Remote control system, in-home device, relay apparatus, device management method, and program

A home appliance configured to be remotely controlled according to an operation instruction transmitted via a relay device, the home appliance comprising:

• a first detector configured to detect a first communication interruption on a first communication line for transmission of the operation instruction from the relay device to the home appliance;
• a receiver configured to receive, from the relay device, an interruption signal indicating a second communication interruption on a second communication line for transmission of the operation instruction from a communication device to the relay device;
• and
• a state changer configured to change an operating state of the home appliance to a preset operating state (i) in a first situation that a duration of the first communication interruption exceeds a predetermined threshold, and (ii) in a second situation that a duration of the second communication interrupts exceeds the predetermined threshold.

An appliance management method for managing a home appliance to be remotely controlled according to an operation instruction transmitted via a relay device, the method comprising:

• detecting a first communication interruption on a first communication line for transmission of the operation instruction from the relay device to the home appliance;
• detecting a second communication interruption on a second communication line for transmission of the operation instruction from a communication device to the relay device;
• transmitting an interruption signal from the relay device to the home appliance, the interruption signal indicating the second communication interruption;
• and
• changing an operating state of the home appliance to a preset operating state(i) in a first situation that a duration of the first communication interruption exceeds a predetermined threshold, and (ii) in a second situation that a duration of the second communication interruption exceeds the predetermined threshold.

A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing a program, the program causing a computer, installed in a home and remotely controlled according to an operation instruction transmitted via a relay device, to function as:

• a detector configured to detect a first communication interruption on a first communication line for transmission of the operation instruction from the relay device to the computer;
• a receiver configured to receive, from the relay device, an interruption signal indicating a second communication interruption on the second communication line for transmission of the operation instruction from a communication device to the relay device;
• and
• a state changer configured to change an operating state of the computer to a preset operating state (i) in a first situation that a duration of the first communication interruption exceeds a predetermined threshold, and (ii) in a second situation hat a duration of the second communication interruption exceeds the predetermined threshold.