Air-Conditioning System

Abstract

This air-conditioning system comprises: a local settings reception unit that accepts local settings changed from specified system settings by a local setting terminal that allows users in an area to set the air-conditioning of the area; a number-of-people-in-area detecting unit that detects the number of people in the area; and an air-conditioning control instruction unit that outputs, to an air-conditioning control system, an instruction to maintain the local settings accepted by the local settings reception unit until the elapsed time from the time when the local settings are changed in the area reaches a predetermined setting time, and, when the elapsed time exceeds the setting time, outputs, to the air-conditioning control system, an instruction to return to the system settings that are set on the basis of the number of people detected by the number-of-people-in-area detecting unit, and/or the type of area.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an air-conditioning system.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventionally, in areas (office, meeting room, etc.) divided by walls, partitions, and the like, for example, an administrator in a management center performs air-conditioning (hereinafter, abbreviated as “air-conditioning”) for collectively managing temperature and humidity in each area. Air-conditioning settings collectively performed by the administrator in this manner are referred to as “system settings”.

However, at the time of a change of season or the like, heating is performed for the temperature of the entire building air-conditioning and the inside of the area becomes too hot although the outside temperature is high, or conversely, cooling is performed for the temperature of the entire building air-conditioning and the inside of the area becomes too cold although the outside temperature is low. In addition, when the area faces the south, the temperature in the area easily rises. However, the values of temperature, humidity, and the like collectively managed are not always appropriate values. Therefore, the technique disclosed in Patent Literature 1 has been provided to manage air-conditioning for each room.

Patent Literature 1 describes an air conditioner that appropriately distributes a refrigerant supplied to a plurality of utilization-side heat exchangers according to the number of people in a room.

CITATION LIST

Patent Literature

• Patent Literature 1: JP 2013-15299 A

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Technical Problem

As described above, comfortable air-conditioning settings are often different depending on the installation location of the area in the building, the size of the area, and the type of the area. In addition, even if the air-conditioning settings optimum for the area are set at a certain point of time, whether or not the inside of the area is comfortable varies depending on the person. Therefore, a person in the area may temporarily change the room temperature or the like set by the management center by operating an air-conditioning changing device (such as a remote controller) that can change only the air-conditioning settings of the area. The air-conditioning settings changed by a person in the area in this manner are referred to as “local settings”.

By the way, it cannot be said that air-conditioning for which the local settings are set at a certain time is comfortable for a person who uses the area later. However, in many cases, the person who has set the local settings does not return the air-conditioning to the original system settings when leaving the area. In addition, after the person who has set the local settings has left the area, the work of the administrator to check the air-conditioning in the area every time and return the air conditioning to the system settings is complicated. In addition, the air-conditioning for which the system settings are set is not always comfortable for a person who enters the area next time.

The technique described in Patent Literature 1 merely obtains the number of people in the room, and does not solve the problem in which the local settings are not returned to the original system settings after the person leaves the area.

Solution to Problem

An air-conditioning system according to the present invention controls operation of an air conditioner to air-condition the inside of an area.

This air-conditioning system comprises: a local settings reception unit that accepts local settings changed from specified system settings by a local setting terminal that allows users in an area to set the air-conditioning of the area; a number-of-people-in-area detecting unit that detects the number of people in the area; and an air-conditioning control instruction unit that outputs, to an air-conditioning control system, an instruction to maintain the local settings accepted by the local settings reception unit until the elapsed time from the time when the local settings are changed in the area reaches a predetermined setting time, and, when the elapsed time exceeds the setting time, outputs, to the air-conditioning control system, an instruction to return to the system settings that are set on the basis of the number of people detected by the number-of-people-in-area detecting unit, and/or the type of area.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to the present invention, when the elapsed time exceeds the setting time after the inside of the area is changed to the local settings, the air-conditioning is returned to the system settings set according to at least one of the number of people detected by the number-of-people-in-area detecting unit and the type of the area. Therefore, comfortable air-conditioning is performed for the users in the area.

Problems, configurations, and effects other than those described above will be clarified by the following description of embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a state of an area in which an air conditioner is installed according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an overall configuration example of an air-conditioning management system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration example of an artificial intelligence (AI) air-conditioning system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of a computer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a table illustrating a configuration example of an area information table according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a table illustrating a configuration example of an area setting table according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a table illustrating a configuration example of a sensor data registration table according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of overall processing of an air-conditioning management system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a setting function according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the present specification and the drawings, components having substantially the same function or configuration are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.

One Embodiment

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a state of an area in which an air conditioner is installed.

Four areas 11 to 14 are provided on a floor 10. The areas 11 to 13 are arranged in order. The area 14 is provided to be separated from the areas 11 to 13 by a passage. The areas 11 to 14 are, for example, meeting rooms or offices, and a plurality of people enter the rooms and leave the rooms after a predetermined time.

