Control method for air conditioner, terminal device, and operation control system

A terminal device for receiving a selection of an operation mode of an air conditioner, comprising:

• a processor;
• a monitor;
• and
• a communicator,
• wherein
• the processor controls the monitor to display a first image, the first image including a first interface for selecting whether to change an operation mode of the air conditioner, the operation mode including a first mode of power consumption and a second mode of power consumption,
• the processor controls the monitor to display a second image when a selection to change the operation mode is received, the second image displays:
• a first range of power consumption setting values that are selectable in the first mode at a time of purchase of the air conditioner, the first range including power consumption setting values from a first end value to a second end value,
• a second range of power consumption setting values contained within the first range that are selectable in the first mode at a current time, the second range including a subset of the power consumption setting values from the first end value to a third end value that is smaller than the second end value,
• a third range of power consumption setting values that are selectable in the second mode at the time of purchase of the air conditioner, the third range including power consumption setting values from a fourth end value to a fifth end value,
• a fourth range of power consumption setting values contained within the third range that are selectable in the second mode at the current time, the fourth range including a subset of the power consumption setting values from the fourth end value to a sixth end value that is smaller than the fifth end value,
• a relationship between a size of the first range and a size of the second range representing a degree of decrease in performance of the air conditioner in the first mode over a period from the time of purchase to the current time,
• a relationship between a size of the third range and a size of the fourth range representing a degree of decrease in the performance of the air conditioner in the second mode over a period from the time of purchase to the current time, and
• a second interface for selecting a target power consumption setting value on the second and fourth ranges, wherein the second interface is slidable within the second range and the fourth range but not to the second end value included in the first range or the fifth end value included in the third range, and
• the communicator sends information indicating a current operation mode and the target power consumption setting value of the current operation mode that is selected using the second interface.

An operation control system comprising:

• an air conditioner;
• a terminal device that receives a selection of an operation mode of the air conditioner;
• and
• an operation control device that determines a control parameter for controlling an operation of the air conditioner in accordance with the selected operation mode received by the terminal device, and that controls the operation of the air conditioner in accordance with the determined control parameter,
• the operation control device including
• a processor, and
• a communicator, wherein
• the processor causes the terminal device to display a first image, the first image including a first interface for selecting whether to change the operation mode of the air conditioner, the operation mode including a first mode of power consumption and a second mode of power consumption,
• the processor causes the terminal device to display a second image upon receiving, from the terminal device, first information indicating a selection to change the operation mode, the second image displays:
• a first range indicating a range of power consumption setting values that are selectable in the first mode at a time of purchase of the air conditioner, the first range including power consumption setting values from a first end value to a second end value,
• a second range of power consumption setting values contained within the first range that are selectable in the first mode at a current time, the second range including a subset of the power consumption setting values from the first end value to a third end value that is smaller than the second end value,
• a third range indicating a range of power consumption setting values that are selectable in the second mode at the time of purchase of the air conditioner, the third range including power consumption setting values from a fourth end value to a fifth end value,
• a fourth range of power consumption setting values contained within the third range that are selectable in the second mode at the current time, the fourth range including a subset of the power consumption setting values from the fourth end value to a sixth end value that is smaller than the fifth end value,
• a relationship between a size of the first range and a size of the second range representing a degree of decrease in performance of the air conditioner in the first mode over a period from the time of purchase to the current time, and
• a relationship between a size of the third range and a size of the fourth range representing a degree of decrease in the performance of the air conditioner in the second mode over a period from the time of purchase to the current time, and
• a second interface for selecting a target power consumption setting value on the second and fourth ranges, wherein the second interface is slidable within the second range and the fourth range but not to the second end value included in the first range or the fifth end value included in the third range,
• the communicator receives, from the terminal device, second information indicating a current operation mode and the target power consumption setting value of the current operation mode selected using the second interface, and
• the communicator sends, to the air conditioner, a command for controlling the air conditioner by using the current operation mode and the target power consumption setting value of the current operation mode,
• the terminal device including
• a processor,
• a monitor, and
• a communicator, wherein
• the processor controls the monitor to display the first image,
• the processor controls the monitor to display the second image when a selection to change the operation mode is received, and
• the communicator sends the second information to the operation control device, the air conditioner including
• a processor, and
• a communicator, wherein
• the communicator receives the command from the operation control device, and
• the processor operates the air conditioner in accordance with the command.