Apparatus, system, and communication method

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of communication modules for wirelessly connecting the apparatus to a server that manages the apparatus, via a plurality of networks different from one another;

a storage that stores, for each of the plurality of networks, a characteristic regarding communication via the network;

an acquirer that acquires communication information that indicates, for each of the plurality of communication modules, whether communication with the server via the communication modules is possible;

an identifier that identifies a specific communication module from among the plurality of communication modules, the specific communication module being indicated by the communication information as being a communication module via which communication is possible, and being selected based on the characteristic; and

a controller that causes the specific communication module identified by the identifier to connect to the server to enable communication,

wherein the plurality of communication modules include a plurality of long-distance communication modules for long-distance wireless communication,

each of the plurality of long-distance communication modules is associated with a second indicator as the characteristic, the second indicator indicating a magnitude of a speed of communication via the long-distance communication module, and

the identifier calculates a time required to transmit a finite length of data via the specific communication module, and if the time calculated is greater than a threshold value, identifies, as the specific communication module, a long-distance communication module associated with the second indicator that indicates a higher speed among the plurality of long-distance communication modules, and

if the time calculated is less than or equal to the threshold value, the identifier identifies, as a new specific communication module, a long-distance communication module different from the specific communication module.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

each of the plurality of long-distance communication modules is associated with a first indicator as the characteristic, the first indicator indicating a degree of stability in communication via the long-distance communication module, and

the identifier identifies, as the specific communication module, a long-distance communication module associated with the first indicator that indicates a higher degree of stability among the plurality of long-distance communication modules.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

each of the plurality of long-distance communication modules is associated with a third indicator as the characteristic, the third indicator indicating a cost required for communication via the long-distance communication module, and

the identifier identifies, as the specific communication module, a long-distance communication module associated with the third indicator that indicates a lower cost among the plurality of long-distance communication modules.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the plurality of communication modules include a short-distance communication module for short-distance wireless communication, and

when the communication information indicates that communication via the short-distance communication module is possible, the identifier identifies the short-distance communication module as the specific communication module, irrespective of whether communication with the server via the long-distance communication module is possible.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the plurality of communication modules include:

a carrier's low-power, wide-area (LPWA) communication module and a non-carrier's LPWA communication module, both serving as long-distance communication modules; and

a Wi-Fi communication module serving as a short-distance communication module.

6. A system, comprising:

the apparatus according to claim 1 ; and

the server that manages the apparatus.

7. An apparatus,

the apparatus including a plurality of apparatuses installed in one home,

the apparatus comprising:

a plurality of communication modules for wirelessly connecting the apparatuses to a server that manages the server, via a plurality of networks different from one another, the apparatuses each being the apparatus;

a storage that stores, for each of the plurality of networks, a characteristic regarding communication via the network;

an acquirer that acquires communication information that indicates, for each of communication modules, whether communication with the server via the communication module is possible;

an identifier that identifies a specific communication module from among the plurality of communication modules, the specific communication module being indicated by the communication information as being a communication module via which communication is possible, and being selected based on the characteristic; and

a controller that causes the specific communication module identified by the identifier to connect to the server to enable communication,

wherein each of the plurality of the apparatuses includes the plurality of communication modules that include a long-distance communication module for long-distance wireless communication and a short-distance communication module for short-distance wireless communication,

except one apparatus among the plurality of apparatuses, the other apparatus includes the identifier that connects directly to the one apparatus via the short-distance communication module of the other apparatus,

the one apparatus among the plurality of apparatuses includes the identifier that identifies the long-distance communication module of the one apparatus as the specific communication module and that connects directly to the other apparatus via the short-distance communication module of the one apparatus,

the one apparatus among the plurality of apparatuses further includes the controller that relays communication between the long-distance communication module of the one apparatus and the short-distance communication module of the one apparatus.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein

the one apparatus among the plurality of apparatuses is an apparatus that includes a long-distance communication module that provides higher communication quality among the plurality of long-distance communication modules of the plurality of apparatuses.

9. A communication method executed by an apparatus,

the apparatus including:

a plurality of communication modules for wirelessly connecting the apparatus to a server that manages the apparatus, via a plurality of networks different from one another; and

a storage that stores, for each of the plurality of networks, a characteristic regarding communication via the network,

the plurality of communication modules including a plurality of long-distance communication modules for long-distance wireless communication, and

each of the plurality of long-distance communication modules being associated with a second indicator as the characteristic, the second indicator indicating a magnitude of a speed of communication via the long-distance communication module,

the communication method comprising:

acquiring communication information that indicates, for each of the plurality of communication modules, whether communication with the server via the communication module is possible;

identifying a specific communication module from among the plurality of communication modules, the specific communication module being indicated by the communication information as being a communication module via which communication is possible, and being selected based on the characteristic; and

connecting the specific communication module identified in the identifying to the server to enable communication,

wherein in the identifying, calculating a time required to transmit a finite length of data via the specific communication module, and

if the time calculated is greater than a threshold value, identifying, as the specific communication module, a long-distance communication module associated with the second indicator that indicates a higher speed among the plurality of long-distance communication modules, and

if the time calculated is less than or equal to the threshold value, identifying, as a new specific communication module, a long-distance communication module different from the specific communication module.