One or more air conditioners are provided in the areas 11 to 14. An air conditioner 70 (1) is provided in the area 11. The air conditioner 70 (1) performs air-conditioning by changing the temperature and humidity in the area 11. Similarly, air conditioners 70 (2) to 70 (5) are provided in the areas 12 to 14 to air-condition each area. In addition, cameras 20 (1) to 20 (4) are provided in the respective rooms. In the following description, the air conditioners 70 (1) to 70 (5) are referred to as air conditioners 70 when not distinguished from one another. The number of the cameras 20 does not necessarily coincide with the number of the air conditioners 70.

The air conditioner 70 (1) is provided with an environment sensor 72 (1) that detects environment information including at least one of temperature and humidity in the area 11. Similarly, the air conditioners 70 (2) to 70 (5) are provided with environment sensors 72 (2) to 72 (5), respectively. In the following description, the environment sensors 72 (1) to 72 (5) are referred to as environment sensors 72 when not distinguished from one another. Each environment sensor 72 is used as an example of a sensor that measures environment information of at least one of temperature and humidity in the area. In addition, environment data generated by the environment sensor 72 is used as an example of sensor data. Although the example in which the environment sensor 72 is provided inside each air conditioner 70 has been described in FIG. 1, the environment sensor 72 may be provided outside the air conditioner 70 as long as the environment sensor 72 is provided in the area where the air conditioner 70 is installed.

In addition, in the area 11, a local setting terminal 71 (1) capable of changing air-conditioning settings of the air conditioner 70 (1) is provided. Similarly, the areas 12 to 14 are provided with local setting terminals 71 (2) to 71 (5) capable of changing air-conditioning settings of the air conditioners 70 (2) to 70 (5), respectively. In the following description, the local setting terminals 71 (1) to 71 (5) are referred to as local setting terminals 71 when not distinguished from each other. Each local setting terminal 71 is a remote controller that can change temperature and humidity settings for each area by a person who enters each area, and can change the system settings to the local settings from a place distant from the air conditioner 70. Data of the local settings including temperature and humidity for which the local settings are set by the local setting terminal 71 is transmitted to an artificial intelligence (AI) air-conditioning system 40 illustrated in FIG. 2 described later through a wireless device 21.

The cameras 20 (1) to 20 (4) are provided in the areas 11 to 14, respectively. The camera 20 (1) captures an image of the inside of the area 11. The cameras 20 (2) to 20 (4) capture an image of the inside of the areas 12, 13, and 14, respectively. In the following description, the cameras 20 (1) to 20 (4) are referred to as cameras 20 when not distinguished from one another. Each camera 20 that captures an image of the inside of the area is used as an example of a sensor. In addition, image data generated by the camera 20 is used as an example of sensor data.

In addition, wireless devices 21 (1) to 21 (4) are provided in the areas 11 to 14. The wireless device 21 (1) transmits image data in the area captured by the camera 20 (1) to the AI air-conditioning system 40 illustrated in FIG. 2 described later. Similarly, the wireless devices 21 (2) to 21 (4) also transmit image data in the areas captured by the cameras 20 (2) to 20 (4) to the AI air-conditioning system 40. The wireless devices 21 (1) to 21 (4) are referred to as wireless devices 21 when not distinguished from one another.

<Overall Configuration Example of Air-Conditioning Management System>

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an overall configuration example of an air-conditioning management system 1.

The air-conditioning management system 1 includes n units of the cameras 20, m units of the air conditioners 70, the AI air-conditioning system 40, a building air-conditioning control system 50, and a system setting terminal 60. Note that “n” representing the number of units of the cameras 20 and “m” representing the number of units of the air conditioners 70 may be the same numerical value or different numerical values.

The air conditioner 70 (1) air-conditions the inside of the area based on the system settings or the local settings. The air conditioner 70 (1) air-conditions the inside of the area in a period, for which the local settings are not set, by the system settings transmitted from the building air-conditioning control system 50, for example, from an opening time to a closing time of the office.

The air conditioner 70 (1) includes the local setting terminal 71 (1) and the environment sensor 72 (1). The local setting terminal 71 (1) is used by a user of the area to set air-conditioning in the area. The person who uses the local setting terminal 71 (1) is assumed to be a user who is in the area, but may be a person who is in another area remotely connected to the local setting terminal 71 (1) using a communication terminal such as a smartphone. Information of the air-conditioning settings changed by the local setting terminal 71 (1) is transmitted to the AI air-conditioning system 40.

