mode, and starts the detailed confirmation mode (step SB22).
[0155] The communication device 4 acquires data about the operational state of the air conditioning device 1 that is the target of the detailed confirmation mode at a specified time interval, in accordance with the execution conditions of the control data D1 (step SB23). The communication device 4 accumulates the acquired data in the storage unit 42, and determines whether or not it is the timing to end the detailed confirmation mode (step SB24). When the timing to end the detailed confirmation mode has not yet come (step SB24; NO), the communication device 4 repeats the operation of step SB23.
[0156] When the timing to end the detailed confirmation mode has come (step SB24; YES), the communication device 4 generates the operation data D2 based on the data accumulated in the storage unit 42 and transmits the operation data D2 to the server 2 (step SB25). The communication device 4 then restarts the periodic execution mode for the air conditioning device 1 that is a target of the detailed confirmation mode (step SB26).
[0157] The server 2 receives the operation data D2 from the communication device 4 (step SA23), and temporarily stores the operation data D2 in the storage unit 210 (step SA24). The server 2 executes determination based on the received operation data D2 (step SA25). In step SA25, the server 2 executes the operation described, for example, in Figs. 6 and 7 using the second stability determination rule 215 and the second normality determination rule 216.
[0158] The server 2 determines whether or not there is any unit determined to be abnormal in step SA25 in the air conditioning device 1 that is a target of the detailed confirmation mode (step SA26). Here, the unit refers to a device that is any one of the outdoor units 12 and the indoor units 13. When there is a unit determined to be abnormal (step SA26; YES), the server 2 executes failure diagnosis processing (step SA27).
[0159] The failure diagnosis processing in step SA27 is the processing to identify an abnormality factor in the unit that is determined to be abnormal. In the failure diagnosis processing, the server 2 identifies the determination item that does not satisfy the threshold of the second normality determination rule 216 in the operation data D2 on the unit determined to be abnormal. The server 2 estimates the factor that causes the abnormality in the identified determination item as an abnormal factor. The server 2 may retain a database that associates the abnormality of the determination item and the abnormal factor in the storage unit 210. For example, when the difference, between the outdoor heat exchange gas side temperature obtained from the detection values of the temperature sensors 15F and 15G and the outdoor heat exchange liquid side temperature obtained from the detection values of the temperature sensors 15D and 15E, is an abnormal value, which is higher than the threshold, only in some of the plurality of outdoor heat exchangers 103 included in the outdoor unit 12, the server 2 estimates failure of some of the outdoor heat exchangers 103 or failure of some of the expansion valves 104. For example, for the indoor heat exchanger, when the difference, between the indoor temperature obtained from the detection value of the temperature sensor 15L, and the indoor blow temperature obtained from the detection value of the temperature sensor 15M, is equal to or less than the threshold, the server 2 estimates clogging of the filter of the indoor unit 13A as the abnormality factor.
[0160] In the failure diagnosis processing of step SA27, the server 2 may identify the failure estimated to have already occurred and the abnormality factor, and also performs failure prediction that estimates failure or abnormality that is likely to occur.
[0161] The server 2 stores the determination result of step SA25 as the determination result data 217 in the storage unit 210, stores the diagnosis processing result of step SA27 as the diagnosis result data 218 in the storage unit 210 (step SA28), and ends the present processing. When there is no unit determined to be abnormal in step SA25 (step SA26; NO), the server 2 stores the determination result of step SA25 as the determination result data 217 in the storage unit 210 (step SA28), and ends the present processing.
[0162] After the processing of step SA28, the server 2 may refer to the setting data 212 to execute notification in accordance with the notification setting as in the case of step SA16.
[0163] In the operation shown in Fig. 9, the air conditioning monitoring system 1000 may perform processing to reduce the data amount of the operation data D2 that is transmitted to the server 2 by the communication device 4 in step SB25. For example, when the server 2 executes the detailed confirmation mode for the air conditioning device 1 that is determined to be abnormal in the periodic execution mode, the data items to be acquired in the detailed confirmation mode may be selected. In this case, the server 2 puts information for specifying the selected data item in the control data D1. The communication device 4 acquires the data of the items specified in the control data D1 from the air conditioning device 1 in step SB23. As a result, the amount of data transmitted and received between the air conditioning device 1 and the communication device 4 and the data amount of the operation data D2 can be reduced, so that the communication load in the air conditioning monitoring system 1000 can be further reduced.
[0164] The communication device 4 may also change the timing of transmitting the operation data D2 to the server 2 in steps SB13 and SB25 depending on the communication load. For example, the communication device 4A may wait without transmitting the operation data D2 while the communication device 4B is transmitting the operation data D2 to the server 2. For example, when the communication device 4 transmits the operation data D2 about the plurality of air conditioning devices to the server 2, the communication device 4 may transmit the operation data D2 on each of the air conditioning devices 1 to the server 2. When these operations are performed, the communication load in the air conditioning monitoring system 1000 can be reduced.
[8. Configuration of User Interface]
[0165] Fig. 10 is a transition diagram showing the transition of screens displayed on the terminal device 5. The terminal device 5 displays screens on the display 55 based on data transmitted by the UI control unit 202 so as to provide the user interface for the user of the air conditioning monitoring system 1000. Fig. 10 corresponds to the drawing showing the transition of the user interface. The user of the air conditioning monitoring system 1000 includes the administrator who uses the terminal device 5.
[0166] Fig. 11 shows an example of a home screen 302 displayed on the terminal device 5, and Fig. 12 shows an example of a detailed confirmation setting screen 305 displayed on the terminal device 5. Fig. 13 shows an example of a 2D graph display screen 306 displayed on the terminal device 5, and Fig. 14 shows an example of a maintenance setting screen 307 displayed on the terminal device 5.
[0167] Hereinafter, the user interface of the air conditioning monitoring system 1000 will be described with reference to Figs. 10 to 14.
