IP Library Granted Patent US 8,265,780
Granted Patent B2
US 8,265,780 · App. 10/590,359 · Granted Sep 11, 2012

Determination of performance of apparatus and network setting

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,265,780
App. No.
10/590,359
Granted
Sep 11, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

An apparatus control system. apparatus and computer-readable recording medium for enabling different operators to perform apparatus and network settings independently and to easily confirm a setting status. An apparatus setter at least one of a setting on a connection between a water heater and a remote controller, and a test run of the water heater using the remote controller. A network setter performs setting on a connection between the remote controller and a server. A setting status monitoring section monitors an apparatus setting status representing whether or not the setting by the apparatus setter is ended and a network setting status representing whether or not the setting by the network setter is ended. A setting status display controlling section displays the apparatus setting status and the network setting status.

Claims (46)

1. An apparatus control system comprising an apparatus which requires a plurality of different settings, an apparatus controlling device for controlling the apparatus, and a server which is communicatively connected to the apparatus controlling device via a network, wherein

the apparatus controlling device includes:

an apparatus setting section for accepting an input by a first operator, and performing a setting, the setting being at least one of a setting on a connection between the apparatus and the apparatus controlling device, and a confirmation on an operation of the apparatus including a test run of the apparatus using the apparatus controlling device;

a network setting section for accepting an input by a second operator different from the first operator, and performing a setting on a connection between the apparatus controlling device and the server;

a setting status monitoring section for monitoring an apparatus setting status representing whether the setting by the apparatus setting section has been performed, and a network setting status representing whether the setting by the network setting section has been performed; and

a setting status display section for displaying the apparatus setting status and the network setting status detected by the setting status monitoring section; and

a setting status information transmitting section for transmitting, to the server, information relating to the apparatus setting status and the network setting status monitored by the setting status monitoring section,

wherein the server includes a setting status information receiving section for receiving the information relating to the apparatus setting status and the network setting status transmitted by the setting status information transmitting section,

the setting status monitoring section stores the information relating to the apparatus setting status and the network setting status,

the setting status information transmitting section judges whether the setting by the network setting section has been performed, and responsive to judging that the setting by the network setting section has been performed, the setting status information transmitting section transmits, to the server, the information relating to the apparatus setting status and the network setting status stored in the setting status monitoring section, and

the setting status information transmitting section judges whether the setting by the apparatus setting section has been performed, and responsive to judging that the setting by the apparatus setting section has been performed, the setting status information transmitting section transmits, to the server, the information relating to the apparatus setting status and the network setting status stored in the setting status monitoring section.

2. The apparatus control system according to claim 1 , wherein

the setting status display section displays the apparatus setting status and the network setting status monitored by the setting status monitoring section when a power is supplied to the apparatus controlling device.

3. The apparatus control system according to claim 1 , wherein

the setting status display section displays the apparatus setting status and the network setting status monitored by the setting status monitoring section after completion of at least one of the setting by the apparatus setting section and the setting by the network setting section.

4. The apparatus control system according to claim 1 , wherein

the apparatus setting section performs the connection setting so that a control signal for controlling the apparatus is transmittable, and a response signal to be sent from the apparatus is receivable, and

the network setting section performs the connection setting so that the server is identified on the network, and the apparatus controlling device is communicatively connected to the server.

5. An apparatus which is communicatively connected to a server via a network, and requires a plurality of different settings, the apparatus comprising:

an apparatus setting section for accepting an input by a first operator, and performing a setting, the setting being at least one of a setting on an operation of the apparatus, and a confirmation on the operation of the apparatus including a test run of the apparatus;

a network setting section for accepting an input by a second operator different from the first operator, and performing a setting on a connection between the apparatus and the server;

a setting status monitoring and storing section for monitoring an apparatus setting status representing whether the setting by the apparatus setting section has been performed, and a network setting status representing whether the setting by the network setting section has been performed;

a setting status display section for displaying the apparatus setting status and the network setting status detected by the setting status monitoring section; and

a setting status information transmitting section for transmitting, to the server, information relating to the apparatus setting status and the network setting status monitored by the setting status monitoring section,