The environment sensor 72 (1) detects an internal environment (for example, temperature and humidity) of the area air-conditioned by the air conditioner 70 (1), and transmits environment data including information on the detected internal environment to the AI air-conditioning system 40. The local setting terminal 71 (m) and the environment sensor 72 (m) included in the air conditioner 70 (m) also have functions similar to those of the local setting terminal 71 (1) and the environment sensor 72 (1), respectively.

The AI air-conditioning system 40 controls operation of each air conditioner 70 in each area so that the inside of the area is appropriately air-conditioned according to the size of the area, the number of windows, the material of the wall, the type of the air conditioner 70, and the like. The AI air-conditioning system 40 grasps the number of people in the area and the current temperature and humidity based on various data collected from each camera 20 and the air conditioner 70. Then, the AI air-conditioning system 40 outputs an air-conditioning instruction of the appropriate system settings to the building air-conditioning control system 50 according to the number of people in the area.

The building air-conditioning control system 50 collectively sets the air conditioner 70 in each area based on the instruction based on the system settings input from the AI air-conditioning system 40. In addition, the building air-conditioning control system 50 changes the local settings to the system settings after a setting time (for example, two hours) for the area where the user is absent while the local settings are set.

Furthermore, in a case where a large number of people enter the area from the outside, the AI air-conditioning system 40 performs control such as cooling according to the number of people entering the area, but it is not considered whether the person entering the area is a person entering from the outside or a person entering from another indoor area, and thus, insufficient cooling is performed.

Even if strong cooling is set by the local setting terminal 71, a more appropriate temperature environment is created as the control is returned to control by the system settings by the AI air-conditioning system 40 with the lapse of time.

Therefore, the building air-conditioning control system 50 can maintain an appropriate temperature environment without interrupting a meeting or the like even when there is a person in the area by changing the local settings to the system settings after the setting time.

The system setting terminal 60 is a terminal that registers the system settings such as temperature and humidity in the AI air-conditioning system 40 in advance. The system setting terminal 60 is, for example, a personal computer (PC) or the like, and is operated by an administrator of the air-conditioning management system 1. The system setting terminal 60 can set parameters of an area and a building, a target temperature, and the like through various setting functions illustrated in FIG. 9 described later. The system settings (for example, system setting temperature, system setting humidity) are registered in an area setting table 44b illustrated in FIG. 6 described later. In addition, the area and building parameters are registered in an area information table 44a illustrated in FIG. 5 described later.

<Internal Configuration Example of AI Air-Conditioning System>

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration example of the AI air-conditioning system 40.

The AI air-conditioning system 40 is an example of an air-conditioning system that controls operation of an air conditioner provided in each area to air-condition the inside of the area. The AI air-conditioning system 40 includes a number-of-people-in-area detecting unit 30, an area information acquisition unit 41, a local settings reception unit 42, a timer setting unit 43, an air-conditioning database 44, a prediction unit 45, an air-conditioning control instruction unit 46, a system settings reception unit 47, and a log information output unit 48.

The area information acquisition unit 41 acquires area information input at the time of initial setting of the air-conditioning management system 1 or at the time of area layout change. The area information includes, for example, information on the size of the area and information on the characteristics of the air conditioner 70 installed in the area, and is input through, for example, the system setting terminal 60 on which screens for setting various parameters illustrated in FIG. 9 described later are displayed. When the size and type of the area are changed, the area information acquisition unit 41 writes the acquired area information in the area information table 44a of the air-conditioning database 44.

The local settings reception unit 42 is used as an example of a local settings reception unit that accepts the local settings changed from the specified system settings by the local setting terminal 71. Here, the local settings reception unit 42 receives data including temperature, humidity, and the like for which the local settings are set by the local setting terminal 71. The local settings reception unit 42 writes the received local setting information in the area setting table 44b of the air-conditioning database 44.

The timer setting unit 43 sets a setting time that is a time for maintaining the local settings after the air conditioner 70 is changed from the system settings to the local settings. At the timing when the local settings reception unit 42 writes the local setting information in the area setting table 44b, the current time and the setting time measured by the timer setting unit 43 are written in the items of the setting start time and the setting time in the area setting table 44b. However, when the local setting information includes the setting time, the setting time is preferentially written in the item of the setting time in the area setting table 44b. This setting time is preset by the system setting terminal 60 while the system settings reception unit 47 is activated, or set by the local setting terminal 71 while the local settings reception unit 42 is activated.

The number-of-people-in-area detecting unit 30 detects the number of people in the area. Therefore, the number-of-people-in-area detecting unit 30 includes a sensor data acquisition unit 31 and a sensor data analysis unit 32.

The sensor data acquisition unit 31 acquires sensor data output from a sensor provided in the area, for example, every one minute or at a frequency set in advance. Then, the sensor data acquisition unit 31 outputs the sensor data to the sensor data analysis unit 32. Examples of the sensor data include image data in the area captured by the camera 20 and temperature and humidity data in the area detected by the environment sensor 72.