[0168] The terminal device 5 accesses the server 2 in accordance with the operation by the administrator, and displays a login screen 301 on the display 55. When the administrator performs login operation SC1 while the login screen 301 is displayed, the terminal device 5 displays the home screen 302.
[0169] The home screen 302 shown in Fig. 11 includes tabs 311, 312, 313, and 314. The tabs 311, 312, 313, and 314 are operation parts that display the home screen 302, the 2D graph display screen 306, the maintenance setting screen 307, and a system setting screen 308. Since the home screen 302 is displayed in the state shown in Fig. 11, the tab 311 corresponding to the home screen 302 is highlighted. The tabs 311, 312, 313, and 314 are operable while the home screen 302, the 2D graph display screen 306, the maintenance setting screen 307, and the system setting screen 308 are displayed.
[0170] When operation SC5 is performed to select the tab 312 with the input device 56, the terminal device 5 switches the display on the display 55 to the 2D graph display screen 306 as shown in Fig. 10. When operation SC6 is performed to select the tab 313 with the input device 56, the terminal device 5 switches the display on the display 55 to the maintenance setting screen 307. When operation SC7 is performed to select the tab 314 with the input device 56, the terminal device 5 switches the display on the display 55 to a system setting screen 308. Thus, the administrator can optionally switch the display of the home screen 302, the 2D graph display screen 306, the maintenance setting screen 307, and the system setting screen 308 by operating the tabs 311, 312, 313, and 314.
[0171] The home screen 302 has an information display part 321 and a map display part 330 disposed therein. The information display part 321 displays information about the air conditioning devices 1, which are associated with the administrator who has logged in with the terminal device 5, among the air conditioning devices 1 that are management targets of the air conditioning monitoring system 1000.
[0172] The information display part 321 displays respective information including communication state, warning, operating time confirmation, and abnormal value detection, in association with property names that are the names of the air conditioning devices 1. The communication state indicates the communication state between the server 2 and the air conditioning devices 1. Specifically, when there is any trouble in any one of the communication between the server 2 and the communication device 4 and the communications between the air conditioning devices 1 and the communication device 4, the information display part 321 displays that the communication state is offline.
[0173] The map display part 330 displays a map including the location where each of the air conditioning devices 1 is installed. The map display part 330 may display a position icon 331, which indicates the location where each of the air conditioning devices 1 is installed, to be superimposed on the map.
[0174] In a "warning" column displayed in the information display part 321, warning information (error code) issued by each of the air conditioning devices 1 is displayed. In the example of Fig. 11, a warning icon 322 is displayed in the "warning" column. The "operating time confirmation" column displays whether or not it is necessary to confirm the operating time of the air conditioning device 1. The "abnormal value detection (periodic)" column displays the result that the server 2 executes determination shown in Figs. 6 and 7. In the example shown in Fig. 11, nothing is displayed in the "abnormal value detection (periodic)" column for the air conditioning devices 1, which are determined to be normal or to be not determinable in the periodic execution mode. In the "abnormal value detection (periodic)" column, an abnormal value detection icon 323 is displayed for the air conditioning devices 1, which are determined to be abnormal in the periodic execution mode. Display in the "abnormal value detection (detailed)" is the result of the determination in the detailed confirmation mode that has been executed, and the display is generated by the UI control unit 202 based on the determination result data 217. In the example of Fig. 11, nothing is displayed in the "abnormal value detection (detailed)" column for the air conditioning devices 1, which are determined to be normal or not determinable in the detailed confirmation mode. For the air conditioning device 1 which is determined to be abnormal in the detailed confirmation mode, an abnormal value detection icon 324 is displayed. In this way, the information display part 321 displays the presence or absence of abnormality in the operational state of the air conditioning devices 1 detected in the periodic execution mode.
[0175] When operation SC2 is performed to select the abnormal value detection icon 323 with the input device 56, the terminal device 5 switches the display on the display 55 to a detailed display screen 303. The detailed display screen 303 displays, for example, the air conditioning device 1 detected to have data that does not meet the threshold of the first normality determination rule 214 in the periodic execution mode, the determination item of data that does not meet the threshold, values of the data that does not meet the threshold, and the time when the data that does not meet the threshold is detected. When operation is performed to select the abnormal value detection icon 324, the terminal device 5 switches the display on the display 55 to the detailed display screen indicating the result of the detailed confirmation mode, though illustration thereof is not provided. The detailed display screen displayed in this case displays the presence or absence of abnormality in the operational state of the air conditioning device 1 detected in the detailed confirmation mode and the results of diagnosis performed in step SA27. Specifically, the presence or absence of abnormality in the operational state of the air conditioning device 1 and the result of estimating the abnormality factor of the air conditioning device 1 are displayed.
[0176] When the administrator performs operation SC4 to instruct execution of the detailed confirmation mode while the detailed display screen 303 is displayed, the terminal device 5 switches the display on the display 55 to the detailed confirmation setting screen 305. The operation SC4 is, for example, the operation to select an unshown "detailed confirmation button" disposed on the detailed display screen 303.
[0177] The detailed confirmation setting screen 305 illustrated in Fig. 12 is displayed so as to pop up over the home screen 302. While the detailed confirmation setting screen 305 is displayed, the terminal device 5 may display the home screen 302 in a display mode where the visibility of the home screen 302 is lowered. The detailed confirmation setting screen 305 corresponds to an example of the setting screen.