wherein the setting status information transmitting section judges whether the setting by the network setting section has been performed, and responsive to judging that the setting by the network setting section has been performed, the setting status information transmitting section transmits, to the server, the information relating to the apparatus setting status and the network setting status stored in the setting status monitoring section, and

the setting status information transmitting section judges whether the setting by the apparatus setting section has been performed, and responsive to judging that the setting by the apparatus setting section has been performed, the setting status information transmitting section transmits, to the server, the information relating to the apparatus setting status and the network setting status stored in the setting status monitoring section.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein

the setting status display section displays the apparatus setting status and the network setting status detected by the setting status monitoring section when a power is supplied to the apparatus.

7. The apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein

the setting status display section displays the apparatus setting status and the network setting status detected by the setting status monitoring section after completion of at least one of the setting by the apparatus setting section and the setting by the network setting section.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium recording thereon an apparatus control program for controlling an apparatus control device to control an apparatus which is communicatively connected to a server via a network, and which requires a plurality of different settings, the apparatus control program causing a computer to function as the following:

an apparatus setting section for accepting an input by a first operator, and performing a setting, the setting being at least one of a setting on a connection between the apparatus and the apparatus controlling device, and a confirmation on an operation of the apparatus including a test run of the apparatus using the apparatus controlling device;

a network setting section for accepting an input by a second operator different from the first operator, and performing a setting on a connection between the apparatus controlling device and the server;

a setting status monitoring section for monitoring and storing an apparatus setting status representing whether the setting by the apparatus setting section has been performed, and a network setting status representing whether the setting by the network setting section has been performed; and

a setting status display section for displaying the apparatus setting status and the network setting status detected by the setting status monitoring section; and

a setting status information transmitting section for transmitting, to the server, information relating to the apparatus setting status and the network setting status monitored by the setting status monitoring section,

wherein the setting status information transmitting section judges whether the setting by the network setting section has been performed, and responsive to judging that the setting by the network setting section has been performed, the setting status information transmitting section transmits, to the server, the information relating to the apparatus setting status and the network setting status stored in the setting status monitoring section, and

the setting status information transmitting section judges whether the setting by the apparatus setting section has been performed, and responsive to judging that the setting by the apparatus setting section has been performed, the setting status information transmitting section transmits, to the server, the information relating to the apparatus setting status and the network setting status stored in the setting status monitoring section.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium recording thereon an apparatus control program for controlling an apparatus which is communicatively connected to a server via a network and which requires a plurality of different settings, the apparatus control program causing a computer to function as the following:

an apparatus setting section for accepting an input by a first operator, and performing a setting, the setting being at least one of a setting on an operation of the apparatus, and a confirmation on the operation of the apparatus including a test run of the apparatus;

a network setting section for accepting an input by a second operator different from the first operator, and performing a setting on a connection between the apparatus and the server;

a setting status monitoring section for monitoring and storing an apparatus setting status representing whether the setting by the apparatus setting section has been performed, and a network setting status representing whether the setting by the network setting section has been performed; and

a setting status display section for displaying the apparatus setting status and the network setting status detected by the setting status monitoring section; and

a setting status information transmitting section for transmitting, to the server, information relating to the apparatus setting status and the network setting status monitored by the setting status monitoring section,

wherein the setting status information transmitting section judges whether the setting by the network setting section has been performed, and responsive to judging that the setting by the network setting section has been performed, the setting status information transmitting section transmits, to the server, the information relating to the apparatus setting status and the network setting status stored in the setting status monitoring section, and

the setting status information transmitting section judges whether the setting by the apparatus setting section has been performed, and responsive to judging that the setting by the apparatus setting section has been performed, the setting status information transmitting section transmits, to the server, the information relating to the apparatus setting status and the network setting status stored in the setting status monitoring section.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Nov 14, 2008
From: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
To: PANASONIC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 021835/0421 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 5, 2007
From: SADAHIRA, MASAFUMI; NAKAYAMA, ATUSI; WATANABE, YOSHIAKI; OKUDE, TAKAAKI; YOSHIMURA, YASUO
To: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 019782/0767 →