The sensor data analysis unit 32 is used as an example of a number-of-people-in-area detecting unit that detects the number of people in the area. The sensor data analysis unit 32 can obtain the number of people in the area using the sensor data input from the sensor data acquisition unit 31. For example, the sensor data analysis unit 32 obtains the number of people in the area based on the image data. Furthermore, the sensor data analysis unit 32 can also obtain the number of people in the area based on the environment data. Then, the sensor data analysis unit 32 registers the analyzed sensor data in a sensor data registration table 44c. The sensor data analysis unit 32 can obtain the number of people in the area by analyzing the image data or the environment data by itself. Furthermore, the sensor data analysis unit 32 may obtain the number of people in the area by transferring the image data or the environment data to an external data analysis system and acquiring an analysis result from the external data analysis system.

The air-conditioning database 44 includes the area information table 44a, the area setting table 44b, and the sensor data registration table 44c. Details of the configuration of each table will be described below with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7.

The prediction unit 45 outputs a prediction result obtained by predicting a change in at least one of the temperature and the number of people after a lapse of a predetermined time in the area based on the number of people in the area obtained by the sensor data analysis unit 32. Here, the prediction unit 45 predicts a change in at least one of the temperature and the number of people after a lapse of a predetermined time in the area based on the scheduler for each area, the area information table 44a, and the sensor data registration table 44c. Note that, in a case where the prediction unit 45 predicts a change in the number of people in the area based on the scheduler for each area, the prediction unit 45 may access an external system having a function of the scheduler and acquire the scheduled use time and the number of entering people for each area from the external system. In this case, the prediction unit 45 can obtain a highly accurate prediction result based on the accurate use time and the number of users of the area. For example, in a case where a meeting is scheduled in a certain area, the prediction unit 45 can accurately predict the number of people in the area and the temperature in the area from the start time to the end time of the meeting held in this area. Then, the prediction unit 45 outputs the prediction result (for example, the predicted temperature and the predicted number of people) to the air-conditioning control instruction unit 46. Further, the prediction unit 45 writes the prediction result in the sensor data registration table 44c.

The air-conditioning control instruction unit 46 outputs an instruction to maintain the local settings accepted by the local settings reception unit 42 to the building air-conditioning control system 50 until the elapsed time from the time when the local settings are changed in the area reaches a predetermined setting time. Then, when the elapsed time exceeds the setting time, the air-conditioning control instruction unit 46 outputs an instruction to return to the system settings set based on at least one of the number of people and the type of area detected by the sensor data analysis unit 32 to the building air-conditioning control system 50. At this time, the air-conditioning control instruction unit 46 outputs an air-conditioning control instruction to the building air-conditioning control system 50 based on the prediction result input from the prediction unit 45. For example, if the number of people in the area (also referred to as “the number of people in the room”) increases, the air-conditioning control instruction unit 46 outputs an instruction to lower the temperature in the area in advance.

Then, based on the area setting table 44b, the air-conditioning control instruction unit 46 outputs a comparison between the elapsed time and the setting time, an instruction to maintain the local settings, or an instruction to return the local settings to the system settings to the building air-conditioning control system 50. Moreover, the air-conditioning control instruction unit 46 changes the system settings based on the prediction result obtained from the prediction unit 45, and outputs an instruction to maintain the system settings or an instruction to return to the system settings to the building air-conditioning control system 50.

The system settings reception unit 47 is used as an example of a system settings reception unit that accepts system settings preset for each area input from the system setting terminal 60 and writes the accepted system settings in the area setting table 44b for each area. For example, the system settings reception unit 47 updates the corresponding items of the area information table 44a and the area setting table 44b based on the received system settings. The air-conditioning control instruction unit 46 outputs an instruction of the system settings for each of a plurality of areas based on the area setting table 44b.

The log information output unit 48 outputs log information extracted from the sensor data registration table 44c to the system setting terminal 60. The administrator can check the log information by operating the system setting terminal 60.

Next, a hardware configuration of a computer 90 constituting the AI air-conditioning system 40 will be described.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of the computer 90. The computer 90 is, for example, an example of hardware used as a computer operable as the AI air-conditioning system 40 according to the present embodiment. The AI air-conditioning system 40 according to the present embodiment realizes an air-conditioning management method performed by the functional blocks illustrated in FIG. 3 in cooperation with each other by the computer 90 (computer) executing a program.

The computer 90 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 91, a read only memory (ROM) 92, and a random access memory (RAN) 93 each connected to a bus 94. The computer 90 further includes a nonvolatile storage 95 and a network interface 96.