[0178] As shown in Fig. 12, the detailed confirmation setting screen 305 has a detection cycle specification part 342, a measurement period specification part 343, a start time specification part 344, and a trial operation specification part 345 disposed therein. The detection cycle specification part 342 is an input operation part for specifying the cycle that the communication device 4 acquires data about the operational state of the air conditioning device 1 in the detailed confirmation mode. The measurement period specification part 343 is an input operation part for specifying the execution time of the detailed confirmation mode. The start time specification part 344 is an input operation part for specifying the start time of the detailed confirmation mode. In the example shown in Fig. 12, the format of specifying the time until the start time of the detailed confirmation mode is adopted. The trial operation specification part 345 is an input operation part for specifying whether or not to perform trial operation of the air conditioning device 1 in the detailed confirmation mode. Note that the trial operation is the operation in which the air conditioning device is operated under predetermined conditions regardless of the indoor temperature. For example, during normal operation, the air conditioning device 1 executes air conditioning of the conditioning target room based on the setting such as a target temperature, and during the execution of the trial operation, the air conditioning device 1 controls the compressors and the like to operate at a higher output than the normal operation regardless of the setting such as the target temperature.
[0179] All of the detection cycle specification part 342, the measurement period specification part 343, the start time specification part 344, and the trial operation specification part 345 are input operation parts in the form of selecting one of the candidates displayed on the detailed confirmation setting screen 305 with a radio button. The administrator operates the input device 56 and selects the radio button to make an input.
[0180] The detailed confirmation setting screen 305 has a finalization instruction button 346. When an operation to select the finalization instruction button 346 is performed with the input device 56, the terminal device 5 transmits to the server 2 the data indicating operation of the finalization instruction button 346 and input contents of the detection cycle specification part 342, the measurement period specification part 343, the start time specification part 344, and the trial operation specification part 345. The setting unit 204 receives the data transmitted by the terminal device 5, and sets the execution conditions of the detailed confirmation mode. For example, the execution conditions of the detailed confirmation mode are included in the setting data 212 and stored in the storage unit 210. The monitoring unit 203 generates control data D1 in accordance with the setting of the setting unit 204 and performs the operation shown in Fig. 9.
[0181] In the processing to generate data for the detailed confirmation setting screen 305, the UI control unit 202 may generate data for the detailed confirmation setting screen 305 including only selectable candidates. For example, it is possible to limit the candidates displayed in the measurement period specification part 343 to the candidates within a time period that does not interfere with the execution of the periodic execution mode.
[0182] For example, when the air conditioning monitoring system 1000 executes the periodic execution mode in a 24-hour cycle, the communication device 4 acquires data about the operational state of the air conditioning devices 1 for 17 hours, and the server 2 analyzes the operation data D2 about the operational state of the air conditioning devices 1 for 17 hours over 7 hours. In this case, when the execution time of the detailed confirmation mode is within 7 hours, the communication device 4 can execute the detailed confirmation mode in a time period when data in the periodic execution mode is not collected. In this example, the UI control unit 202 can generate data for the detailed confirmation setting screen 305 so that the candidates exceeding 7 hours are not displayed in the measurement period specification part 343.
[0183] The UI control unit 202 may also limit the candidates displayed in the detection cycle specification part 342, the measurement period specification part 343, and the trial operation specification part 345, so that the communication load in the air conditioning monitoring system 1000 is within an acceptable range. For example, as the cycle (corresponding to the second period of time) specified in the detection cycle specification part 342 is shorter, the communication load between the air conditioning device 1 and the communication device 4 increases more. For example, as the cycle specified in the detection cycle specification part 342 is shorter and the execution time specified in the measurement period specification part 343 is longer, the communication load between the communication device 4 and the server 2 increases more. Therefore, when the UI control unit 202 limits the candidates displayed in the detection cycle specification part 342 and the measurement period specification part 343, the communication load can be reduced to an acceptable range. Moreover, the UI control unit 202 may limit the time range specified in the start time specification part 344 so as to prevent duplicated execution of the detailed confirmation mode for the plurality of air conditioning devices 1. In this case, for example, at the point of time when the finalization instruction button 346 is operated, the display on the detailed confirmation setting screen 305 may be changed.
[0184] When the finalization instruction button 346 is operated though the detailed confirmation mode is not executable for the air conditioning device 1, the fact that the detailed confirmation mode is not executable and the reason thereof may be displayed on the detailed confirmation setting screen 305. Examples of the reason why the detailed confirmation mode is not executable may include that the air conditioning device 1, different from the air conditioning device 1 that is input in the detailed confirmation setting screen 305, is under execution of the detailed confirmation mode. As described above, in order to reduce the load of the air conditioning monitoring system 1000, simultaneous execution of the detailed confirmation mode for the plurality of air conditioning devices 1, which are connected to one communication device 4, may be limited. In this case, a message may be displayed on the detailed confirmation setting screen 305 to notify the administrator that the execution timing of the detailed confirmation mode needs to be changed. The detailed confirmation setting screen 305 may also display that another air conditioning device 1 is under execution of the detailed confirmation mode.
[0185] When the trial operation of the air conditioning device 1 is specified in the trial operation specification part 345, the UI control unit 202 may generate data for the detailed confirmation setting screen 305 so that the candidates displayed in the measurement period specification part 343 are limited. In the trial operation of the air conditioning device 1, the compressors and the like are operated at high output regardless of the air conditioning setting temperature or the like in the conditioning target room. For this reason, it is often not appropriate to continue the trial operation of the air conditioning device 1 for long time. When the trial operation of the air conditioning device 1 is specified in the trial operation specification part 345, the time for performing the trial operation of the air conditioning device 1 can be kept within a suitable range by limiting the candidates displayed in the measurement period specification part 343 to the candidates within an allowable time.
[0186] The setting unit 204 may set so that when the trial operation of the air conditioning device 1 is specified in the trial operation specification part 345, the trial operation of the air conditioning device 1 is executed only for a preset time, and then normal operation is performed until the end of the detailed confirmation mode. For example, in the air conditioning monitoring system 1000, the upper limit of the time for executing the trial operation of the air conditioning devices 1 is set to 1 hour. Here, when the execution time exceeding 1 hour is specified in the measurement period specification part 343, the setting unit 204 may set the execution conditions of the detailed confirmation mode so that the trial operation of the air conditioning device 1 is performed only 1 hour, and then the normal operation is performed to execute the detailed confirmation mode.
