Communication unit, air treatment apparatus, communication system for air treatment apparatus, and communication method for air treatment apparatus
A communication unit is provided for an air treatment apparatus. The communication unit includes a receiver, a transmitter, and a storage. The receiver receives measurement data sent from a measuring apparatus separate from the air treatment apparatus. The measuring apparatus is movable. The transmitter transmits, to a server, the measurement data associated with specific information of the air treatment apparatus. The storage stores the measurement data therein. If a storage process in which the measurement data is stored in the storage is completed, the transmitter transmits, to the measuring apparatus, information indicating that the storage process has been completed.
1 . A communication unit for an air treatment apparatus, the communication unit comprising:
a receiver configured to receive measurement data sent from a measuring apparatus separate from the air treatment apparatus, the measuring apparatus being movable;
a transmitter configured to transmit, to a server, the measurement data associated with specific information of the air treatment apparatus, the specific information including at least one of: information indicating an installation location of the air treatment apparatus, where the air treatment apparatus is installed; and identifying information of the air treatment apparatus that is associated with the information indicating the installation location of the air treatment apparatus; and
a storage configured to store therein the measurement data received by the receiver,
the measuring apparatus being a portable apparatus and capable of being carried or self-propelled to a target space to perform detection to obtain a measured value representing how an environment in the target space is,
the target space being a space in which the air treatment apparatus treats air,
the measuring apparatus or the communication unit of the air treatment apparatus being configured to generate the measurement data associated with the specific information,
upon completing a storage process in which the measurement data is stored in the storage, irrespective of whether the measurement data has already been transmitted from the air treatment apparatus to the server, the transmitter being configured to transmit, to the measuring apparatus, information indicating that the storage process has been completed,
the receiver, the transmitter, and the storage being disposed in the communication unit, and the air treatment apparatus being disposed externally of the server,
the measurement data being transmitted from the measuring apparatus to the server via the communication unit of the air treatment apparatus,
the air treatment apparatus being an air conditioner,
the air treatment apparatus including a housing, and the server and the measuring apparatus being disposed externally of the housing of the air treatment apparatus, and
the server being configured to identify or estimate a measurement location based on the specific information associated with the measurement data, and to identify, as the measurement location, an installation location of the air treatment apparatus indicated by the specific information.
2 . The communication unit of claim 1 , wherein
the transmitter is configured to transmit the specific information to the measuring apparatus, and
the receiver is configured to receive the measurement data associated with the specific information transmitted from the measuring apparatus.
3 . The communication unit of claim 1 , wherein
the receiver is further configured to receive state data representing a state of the air treatment apparatus from a state acquisition device of the air treatment apparatus, and
the transmitter is further configured to transmit the state data associated with the specific information to the server.
4 . The communication unit of claim 3 , wherein
the state data includes image data representing a state of an interior of the air treatment apparatus.
5 . The communication unit of claim 1 , further comprising:
a control unit configured to add the specific information to the measurement data to associate the measurement data with the specific information.
6 . The communication unit of claim 1 , wherein
the communication with the measuring apparatus is performed via wireless communication over a horizontal communication distance not shorter than 2 m but not longer than 10 m.
7 . The communication unit of claim 1 , wherein
the specific information of the air treatment apparatus further includes floor level information on a floor level where the air treatment apparatus is installed.
8 . The communication unit of claim 1 , wherein
the receiver is configured to receive, as the measurement data, data representing at least one of a temperature, a humidity, a CO concentration, a CO 2 concentration, a dust concentration, an airflow, an illuminance, noise, and a VOC concentration in a target space where the air treatment apparatus treats air.
9 . A communication system including the communication unit of claim 1 , the communication system being for an air treatment apparatus, the communication system further comprising:
the server; and
the measuring apparatus.
10 . The communication system of claim 9 , wherein
the measuring apparatus includes
a communication section configured to communicate with the communication unit, and
an operating section configured to receive an input of selecting, from a plurality of the communication units located within a communications radius of the communication section, a communication unit in order to establish communicative connection with the measuring apparatus, and
the measurement data from the measuring apparatus is associated with the specific information of the air treatment apparatus including the communication unit selected by the operating section.
11 . The communication system of claim 9 , wherein
the measuring apparatus includes
a communication section configured to communicate with the communication unit, and
a control unit configured to select, from a plurality of the communication units located within a communications radius of the communication section, a communication unit in order to establish communicative connection with the measuring apparatus, and
the measurement data from the measuring apparatus is associated with the specific information of the air treatment apparatus including the communication unit selected by the control unit.
12 . A communication method using a communication unit provided for an air treatment apparatus, the communication method comprising:
a receiver of the communication unit receiving measurement data transmitted from a measuring apparatus separate from the air treatment apparatus, the measuring apparatus being movable, the measuring apparatus being a portable apparatus and capable of being carried or self-propelled to a target space to perform detection to obtain a measured value representing how an environment in the target space is, the target space being a space in which the air treatment apparatus treats air;
a control unit of the communication unit adding specific information of the air treatment apparatus to the measurement data to associate the measurement data with the specific information, the specific information including at least one of: information indicating an installation location of the air treatment apparatus, where the air treatment apparatus is installed; and identifying information of the air treatment apparatus that is associated with the information indicating the installation location of the air treatment apparatus;
a transmitter of the communication unit transmitting, to the server, the measurement data associated with the specific information;
storing the measurement data in a storage of the communication unit; and
the transmitter of the communication unit transmitting completion information indicating that a storage process in which the measurement data are stored in the storage has been completed to the measuring apparatus irrespective of whether the measurement data has already been transmitted from the air treatment apparatus to the server,
the measuring apparatus or the communication unit of the air treatment apparatus being configured to generate the measurement data associated with the specific information,
the receiver, the transmitter, and the storage being disposed in the communication unit, and the air treatment apparatus being disposed externally of the server,
the measurement data being transmitted from the measuring apparatus to the server via the communication unit of the air treatment apparatus,
the air treatment apparatus being an air conditioner,
the air treatment apparatus including a housing, and the server and the measuring apparatus being disposed externally of the housing of the air treatment apparatus, and
the server being configured to identify or estimate a measurement location based on the specific information associated with the measurement data, and to identify, as the measurement location, the installation location of the air treatment apparatus indicated by the specific information.