The CPU 91 reads a program code of software for realizing each function according to the present embodiment from the ROM 92, loads the program code into the RAM 93, and executes the program code. Variables, parameters, and the like generated during arithmetic processing of the CPU 91 are temporarily written in the RAM 93, and these variables, parameters, and the like are appropriately read by the CPU 91. However, a micro processing unit (MPU) may be used instead of the CPU 91. The functions of the sensor data analysis unit 32, the prediction unit 45, and the air-conditioning control instruction unit 46 are implemented by the CPU 91.

As the nonvolatile storage 95, for example, a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid state drive (SSD), a flexible disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory, or the like is used. In addition to an operating system (OS) and various parameters, a program for causing the computer 90 to function is recorded in the nonvolatile storage 95. The ROM 92 and the nonvolatile storage 95 record programs, data, and the like necessary for operation of the CPU 91, and are used as examples of a computer-readable non-transitory storage medium storing a program executed by the computer 90. The function of the air-conditioning database 44 is realized by the nonvolatile storage 95.

For example, a network interface card (NIC) or the like is used as the network interface 96, and various data can be transmitted and received between devices via a local area network (LAN), a dedicated line, or the like connected to a terminal of the NIC. The functions of the area information acquisition unit 41, the local settings reception unit 42, the sensor data acquisition unit 31, and the system settings reception unit 47 are implemented by the network interface 96.

The system setting terminal 60 includes a display device 61 and an input device 62. The system setting terminal 60 is one of terminals connected to the network interface 96.

The display device 61 is, for example, a liquid crystal display monitor, and displays a result of processing performed by the computer 90 and the like to the system administrator. For example, log information output by the log information output unit 48 is displayed on the display device 61. In addition, screens for setting various parameters illustrated in FIG. 9 described later are displayed on the display device 61.

As the input device 62, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, or the like is used, and the system administrator can perform predetermined operation input and instruction. As described above, the system settings are information input through the input device 62.

<Configuration Example of Each Table>

Next, a configuration example of each table included in the air-conditioning database 44 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7.

<Area Information Table>

FIG. 5 is a table illustrating a configuration example of the area information table 44a.

In the area information table 44a, area information including at least the type of the area and the position of the area in the building is specified for each area. The area information table 44a includes fields of an area, a building, a floor, a section, a type, and the number of people.

The area field stores an area name in which a reference sign for identifying each area is assigned to a name of an office, a meeting room, a reception room, or the like indicating the type of area as an area to be air-conditioned.

The building field stores a building name of a building having an area to be air-conditioned.

The floor field stores a floor (floor number) on which the area to be air-conditioned is provided.

The section field stores a section name for specifying a section on the floor in which the area to be air-conditioned is set.

The type field, for example, stores types of areas such as internal use, external use, and executive use.

The number of people field stores the number of people (capacity) that can be accommodated for each area. Even in an area having the same size, the number of people that can be accommodated can vary depending on the type of the area. For example, even if six users can be present in an area used as an office, only up to four users can be present in an area used as a reception room. Note that a field indicating the area size [m²] may be provided instead of the number of people field.

As described above, the area information table 44a is a table that stores information in advance by the area information acquisition unit 41. The area information table 44a is used as a master for each table. Note that a field that stores information (ceiling height, direction, material of wall, etc.) set by the system setting terminal 60 through various setting functions illustrated in FIG. 9 described later may be provided in the area information table 44a.

<Area Setting Table>

FIG. 6 is a table illustrating a configuration example of the area setting table 44b.

In the area setting table 44b, the system settings specified by the air-conditioning control instruction unit 46 for each area, the local settings changed by the local setting terminal 71 in the area, a time when the local settings are set in the area, and a setting time are specified for each area. The environment information such as the temperature and humidity in the area is specified in the area setting table 44b, and the air-conditioning control instruction unit 46 controls the temperature, humidity, and the like in the area according to the environment information. The area setting table 44b has fields of an area, system setting temperature, system setting humidity, local setting temperature, local setting humidity, a setting start time, and a setting time.

The contents of the area field are as described in the area information table 44a.

The system setting temperature field stores the system setting temperature [° C.] set from the system setting terminal 60.

The system setting humidity field stores the system setting humidity [%] set from the system setting terminal 60.

The local setting temperature field stores the local setting temperature [° C.] set from the local setting terminal 71.

The local setting humidity field stores the local setting humidity [%] set from the local setting terminal 71.

The setting start time field stores a period of time when the local setting terminal 71 sets the local setting temperature and humidity as the setting start time.

The setting time field stores a time during which the air-conditioning is maintained at the local setting temperature and humidity from the setting start time.