[0187] The UI control unit 202 may also accept an input that does not specify the execution time of the detailed confirmation mode in the measurement period specification part 343. In this case, the setting unit 204 may automatically set the execution time of the detailed confirmation mode to be shorter than the execution time of the periodic execution mode.
[0188] Back to Fig. 10, when the finalization instruction button 346 is operated while the detailed confirmation setting screen 305 is displayed, the terminal device 5 transits the display on the display 55 to the home screen 302.
[0189] When operation SC3 is performed to display detailed information on the air conditioning device 1 while the detailed display screen 303 is displayed, the terminal device 5 switches the display on the display 55 from the detailed display screen 303 to a device information screen 304. The device information screen 304 displays data about the specifications and structure of the air conditioning device 1 displayed on the detailed display screen 303.
[0190] The 2D graph display screen 306 shown in Fig. 13 includes a device information display part 351 and a graph display part 352. The graph display part 352 displays a 2D graph with a time axis as a horizontal axis and data values included in the operation data D2 as a vertical axis. In the graph of the graph display part 352, the threshold set based on the first normality determination rule 214 or the second normality determination rule 216 may be displayed along with data values included in the operation data D2. The device information display part 351 displays, for the graph displayed in the graph display part 352, information for identifying the air conditioning device 1 and information such as the data type and the determination item.
[0191] The maintenance setting screen 307 shown in Fig. 14 includes an information display part 361 and a setting part 362. The setting part 362 includes a rule name display part 363, an operation type display part 364, a threshold type 365, an initial value display part 366, a valid setting part 367, a setting value input part 368, and a mail transmission setting part 369. The setting part 362 is an input operation part that accepts input to change the thresholds included in the first stability determination rule 213, the first normality determination rule 214, the second stability determination rule 215, and the second normality determination rule 216.
[0192] The information display part 361 displays information that specifies the air conditioning device 1 for which the threshold is changed. In this example, it is possible to support the case where the first stability determination rule 213, the first normality determination rule 214, the second stability determination rule 215, and the second normality determination rule 216, which are applied to the air conditioning devices 1, are different for each of the air conditioning devices 1. The server 2 may be configured to apply the common first stability determination rule 213, first normality determination rule 214, second stability determination rule 215, and second normality determination rule 216 to all the air conditioning devices 1, or apply different rules depending on the specifications and structure of the respective air conditioning devices 1.
[0193] The rule name display part 363 displays the name of the rule for which the threshold is to be changed. The rule name is a determination item of the data determined based on the threshold. The operation type display part 364 displays whether the threshold to be changed is the threshold in cooling operation or the threshold in heating operation. The threshold type 365 displays whether the threshold to be changed is an upper limit, a lower limit, or duration time. The initial value display part 366 displays an initial value that is set in the air conditioning monitoring system 1000. The air conditioning monitoring system 1000 is configured to operate without any troubles even when the first stability determination rule 213, the first normality determination rule 214, the second stability determination rule 215, and the second normality determination rule 216 are in the state of their initial values. The maintenance setting screen 307 is used when the threshold is changed to a value different from the initial value according to the request of the administrator.
[0194] The valid setting part 367 is an input operation part used to select and input whether the threshold is valid or invalid. The setting value input part 368 is an input operation part for inputting the threshold. While the setting value input part 368 may be an input box where any values can be input, it is preferable to adopt the format where a value is selected from candidates prepared in advance as shown in Fig. 14, so that erroneous operation of inputting an inappropriate value can be prevented.
[0195] The mail transmission setting part 369 is an input operation part for setting whether or not to notify when abnormality of the air conditioning device 1 is determined. When mail transmission is set in the mail transmission setting part 369, and the operational state of the air conditioning device 1 is determined to be abnormal using the rule to be set in the setting part 362, the server 2 transmits an e-mail to the terminal device 5 to make notification. This notification is executed in step SA16 (Fig. 8), for example.
[0196] The terminal device 5 transmits to the server 2 data indicating the content that is input from the input device 56 while the maintenance setting screen 307 is displayed. The setting unit 204 receives the data transmitted by the terminal device 5. The setting unit 204 updates the first stability determination rule 213, the first normality determination rule 214, the second stability determination rule 215, and the second normality determination rule 216 based on the data input into the valid setting part 367 and the setting value input part 368. The setting unit 204 also changes the setting related to notification by e-mail, based on the data input into the mail transmission setting part 369, and updates the setting data 212.
[9. Effects and the Like]
[0197] As described in the foregoing, in the present embodiment, the air conditioning monitoring system 1000 includes an air conditioning device 1; and a communication device 4 that acquires operation data on the air conditioning device 1 from the air conditioning device 1 and transmits the operation data to a server 2, in which a monitoring mode of the air conditioning device 1 includes a periodic execution mode where the operation data acquired every first period of time is transmitted from the communication device 4 to the server 2 and the server 2 determines an operating state of the air conditioning device 1, and a detailed confirmation mode where the operation data, acquired every second period of time that is shorter than the first period of time, is transmitted from the communication device 4 to the server 2 and the server 2 determines the operating state of the air conditioning device 1, the detailed confirmation mode being executed based on operation of an administrator during execution of the periodic execution mode.
[0198] This makes it possible to use the periodic execution mode for monitoring the air conditioning device 1 when the communication device 4 transmits the operation data, acquired every first period of time, to the server 2, and the detailed confirmation mode for monitoring the air conditioning device 1 by transmitting the operation data, acquired every period of time that is shorter than that in the periodic execution mode, to the server 2. For example, the communication device 4 acquires data about the operational state every first period of time from the air conditioning device 1 in the periodic execution mode, stores the acquired data as operation data 44 in a storage unit 42, and transmits operation data D2 based on the operation data 44 to the server 2. In the detailed confirmation mode, the communication device 4 acquires data about the operational state every second period of time from the air conditioning device 1, stores the acquired data as the operation data 44 in the storage unit 42, and transmits operation data D2 based on the operation data 44 to the server 2. Accordingly, by using the periodic execution mode, the operational state of the air conditioning device 1 can be monitored while the communication load between the air conditioning device 1 and the communication device 4 can be reduced, and detailed monitoring can be performed by acquiring data about the operational status of the air conditioning device 1 every second period of time by using the detailed confirmation mode depending on the situation or according to the need, for example.
