Control system for controlling multiple apparatuses in linkage

Abstract

A highly versatile control system which is able to control devices in a linked manner is provided. The control system is configured to condition air of a single space 9 , and includes: an air conditioner 2 and a floor heating apparatus 3 which cannot directly communicate with each other; a router 4 which is able to communicate with the air conditioner 2 and the floor heating apparatus 3 via communication lines 11 and 12 ; and a terminal device 5 which is connectable to the Internet 10 and is able to communicate with the router 4 via a communication line 13 . The air conditioner 2 and the floor heating apparatus 3 are controlled in a linked manner by a control signal sent from the terminal device 5 via the router 4.

1 . A control system comprising:
 devices which are configured to condition air of a single space, have different outdoor units or different heat pump units, respectively, and are not able to directly communicate with one another;   a relay unit which is able to mutually communicate with each of the devices via a first communication line; and   an operating unit which is connectable to a public communication network and is able to communicate with the relay unit via a second communication line,   the devices being controlled in a linked manner by a control signal sent from the operating unit via the relay unit.   
     
     
         2 . The control system according to  claim 1 , wherein,
 the devices include a floor heating apparatus, and   linked control of the devices is carried out by controlling another one of the devices based on an operating state of the floor heating apparatus.   
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The control system according to  claim 1 , wherein,
 the relay unit is connectable to the public communication network, and   the second communication line is a line in the public communication network.   
     
     
         6 . The control system according to  claim 1 , wherein,
 a transmission process of signal transmission is carried out in the order of the operating unit, the relay unit, one of the devices, the relay unit, and the operating unit, and   transmission processes regarding the respective devices are not simultaneously carried out.   
     
     
         7 . The control system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 a transmission process of signal transmission is carried out in the order of the operating unit, the relay unit, one of the devices, the relay unit, and the operating unit, and   transmission processes regarding the respective devices are simultaneously carried out.   
     
     
         8 . The control system according to  claim 1 , wherein, the operating unit includes a storage unit which stores information regarding the devices. 
     
     
         9 . The control system according to  claim 8 , wherein, after a data amount of the information stored in the storage unit reaches a predetermined amount, if a new piece of the information is further stored in the storage unit, a piece of the information stored in the storage unit, which is the oldest piece of information, is replaced with the new piece of information. 
     
     
         10 . The control system according to  claim 5 , wherein,
 a transmission process of signal transmission is carried out in the order of the operating unit, the relay unit, one of the devices, the relay unit, and the operating unit, and   transmission processes regarding the respective devices are not simultaneously carried out.   
     
     
         11 . The control system according to  claim 5 , wherein
 a transmission process of signal transmission is carried out in the order of the operating unit, the relay unit, one of the devices, the relay unit, and the operating unit, and   transmission processes regarding the respective devices are simultaneously carried out.   
     
     
         12 . The control system according to  claim 5 , wherein, the operating unit includes a storage unit which stores information regarding the devices. 
     
     
         13 . The control system according to  claim 6 , wherein, the operating unit includes a storage unit which stores information regarding the devices. 
     
     
         14 . The control system according to  claim 7 , wherein, the operating unit includes a storage unit which stores information regarding the devices. 
     
     
         15 . The control system according to  claim 12 , wherein, after a data amount of the information stored in the storage unit reaches a predetermined amount, if a new piece of the information is further stored in the storage unit, a piece of the information stored in the storage unit, which is the oldest piece of information, is replaced with the new piece of information. 
     
     
         16 . The control system according to  claim 13 , wherein, after a data amount of the information stored in the storage unit reaches a predetermined amount, if a new piece of the information is further stored in the storage unit, a piece of the information stored in the storage unit, which is the oldest piece of information, is replaced with the new piece of information. 
     
     
         17 . The control system according to  claim 14 , wherein, after a data amount of the information stored in the storage unit reaches a predetermined amount, if a new piece of the information is further stored in the storage unit, a piece of the information stored in the storage unit, which is the oldest piece of information, is replaced with the new piece of information. 
     
     
         18 . The control system according to  claim 2 , wherein,
 the relay unit is connectable to the public communication network, and   the second communication line is a line in the public communication network.   
     
     
         19 . The control system according to  claim 2 , wherein,
 a transmission process of signal transmission is carried out in the order of the operating unit, the relay unit, one of the devices, the relay unit, and the operating unit, and   transmission processes regarding the respective devices are not simultaneously carried out.   
     
     
         20 . The control system according to  claim 2 , wherein
 a transmission process of signal transmission is carried out in the order of the operating unit, the relay unit, one of the devices, the relay unit, and the operating unit, and   transmission processes regarding the respective devices are simultaneously carried out.   
     
     
         21 . The control system according to  claim 2 , wherein, the operating unit includes a storage unit which stores information regarding the devices.