For example, in a case where the system setting temperature is 27° C. in a meeting room 1, it is assumed that a person who has entered the meeting room 1 operates the local setting terminal 71 to change the local setting temperature to 25° C. In this case, since the setting time is two hours, the inside of the meeting room 1 is air-conditioned at 25° C., which is the local setting temperature, for two hours, which is the setting time, from 10:00, which is the setting start time. Then, when two hours elapse from the setting start time, the temperature in the meeting room 1 is returned to the system setting temperature.

<Sensor Data Registration Table>

FIG. 7 is a table illustrating a configuration example of the sensor data registration table 44c.

The sensor data registration table 44c stores a predicted temperature and the predicted number of people predicted by the prediction unit 45 according to the current time. Information acquired from the sensor data, the number of people in the area, and a prediction result are registered in the sensor data registration table 44c. The sensor data registration table 44c has fields of an area, temperature, humidity, the number of people, predicted temperature, and the predicted number of people.

The contents of the area field are as described in the area information table 44a.

The temperature field has subfields divided per hour and stores the temperature per hour in the subfields. For example, in the temperature field, in the subfield of 9:00, it is indicated that the temperature of an office 1 is 28° C. In addition, it can be seen from the subfields of 10:00 and 11:00 that the temperature of the office 1 is constant at 28° C.

The humidity field has subfields divided per hour, and stores the humidity per hour in the subfields. For example, in the humidity field, in the subfield of 9:00, it is indicated that the temperature of the office 1 is 65%. In addition, it can be seen from the subfields of 10:00 and 11:00 that the humidity of the office 1 is constant at 65%.

The number of people field has subfields divided per hour, and stores the number of people in the room per hour in the subfield. For example, in the number of people field, in the subfield of 9:00, it is indicated that the number of people in the office 1 is four. Further, it is indicated that the number of people in the office 1 is 10 at 10:00 and the number of people in the office 1 is 12 at 11:00.

The predicted temperature field stores a predicted temperature in the area predicted by the prediction unit 45 according to a change in the number of people in the room per hour. For example, if the prediction time is 11:00, the temperature in the office 1 is predicted to be 28° C. at 13:00, which is after a predetermined time (for example, two hours).

The predicted number of people field stores the predicted number of people in the area predicted by the prediction unit 45 according to a change in the number of people in the area per hour. For example, if the prediction time is 11:00, the predicted number of people in the office 1 is predicted to be 10 at 13:00, which is after a predetermined time (for example, two hours).

FIG. 8 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of overall processing of the air-conditioning management system 1. Here, processing is mainly performed by the local setting terminal 71 and the AI air-conditioning system 40.

First, the sensor data analysis unit 32 of the AI air-conditioning system 40 obtains the number of people in the area using the sensor data acquired by the sensor data acquisition unit 31 from the camera 20 or the environment sensor 72. Then, the prediction unit 45 outputs a prediction result obtained by predicting the number of people in the room per hour, a change in the room temperature in the area, and the like, and the air-conditioning control instruction unit 46 outputs an instruction of air-conditioning control to the building air-conditioning control system 50. The air conditioner 70 is controlled by operation of the AI air-conditioning system 40 (S11).

Here, it is assumed that the user who has entered the area operates the local setting terminal 71 to change the air-conditioning setting in the area. At this time, the local setting terminal 71 accepts the change of the air-conditioning setting such as the temperature (S1). Next, the local setting terminal 71 transmits local setting information including the accepted change of the air-conditioning setting to the AI air-conditioning system 40 (S2).

The local settings reception unit 42 of the AI air-conditioning system 40 determines whether the local setting information has been received (S12). If the local settings reception unit 42 has not received the local setting information (NO in S12), the process returns to step S11 and continues.

On the other hand, if the local settings reception unit 42 has received the local setting information (YES in S12), the local settings reception unit 42 registers the received local setting information in the area setting table 44b (S13). At this time, at least one of the local setting temperature and the local setting humidity is registered in the area setting table 44b.

Next, the local settings reception unit 42 registers the local setting start time in the area setting table 44b (S14). At this time, the local settings reception unit 42 also registers the setting time in the area setting table 44b. The setting time (for example, two hours) is registered in advance by the system setting terminal 60. However, when the setting time is set through the local setting terminal 71, the setting time is registered in the area setting table 44b. When the time set by the local setting terminal 71 is long (for example, 12 hours), the setting time (for example, two hours) previously registered by the system setting terminal 60 is registered in the area setting table 44b.

Next, based on the setting start time in the area setting table 44b, the air-conditioning control instruction unit 46 monitors the elapsed time since the local settings are set (S15). The elapsed time is calculated by the air-conditioning control instruction unit 46 subtracting the setting start time from the current time of the timer setting unit 43 acquired via the air-conditioning database 44.