[0199] As in the present embodiment, in the air conditioning monitoring system 1000, the periodic execution mode and the detailed confirmation mode may be switched to execute.
[0200] This makes it possible to monitor the operational state of the air conditioning device 1 while preventing the communication load from becoming excessive, by switching the periodic execution mode and the detailed confirmation mode.
[0201] As in the present embodiment, the air conditioning monitoring system 1000 may be configured such that the operation data transmitted from the communication device 4 to the server 2 includes more types of data in the detailed confirmation mode than in the periodic execution mode.
[0202] As a result, the data amount of the operation data D2 transmitted from the communication device 4 to the server 2 during execution of the periodic execution mode can be made smaller than the amount in the detailed confirmation mode. Therefore, the communication load between the communication device 4 and the server 2 in the periodic execution mode can be made smaller than the communication load in the detailed confirmation mode. Moreover, the communication load can be reduced by making the amount of data transmitted and received between the air conditioning device 1 and the communication device 4 in the periodic execution mode smaller than the amount in the detailed confirmation mode. Therefore, it is possible to monitor the operational state of the air conditioning device 1 while reducing the communication load of the air conditioning monitoring system 1000 by using the periodic execution mode. The operational state of the air conditioning device 1 can be monitored in more detail during execution of the detailed confirmation mode.
[0203] As in the present embodiment, the air conditioning monitoring system 1000 may further include a terminal device 5 including a communication unit 57 that communicates with the server 2 and an input device 56 that allows input of various information, in which the detailed confirmation mode is executed based on operation on the input device 56.
[0204] This allows the administrator to execute the detailed confirmation mode by operating the input device 56. Therefore, when it is necessary to monitor the operational state of the air conditioning device 1 in detail, the detailed confirmation mode can be easily performed.
[0205] Here, the detailed confirmation mode is not limited to the example of being executed based on the operation on the input device 56, and the detailed confirmation mode may be executed based on the operation on the input device 36, and a similar effect is also obtained in this case.
[0206] As in the present embodiment, in the air conditioning monitoring system 1000, when the periodic execution mode is executed, presence or absence of abnormality in the operational state by the air conditioning device 1 may be displayed on the terminal device 5, and when the detailed confirmation mode is executed, the presence or absence of abnormality in the operational state by the air conditioning device 1 and a result of estimating an abnormality factor of the air conditioning device 1 may be displayed on the terminal device 5.
[0207] As a result, the presence or absence of abnormality in the operational state of the air conditioning device 1 can be determined using the periodic execution mode with a light communication load, and the presence or absence of abnormality in the operational state of the air conditioning device 1 and the abnormality factor can be estimated using the detailed confirmation mode. Therefore, the state of the air conditioning device 1 can be monitored more appropriately.
[0208] As in the present embodiment, the air conditioning monitoring system 1000 may determine whether or not to recommend execution of the detailed confirmation mode based on a determination result of the periodic execution mode, and when it is determined that the execution of the detailed confirmation mode is recommended, the determination may be displayed on the terminal device 5.
[0209] Accordingly, when the determination result of the periodic execution mode indicates the necessity to monitor the operational state of the air conditioning device 1 in detail, it is possible to prompt the administrator to execute the detailed confirmation mode. Therefore, the detailed confirmation mode can be swiftly executed as necessary, and the air conditioning device 1 can be appropriately managed.
[0210] As in the present embodiment, the second period of time in the detailed confirmation mode and execution time of the detailed confirmation mode may be set based on input from the input device 56.
[0211] Accordingly, the administrator can set the second period of time in the detail confirmation mode and the execution time of the detail confirmation mode by operating the input device 56. This makes it possible to execute the detailed confirmation mode under conditions in conformity with the consideration of the administrator.
[0212] As in the present embodiment, start time of the detailed confirmation mode may be set based on input from the input device 56.
[0213] Accordingly, the administrator can set the start time of the detail confirmation mode by operating the input device 56. This makes it possible to execute the detailed confirmation mode at the timing in conformity with the consideration of the administrator.
[0214] As in the present embodiment, an operation content for the air conditioning device 1 in the detailed confirmation mode may be set based on input from the input device 56, and a trial operation mode for executing trial operation of the air conditioning device 1 and a normal operation mode for executing air conditioning operation based on setting instructed for the air conditioning device 1 may be settable as the operation content.
[0215] Accordingly, the administrator can set whether or not to execute trial operation of the air conditioning device 1 in the detailed confirmation mode by operating the input device 56. This makes it possible to execute the detailed confirmation mode while operating the air conditioning device 1 under conditions in conformity with the consideration of the administrator.
[0216] As in the present embodiment, execution time of the detailed confirmation mode may be shorter when the trial operation mode is selected than when the normal operation mode is selected as the operation content.
[0217] This makes it possible to reduce the time for executing the high-load trial operation mode of the air conditioning device 1. As a result, deterioration in the operating efficiency of the air conditioning device 1 in the detailed confirmation mode can be suppressed, and the operational state of the air conditioning device 1 can be monitored in detail without excessive load given to the air conditioning device 1.
[0218] As in the present embodiment, execution time of the detailed confirmation mode may be settable based on the input from the input device 56, and the execution time of the detailed confirmation mode that is settable with the input device 56 may be shorter when the trial operation mode is selected than when the normal operation mode is selected as the operation content.
