Device cooperation control system, device control apparatus, device, method for controlling devices of device cooperation control system, and program thereof

A device control apparatus comprising:

• a transmitting and receiving unit that transmits a status confirmation signal to a first device and receives from the first device, a response signal with respect to the status confirmation signal as a result of the transmission of the status confirmation signal to the first device;
• and
• a storage unit that stores control contents of a second device different from control contents of the first device to correspond to a status of the first device, wherein a first status of the first device and a second status of the second device are independent from each other and subjected to status changes without receiving device control cooperation from each other in advance,
• wherein the transmitting and receiving unit has a configuration for acquiring the control contents of the second device corresponding to a status indicated in the response signal from the storage unit and transmitting the control contents to the second device, such that the second device is enabled to receive the control content corresponding to the status of the first device from the device control apparatus irrespective of changes to one of or any combination of:
• the first status of the first device and the second status of the second device without receiving device control cooperation from each other in advance.

A method for controlling a device of a device cooperation control system including a device control apparatus, and at least a first device and a second device, wherein a first status of the first device and a second status of the second device are independent from each other and subjected to status changes without receiving device control cooperation from each other in advance,

• wherein the device control apparatus transmits a status confirmation signal to the first device,
• receives from the first device, a response signal with respect to the status confirmation signal as a result of the transmission of the status confirmation signal to the first device,
• detects whether or not control contents of the second device corresponding to a status indicated by the response signal are stored in a storage unit using the storage unit storing the control contents of the second device to correspond to the status of the first device, and
• acquires the control contents of the second device corresponding to a status indicated by the response signal from the storage unit and transmits the control contents to the second device, such that the second device is enabled to receive the control content corresponding to the status of the first device from the device control apparatus irrespective of changes to one of or any combination of:
• the first status of the first device and the second status of the second device without receiving device control cooperation from each other in advance.

A first device that communicates with a device control apparatus,

• wherein the first device control apparatus includes a configuration for transmitting control contents to a second device different from those of the first device in accordance with a status of the first device, wherein a first status of the first device and a second status of the second device are independent from each other and subjected to status changes without receiving device control cooperation from each other in advance;
• and
• wherein the first device comprises a transmitting and receiving unit that receives a status confirmation signal transmitted from the device control apparatus and transmits a response signal including a status when receiving the status confirmation signal to the device control apparatus, such that the second device is enabled to receive the control content corresponding to the status of the first device from the device control apparatus irrespective of changes to one of or any combination of:
• the first status of the first device and the second status of the second device without receiving device control cooperation from each other in advance.

A device cooperation control system comprising:

• a device control apparatus;
• and
• at least a first device and a second device, wherein a first status of the first device and a second status of the second device are independent from each other and subjected to status changes without receiving device control cooperation from each other in advance;
• wherein the device control apparatus includes
• a transmitting and receiving unit that performs a first communication mode in which a status confirmation signal is transmitted to the first device and a response signal is received with respect to the status confirmation signal as a result of the transmission of the status confirmation signal to the first device, and a second communication mode in which a status change signal transmitted when a status of the first device is changed is received,
• a communication mode controller that switches the first communication mode and the second communication mode, and
• a storage unit that stores control contents of the second device to correspond to the status of the first device, and
• wherein the transmitting and receiving unit has a configuration for acquiring the control contents of the second device corresponding to the status of the first device included in the response signal or the status change signal from the storage unit and transmitting the control contents to the second device, such that the second device is enabled to receive the control content corresponding to the status of the first device from the device control apparatus irrespective of changes to one of or any combination of:
• the first status of the first device and the second status of the second device without receiving device control cooperation from each other in advance.

A device control apparatus comprising:

• a transmitting and receiving unit that performs a first communication mode in which a status confirmation signal is transmitted to a first device and a response signal is received with respect to the status confirmation signal, and a second communication mode in which a status change signal transmitted when a status in the first device is changed is received;
• a communication mode controller that switches the first communication mode and the second communication mode;
• and
• a storage unit that stores control contents of the second device to correspond to the status of the first device,
• wherein the transmitting and receiving unit acquires the control contents of the second device corresponding to the status of the first device included in the response signal or the status change signal from the storage unit and transmits the control contents to the second device, such that the second device is enabled to receive the control content corresponding to the status of the first device from the device control apparatus irrespective of changes to one of or any combination of:
• the first status of the first device and the second status of the second device without receiving device control cooperation from each other in advance, and wherein a first status of the first device and a second status of the second device are independent from each other and subjected to status changes without receiving device control cooperation from each other in advance.

A method for controlling a device of a device cooperation control system including a device control apparatus, and at least a first device and a second device, wherein a first status of the first device and a second status of the second device are independent from each other and subjected to status changes without receiving device control cooperation from each other in advance;

• wherein the device control apparatus includes a first communication mode in which a status confirmation signal is transmitted to the first device and a response signal is received from the first device as a result of the transmission of the status confirmation signal to the first device, with respect to the status confirmation signal, and a second communication mode in which a status change signal transmitted when a status in the first device is changed is received,
• detects whether or not control contents of the second device corresponding to a status indicated by the response signal or the status change signal are stored in a storage unit using the storage unit storing the control contents of the second device to correspond to the status of the first device, and
• acquires the control contents of the second device corresponding to the status indicated by the response signal or the status change signal from the storage unit and transmits the control contents to the second device, such that the second device is enabled to receive the control content corresponding to the status of the first device from the device control apparatus irrespective of changes to one of or any combination of:
• the first status of the first device and the second status of the second device without receiving device control cooperation from each other in advance.