Then, the air-conditioning control instruction unit 46 determines whether the current time of the timer setting unit 43 acquired via the air-conditioning database 44 has passed a local setting release time (S16). At this time, the air-conditioning control instruction unit 46 compares the elapsed time with the setting time, and determines that the current time has reached the local setting release time when the elapsed time exceeds the setting time. If the current time has not passed the local setting release time (NO in S16), the process returns to step S15 and monitoring of the elapsed time is continued.

If the current time has passed the local setting release time (YES in S16), the air-conditioning control instruction unit 46 transmits a message indicating that the local settings have ended to the local setting terminal 71 (S17). Then, the air-conditioning control instruction unit 46 outputs an instruction to return to the system settings to the building air-conditioning control system 50. At this time, the air-conditioning control instruction unit 46 refers to the area setting table 44b to acquire the system setting temperature and humidity, and outputs information on the system setting temperature and humidity to the building air-conditioning control system 50.

The local setting terminal 71 displays the system settings based on the message received from the air-conditioning control instruction unit 46 (S3). At this time, the local setting terminal 71 notifies that the air-conditioning setting in the area has returned from the local settings to the system settings.

<Example of Setting Function>

Next, various setting functions displayed on the system setting terminal 60 will be described.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a display example of setting functions 81 to 84. In the upper left of FIG. 9, a list of setting functions is displayed by function numbers and function names. Details of each function can be set by an administrator from a screen displayed in a predetermined format. In addition, in the following setting functions, fields of a target facility and a target building are used as primary keys of each setting function.

The setting function 81 is used by the system administrator to set control parameters of the target facility. The target facility represents, for example, an area in a building.

As facility control parameters, there are fields of a target facility, a control type (temperature, air volume, etc.), a day of the week, a control start time, a control end time, a data acquisition/command interval, an air-conditioning device of the target facility, an air-conditioning control type, a ceiling height, the number of windows, a direction, a top floor, a material of a wall, whether outside air enters, a reserve, and the like.

For example, in the field of a day of the week, the day of the week (Monday to Friday) containing “1” represents the day of the week on which air-conditioning control is performed, and the day of the week (Saturday and Sunday) containing “0” represents the day of the week on which air-conditioning control is not performed.

It is also indicated that the data acquisition/command interval is, for example, every 10 minutes.

The field of the air-conditioning control type contains, for example, a package air conditioner (PAC) and a fan coil unit (FCU) as the type of air-conditioning of the air conditioner 70 installed in the area.

Specified information is stored for each area in fields of a ceiling height, the number of windows, a direction, a top floor, a material of a wall, whether outside air enters, a reserve, and the like. Since the speed of the temperature rise in the area varies depending on the size of the area, the window installed in the area, and the like, such information is set as the control parameter.

The setting function 82 is used by the system administrator to set the control parameters of the target building. The target building represents, for example, the entire building.

The fields of the facility (building) control parameter are substantially the same as the fields of the facility control parameter indicated in the setting function 81, but are different in that there is no field of the air-conditioning device of the target facility.

The setting function 83 is used by the system administrator to set a target temperature of the target facility.

The setting fields include a target facility and target temperature. The target temperature represents system setting temperature (see FIG. 6) in the target facility. The system settings are set for the target temperature for each target facility. The system settings may be set for the target humidity.

The setting function 84 is used by the system administrator to set target temperature of the target building.

The setting fields include a target building and a target temperature. The target temperature represents system setting temperature (see FIG. 6) in the target building. The system settings are set for the target temperature for each target building. The system settings may be set for the target humidity.

In the air-conditioning management system 1 according to the embodiment described above, even after the user leaves the area while the area is air-conditioned with the local settings by the local setting terminal 71, the inside of the area is air-conditioned with the system settings after the setting time elapses. Therefore, unnecessary power consumption of the air conditioner can be reduced. In addition, since the system settings are set for the air-conditioning in the area, the inside of the area is kept comfortable to some extent for other users who enter the area later. When other users who enter the area later desire to lower or raise the temperature in the area, the other users may set the local settings for the air-conditioning in the area using the local setting terminal 71.

In addition, the system settings can be changed by the air-conditioning control instruction unit 46 depending on the number of users in the area predicted by the prediction unit 45. For example, the system settings are set in which, if the predicted number of people in the area is larger than the capacity in the area, the temperature is lowered, or if the outside air temperature of the building is low, the temperature is raised. Therefore, in many cases, the users in the area can stay comfortable without setting the local settings.