[0219] Accordingly, when the administrator sets the execution time of the detail confirmation mode by operating the input device 56, the time for executing the high-load trial operation mode for the air conditioning device 1 can be reduced. As a result, deterioration in the operating efficiency of the air conditioning device 1 in the detailed confirmation mode can be suppressed, and the operational state of the air conditioning device 1 can be monitored in detail without excessive load given to the air conditioning device 1.
[0220] As in the present embodiment, when the trial operation mode is set as the operation content for the air conditioning device 1 in the detailed confirmation mode, the air conditioning device 1 may execute the trial operation mode from start of executing the detailed confirmation mode up to upper limit time previously specified, and may execute the normal operation mode after the upper limit time has elapsed.
[0221] Accordingly, the time for executing the high-load trial operation mode of the air conditioning device 1 can be reduced, and the detailed confirmation mode can be executed while trial operation of the air conditioning device 1 is prohibited. As a result, deterioration in the operating efficiency of the air conditioning device 1 in the detailed confirmation mode can be suppressed, the load on the air conditioning device 1 can be reduced, and the detailed confirmation mode can be performed longer.
[0222] As in the present embodiment, the communication device 4 may include a storage unit 42, the terminal device 5 may store the operation data 44, acquired from the air conditioning device 1 while the detailed confirmation mode is executed, in the storage unit 42, and transmit the operation data D2 stored in the storage unit 42 to the server 2 after execution of the detailed confirmation mode is ended.
[0223] This makes it possible to reduce the frequency of transmitting the operation data D2 from the communication device 4 to the server 2. Therefore, the communication load of the air conditioning monitoring system 1000 can be reduced when the detailed confirmation mode is executed.
[0224] As in the present embodiment, the air conditioning device 1 may include a storage unit, the air conditioning device 1 may store the operation data on the air conditioning device 1 while the detailed confirmation mode is executed in the storage unit, and transmit the operation data stored in the storage unit to the communication device 4 after execution of the detailed confirmation mode, and the communication device 4 may transmit the received operation data to the server 2.
[0225] This makes it possible to reduce the frequency of transmitting the operation data from the air conditioning device 1 to the communication device 4. Therefore, the communication load between the air conditioning device 1 and the communication device 4 during execution of the detailed confirmation mode can be reduced.
[0226] As in the present embodiment, the air conditioning device 1 may include a first air conditioning device 1 and a second air conditioning device 1. For example, the first air conditioning device 1 may be an air conditioning device 1A, and the second air conditioning device 1 may be an air conditioning device 1B. The communication device 4 may be connected to, for example, the air conditioning device 1A and the air conditioning device 1B, and acquire data from each of the air conditioning device 1A and the air conditioning device 1B, and while the air conditioning device 1A executes the detailed confirmation mode, the air conditioning device 1B may not be allowed to execute the detailed confirmation mode.
[0227] As a result, it is possible to properly monitor the air conditioning device 1 while preventing the communication load between the air conditioning device 1 and the communication device 4 and the communication load between the communication device 4 and the server 2 from becoming excessive.
[0228] As in the present embodiment, when the first air conditioning device 1 executes the detailed confirmation mode, the terminal device 5 may display that the second air conditioning device 1 is allowed to execute the detailed confirmation mode at a time when the first air conditioning device 1 ends execution of the detailed confirmation mode. For example, when the air conditioning device 1A executes the detailed confirmation mode, the terminal device 5 may display that the air conditioning device 1B is allowed to execute the detailed confirmation mode at the time when the air conditioning device 1A ends execution of the detailed confirmation mode.
[0229] Accordingly, when the detailed confirmation mode of the air conditioning device 1B is limited because the air conditioning device 1A is executing the detailed confirmation mode, it is possible to notify the administrator that the limitation is canceled. This allows the administrator to efficiently manage the plurality of air conditioning devices 1.
(Other Embodiments)
[0230] As described in the foregoing, the above embodiment has been described as an example disclosed in this application. However, the technology in this disclosure is not limited to the embodiment. The technology is also applicable to embodiments in which changes, replacements, additions and omissions have been made. The respective components described in the above embodiment may be combined into new embodiments.
[0232] In the embodiment described above, the configuration has been illustrated in which the air conditioning device 1 is connected to the communication device 4, and the communication device 4 is connected to the server 2 through the communication network N, though a configuration in which one or more communication devices 4 are connected to the server 2 via other relay devices may be adopted.
[0233] In the above embodiment, the configuration has been described in which the communication device 4 acquires data about the operational state from the air conditioning device 1, stores the data as the operation data 44 in the storage unit 42, and transmits operation data D2 based on the operation data 44 to the server 2. In the configuration, for example, the control device 11 of the air conditioning device 1 may also include a storage unit, the data about the operational state of the air conditioning device 1 may be temporarily stored in the storage unit of the control device 11, and the data about the operational state may be transmitted to the communication device 4 at the timing or cycle corresponding to the first period of time or the second period of time. This operation may be performed during execution of the detailed confirmation mode. In this case, the concentration of communication between the communication device 4 and the air conditioning device 1 can be avoided, and further reduction of load can be expected. Accordingly, since the load of the communication device 4A is light, it is possible to more easily achieve parallel execution of the periodic execution mode of the air conditioning device 1B during execution of the detailed confirmation mode of the air conditioning device 1A in the air conditioning system 10A, for example.
[0234] In the above embodiment, although the configuration has been described in which the terminal device 5 connected to the server 2 includes the display 55 as a display unit and the input device 56 as an input unit, it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the server 2 includes the display unit and the input unit.
[0235] In the above embodiment, the configuration has been described in which by using the detailed confirmation setting screen 305 displayed on the terminal device 5 or terminal device 3, the user or administrator operates the input device 56 or the input device 36 to instruct execution of the detailed confirmation mode. This is merely an example, and it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which execution of the detailed confirmation mode can be instructed by operating, for example, an unillustrated remote control device connected to the control device 11. In other words, the terminal device used to instruct execution of the detailed confirmation mode or the like is not limited to the terminal device 3 and the terminal device 5, and other devices, such as a remote control device of the air conditioning device 1, a wearable terminal, and a mobile terminal can be used.
