Linkage system and device control server

A device controlling server for causing a plurality of control-target devices to carry out an operation which is predetermined,

• the device controlling server comprising:
• a memory that stores instructions;
• and
• a processor that executes the instructions stored in the memory to:
• in a case where an instruction for carrying out the operation in accordance with a linking rule is received from a linking server, identify, with reference to information in which devices are associated with users, a plurality of devices from among the plurality of control-target devices based on a target user designated by the linking rule and is controlled by the device controlling server;
• select one or more recipient devices from among the plurality of devices which have been identified, the one or more recipient devices being selected in accordance with information received from each of the plurality of devices which have been identified, the information indicates an operational status of a control-target device from which the information was transmitted;
• and
• transmit to the one or more recipient devices a command to carry out the operation,
• wherein the device controlling server being controlled by the linking server in accordance with the linking rule in which a trigger is associated with the operation, and the plurality of control-target devices being not designated in the linking rule,
• the trigger being a predetermined information being transmitted from an information providing server to the linking server.

A linking system comprising:

• an information providing server;
• a device controlling server,
• a linking server;
• a plurality of control-target devices;
• and
• a terminal device,
• the linking server being configured to cause the plurality of control-target devices to carry out an operation in accordance with a linking rule in which a trigger is associated with the operation, the plurality of control-target devices being not designated in the linking rule,
• the trigger being predetermined information being transmitted from the information providing server to the linking server,
• the terminal device being configured to notify the device controlling server of whether or not to cause the plurality of control-target devices to carry out the operation,
• the device controlling server comprising:
• a memory that stores instructions;
• and
• a processor that executes the instructions stored in the memory to:
• in a case where the device controlling server receives, from the linking server, an instruction for carrying out the operation in accordance with the linking rule, (i) identify, with reference to information in which devices are associated with users, a plurality of devices from among the plurality of control-target devices based on a target user designated by the linking rule and is controlled by the device controlling server,
• (ii) select one or more recipient devices from among the plurality of devices which have been identified, the one or more recipient devices being selected in accordance with information received from each of the plurality of devices which have been identified, the information indicates an operational status of a control-target device from which the information was transmitted, and
• (iii) transmit to the one or more recipient devices, a command to carry out the operation in accordance with a notification, from the terminal device, to cause the one or more recipient devices to carry out the operation.