Furthermore, the number-of-people-in-area detecting unit 30 detects the number of people in the area based on the image data acquired from the camera 20 or the environment data acquired from the environment sensor 72. Since the number of people in the area at the current time is accurately detected in this manner, the prediction unit 45 can obtain the number of people in the area and the predicted temperature in the area after a predetermined time from the current time and register the number of people in the area and the predicted temperature in the area in the sensor data registration table 44c. Then, the air-conditioning control instruction unit 46 refers to the sensor data registration table 44c and can instruct the air conditioner 70 in each area to perform air-conditioning with the appropriate system settings per hour.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and it is obvious that various other application examples and modifications can be taken without departing from the gist of the present invention described in the claims.

For example, the above-described embodiments describe the configuration of the system in detail and specifically in order to describe the present invention in an easy-to-understand manner, and are not necessarily limited to those having all the described configurations. In addition, it is also possible to add, delete, and replace other configurations for a part of the configuration of the present embodiment.

In addition, the control lines and the information lines indicate what is considered to be necessary for the description, and do not necessarily indicate all the control lines and the information lines on the product. In practice, it may be considered that almost all the configurations are connected to each other.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

• • 1 air-conditioning management system
  • 11 to 14 area
  • 20 camera
  • 21 wireless device
  • 30 number-of-people-in-area detecting unit
  • 40 AI air-conditioning management system
  • 41 area information acquisition unit
  • 42 local settings reception unit
  • 43 timer setting unit
  • 44 air-conditioning database
  • 44a area information table
  • 44b area setting table
  • 44c sensor data registration table
  • 45 prediction unit
  • 46 air-conditioning control instruction unit
  • 47 system settings reception unit
  • 48 log information output unit
  • 50 building air-conditioning control system
  • 60 system setting terminal
  • 70 air conditioner
  • 71 local setting terminal
  • 72 environment sensor

Claims

1. An air-conditioning system that controls operation of an air conditioner to air-condition an inside of an area, the air-conditioning system comprising:

a local settings reception unit that accepts local settings changed from specified system settings by a local setting terminal that allows a user in the area to set air-conditioning in the area;

a number-of-people-in-area detecting unit that detects a number of people in the area; and

an air-conditioning control instruction unit that outputs, to an air-conditioning control system, an instruction to maintain the local settings accepted by the local settings reception unit until an elapsed time from a time when the local settings are changed in the area reaches a predetermined setting time, and, when the elapsed time exceeds the setting time, outputs, to the air-conditioning control system, an instruction to return to the system settings that are set based on at least one of the number of people detected by the number-of-people-in-area detecting unit and a type of the area.

2. The air-conditioning system according to claim 1, further comprising

an area setting table in which the system settings preset for each area, the local settings changed in the area, a time when the local settings are set in the area, and the setting time are specified for each area, wherein

the air-conditioning control instruction unit compares the elapsed time with the setting time based on the area setting table, and outputs an instruction to maintain the local settings or an instruction to return to the system settings to the air-conditioning control system.

3. The air-conditioning system according to claim 2, wherein

the number-of-people-in-area detecting unit includes a sensor data acquisition unit that acquires sensor data output from a sensor provided in the area, and a sensor data analysis unit that obtains the number of people in the area by using the sensor data,

the number of people in the area obtained by the sensor data analysis unit is used by a prediction unit to output a prediction result in which a change in at least one of temperature and the number of people after a lapse of a predetermined time in the area is predicted, and

the air-conditioning control instruction unit changes the system settings based on the prediction result, and outputs an instruction to maintain the system settings or an instruction to return to the system settings to the air-conditioning control system.

4. The air-conditioning system according to claim 3, comprising:

an area information table in which area information including at least a type of the area and a position of the area in a building is specified for each area; and

a sensor data registration table in which information acquired from the sensor data, the number of people in the area, and the prediction result are registered, wherein

the prediction unit predicts a change in at least one of temperature and the number of people after a lapse of a predetermined time in the area based on the area information table and the sensor data registration table.

5. The air-conditioning system according to claim 4, wherein

the sensor is a camera that captures an image of an inside of the area,

the sensor data is image data generated by the camera, and

the sensor data analysis unit obtains the number of people in the area based on the image data.

6. The air-conditioning system according to claim 4, wherein

the sensor is an environment sensor that measures environment information of at least one of temperature and humidity in the area,

the sensor data is environment data generated by the environment sensor, and

the sensor data analysis unit obtains the number of people in the area based on the environment data.

7. The air-conditioning system according to claim 5, comprising

a system settings reception unit that accepts the system settings preset for each area input from a system setting terminal and writes the accepted system settings in the area setting table for each area, wherein

the air-conditioning control instruction unit outputs an instruction of the system settings for each of a plurality of the areas based on the area setting table.

8. The air-conditioning system according to claim 7, wherein

the setting time is preset by the system setting terminal while the system settings reception unit is activated, or set by the local setting terminal while the local settings reception unit is activated.