[0236] Each processor in the present disclosure may be any device capable of controlling the devices in the present disclosure. In expressing the subject matter of the invention, the entity that controls the devices of the present disclosure may be expressed as a processor and also as control means or a control unit or terms similar thereto. The processor can be implemented in various modes. Examples of the processor 21, the processor 31, the processor 41, and the processor 51 may include a central processing unit (CPU) and a micro-processing unit (MPU). Examples of the storage media included in the storage unit 210, the storage unit 32, the storage unit 42, and the storage unit 52 include a hard disk, a flash memory, and an optical disk. As a control device, a non-rewritable wired logic may be used. Using the wired logic as a control device is effective for improving processing speed. Examples of the wired logic include an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC).
[0237] In the present embodiment, the processor 21, the processor 31, the processor 41, and the processor 51 are configured to execute programs so that various processing can be executed. Accordingly, since processing contents can be changed by changing the programs stored in the storage media, the degree of freedom to change the control contents can be enhanced. Control devices of the server 2, the terminal device 3, the communication device 4, and the terminal device 5 may be implemented by combining the processors 21, 31, 41, and 51 with the wired logic. The control devices implemented by combining the processors and the wired logic can enhance the processing speed while increasing the degree of freedom of software design. In addition, a control device and a circuit having a function different from the control device may be constituted of a single semiconductor element. Examples of the circuit having the different function include an A/D conversion circuit and a D/A conversion circuit. The control device may be constituted of a single semiconductor element or constituted of a plurality of semiconductor elements. When the control device is constituted of a plurality of semiconductor elements, each control described in the claims may be implemented by semiconductor elements different from each other. Furthermore, the control device may be constituted by the configuration including semiconductor elements and passive components such as resistors or capacitors.
[0238] The configuration of the communication unit in the present disclosure may be any configuration that allows communication between the device of the present disclosure and an external device. In expressing the subject matter of the invention, the entity that allows communication between the device of the present disclosure and an external device may be expressed as a communication device and also as a communication means or a communication unit or transmission/reception means or a transmission/reception unit or terms similar thereto. The communication device constituting the communication unit 220, the communication unit 37, the communication unit 45, and the communication unit 57 can be implemented in various modes. For example, the communication device may be in the mode of establishing wired connection with an external device or in the mode of establishing wireless communication connection with an external device. The communication device that establishes wired connection between the device of the present disclosure and an external device is effective in terms of communication security and communication stability. Examples of the communication device for wired connection include wired LAN compliant with Ethernet (registered trademark) standards, or wired connection using optical fiber cables. Examples of the communication device for wireless connection include wireless connection with an external device via a base station or the like, or direct wireless connection with an external device. Example of the wireless connection with an external device via a base station or the like include a wireless LAN compatible with IEEE802.11 for wireless communication with a WiFi router, a third-generation mobile communication system (commonly referred to as 3G), a fourth-generation mobile communication system (commonly referred to as 4G), a WiMAX (registered trademark) compatible with IEEE 802.16, or a low power wide area (LPWA). Using the communication device that establishes direct wireless connection between the device of the present disclosure and an external device is effective in terms of enhancement of communication security and also allows the device of the present disclosure to communicate with an external device even in the locations where there is no relay device such as a WiFi (registered trademark) router. Examples of the communication device that establishes direct wireless communication between the device of the present disclosure and an external device include communication via Bluetooth (registered trademark), near field communication (NFC) via a loop antenna, or infrared connection.
[0239] Each unit shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4 are exemplary, and specific implementations are not particularly limited. In other words, it is not necessarily needed to implement hardware corresponding individually to each unit, and it is of course possible to adopt the configuration where the function of each unit is implemented by one processor executing a program or programs. In the embodiment described above, some of the functions implemented by software may be implemented by hardware, or some of the functions implemented by hardware may be implemented by software. For other specific detailed configurations regarding each of other units of the air conditioning device 1, the server 2, the terminal device 3, the communication device 4, and the terminal device 5, any changes are possible without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
[0240] For example, the operations shown in Figs. 6, 7, 8, and 9 are divided into step units according to the main processing content for easy understanding of the operation of each unit of the air conditioning monitoring system 1000, and the present disclosure is not limited by how the operations are divided into processing units or by the name thereof.
[0241] Since the embodiments disclosed above are provided for illustrating the technology in the present disclosure, various modifications, replacements, additions, and omissions are possible without departing from the scope of the claims of the present invention and any equivalents thereof.
[Industrial Applicability]
[0242] As described in the foregoing, the air conditioning monitoring system according to the present disclosure can be used for applications of performing management and maintenance of air conditioning devices.
[Reference Signs List]
[0243]
- 1, 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D
- Air conditioning device
- 2
- Server
- 3
- Terminal device
- 4, 4A, 4B
- Communication device
- 5, 5A, 5B
- Terminal device
- 10, 10A, 10B
- Air conditioning system
- 11, 11A, 11B
- Control device
- 12, 12A, 12B, 12F
- Outdoor unit
- 13, 13A, 13B, 13C, 13D, 13F
- Indoor unit
- 20A, 20B
- Communication line
- 31
- Processor
- 32
- Storage unit
- 33
- Control program
- 34
- GUI data
- 35
- Display (display unit)
- 36
- Input device (terminal input unit)
- 37
- Communication unit (terminal communication unit)
- 41
- Processor
- 42
- Storage unit
- 43
- Control program
- 44
- Operation data
- 45
- Communication unit
- 51
- Processor
- 52
- Storage unit
- 53
- Control program
- 54
- GUI data
- 55
- Display (display unit)
- 56
- Input device (terminal input unit)
- 57
- Communication unit (terminal communication unit)
- 59
- Touch panel
- 201
- Processor
- 202
- UI control unit
- 203
- Monitoring unit
- 204
- Setting unit
- 210
- Storage unit
- 211
- Control program
- 212
- Setting data
- 213
- First stability determination rule
- 214
- First normality determination rule
- 215
- Second stability determination rule
- 216
- Second normality determination rule
- 217
- Determination result data
- 218
- Diagnosis result data
- 220
- Communication unit
- 302
- Home screen
- 305
- Detail confirmation setting screen (setting screen)
- 306
- 2D graph display screen
- 307
- Maintenance setting screen
- 1000
- Air conditioning monitoring system
1. An air conditioning monitoring system, characterized by comprising:
an air conditioning device; and
a communication device that acquires operation data on the air conditioning device from the air conditioning device and transmits the operation data to a server, wherein
the air conditioning device has a monitoring mode including
a first monitoring mode where the operation data acquired every first period of time is transmitted from the communication device to the server and the server determines an operating state of the air conditioning device, and
a second monitoring mode where the operation data, acquired every second period of time that is shorter than the first period of time, is transmitted from the communication device to the server and the server determines the operating state of the air conditioning device, the second monitoring mode being executed based on operation of a user during execution of the first monitoring mode.
2. The air conditioning monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein
the first monitoring mode and the second monitoring mode are switched to execute.
the first monitoring mode and the second monitoring mode are switched to execute.
3. The air conditioning monitoring system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein
the operation data transmitted from the communication device to the server includes more types of data in the second monitoring mode than in the first monitoring mode.
the operation data transmitted from the communication device to the server includes more types of data in the second monitoring mode than in the first monitoring mode.
4. The air conditioning monitoring system according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
further comprising a terminal device including a terminal communication unit that communicates with the server and a terminal input unit that allows input of various information, wherein
the second monitoring mode is executed based on operation on the terminal input unit.
5. The air conditioning monitoring system according to claim 4, wherein
when the first monitoring mode is executed, presence or absence of abnormality in the operational state by the air conditioning device is displayed on the terminal device, and
when the second monitoring mode is executed, the presence or absence of abnormality in the operational state by the air conditioning device and a result of estimating an abnormality factor of the air conditioning device are displayed on the terminal device.
6. The air conditioning monitoring system according to claim 4 or 5, wherein
whether or not to recommend execution of the second monitoring mode is determined based on a determination result of the first monitoring mode, and when it is determined that the execution of the second monitoring mode is recommended, the determination is displayed on the terminal device.
whether or not to recommend execution of the second monitoring mode is determined based on a determination result of the first monitoring mode, and when it is determined that the execution of the second monitoring mode is recommended, the determination is displayed on the terminal device.
7. The air conditioning monitoring system according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein
the second period of time in the second monitoring mode and execution time of the second monitoring mode are set based on input from the terminal input unit.
the second period of time in the second monitoring mode and execution time of the second monitoring mode are set based on input from the terminal input unit.
8. The air conditioning monitoring system according to any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein
start time of the second monitoring mode is set based on input from the terminal input unit.
start time of the second monitoring mode is set based on input from the terminal input unit.
9. The air conditioning monitoring system according to any one of claims 4 to 8, wherein
an operation content for the air conditioning device in the second monitoring mode is set based on input from the terminal input unit, and
a trial operation mode for executing trial operation of the air conditioning device and a normal operation mode for executing air conditioning operation based on setting instructed for the air conditioning device are settable as the operation content.
10. The air conditioning monitoring system according to claim 9, wherein
execution time of the second monitoring mode is shorter when the trial operation mode is selected than when the normal operation mode is selected as the operation content.
execution time of the second monitoring mode is shorter when the trial operation mode is selected than when the normal operation mode is selected as the operation content.
11. The air conditioning monitoring system according to claim 10, wherein
the execution time of the second monitoring mode is settable based on the input from the terminal input unit, and
the execution time of the second monitoring mode that is settable with the terminal input unit is shorter when the trial operation mode is selected than when the normal operation mode is selected as the operation content.
12. The air conditioning monitoring system according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein
when the trial operation mode is set as the operation content for the air conditioning device in the second monitoring mode, the air conditioning device executes the trial operation mode from start of executing the second monitoring mode up to upper limit time previously specified, and executes the normal operation mode after the upper limit time has elapsed.
when the trial operation mode is set as the operation content for the air conditioning device in the second monitoring mode, the air conditioning device executes the trial operation mode from start of executing the second monitoring mode up to upper limit time previously specified, and executes the normal operation mode after the upper limit time has elapsed.
13. The air conditioning monitoring system according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein
the communication device includes a storage unit, and
the terminal device stores the operation data, acquired from the air conditioning device while the second monitoring mode is executed, in the storage unit, and transmits the operation data stored in the storage unit to the server after execution of the second monitoring mode is ended.
14. The air conditioning monitoring system according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein
the air conditioning device includes a storage unit,
the air conditioning device stores the operation data on the air conditioning device while the second monitoring mode is executed in the storage unit, and transmits the operation data stored in the storage unit to the communication device after execution of the second monitoring mode is ended, and
the communication device transmits the received operation data to the server.
15. The air conditioning monitoring system according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein
the air conditioning device includes a first air conditioning device and a second air conditioning device,
the communication device is connected to the first air conditioning device and the second air conditioning device, and acquires data from each of the first air conditioning device and the second air conditioning device, and
while the first air conditioning device executes the second monitoring mode, the second air conditioning device is not allowed to execute the second monitoring mode.
16. The air conditioning monitoring system according to claim 15, wherein
when the first air conditioning device executes the second monitoring mode, the terminal device displays that the second air conditioning device is allowed to execute the second monitoring mode at a time when the first air conditioning device ends execution of the second monitoring mode.
when the first air conditioning device executes the second monitoring mode, the terminal device displays that the second air conditioning device is allowed to execute the second monitoring mode at a time when the first air conditioning device ends execution of the second monitoring mode.
REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION
This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only. It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.
Patent documents cited in the description