# US 11,079,131 B2 · Control method, control apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for storing program performed by computer > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,079,131 B2 - Document ID: US11079131B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/595,554 - Filed: 2019-10-08 - Published: 2020-04-23 - Granted: 2021-08-03 - Earliest claimed: 2018-10-23 - Assignees: Fujitsu Limited - Applicants: Fujitsu Limited - Inventors: Takeshi Konno - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11079131B2 ## CPC - F24F 11/30: for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring - F24F 11/56: Remote control - F24F 11/61: using timers - F24F 11/64: using pre-stored data - F24F 11/65: for selecting an operating mode - G05B 15/02: electric - G05B 19/042: using digital processors (G05B19/05 takes precedence) - F24F 2110/10: Temperature - F24F 2110/12: of the outside air - G05B 2219/2614: HVAC, heating, ventillation, climate control - F24F: AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING (removing dirt or fumes from areas where they are produced B08B15/00; vertical ducts for carrying away waste gases from buildings E04F17/02; tops for chimneys or ventilating shafts, terminals for flues F23L17/02) - G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G) ## Abstract A control method includes: executing a generation process of generating criterion information based on history information regarding an operation of an air-conditioning apparatus, the criterion information being information used for switching a mode of the air-conditioning apparatus between a first mode and a second mode, the first mode being configured not to take an influence of an outdoor temperature into consideration, the second mode being configured to take the influence of the outdoor temperature into consideration, the air-conditioning apparatus being configured to perform air-conditioning control in a space based on the outdoor temperature and a room temperature of the space; and executing a control process when the air-conditioning apparatus performs air-conditioning in the space, the control process including performing control for switching the mode of the air-conditioning apparatus to the first mode or the second mode based on the outdoor temperature, the room temperature, and the criterion information. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A control method performed by a computer, the method comprising: storing history information regarding an operation of an air-conditioning apparatus, the air-conditioning apparatus being configured to perform air-conditioning control of an air flow provided to a space isolated at least in part from an outside space by a wall, the history information indicating one or more of temperatures measured in the space in morning time of days by the air-conditioning apparatus; executing a generation process that includes generating criterion information by using the one or more of temperatures measured in the morning time of days indicated in the history information, the criterion information indicating threshold to be used for switching an operation mode of the air-conditioning apparatus between a first operation mode and a second operation mode, the first operation mode being a mode causing the air-conditioning apparatus to operate by a control scheme configured to determine an operation timing of the air-conditioning apparatus without taking an influence of an outdoor temperature into consideration, the second operation mode being a mode causing the air-conditioning apparatus to operate by a control scheme configured to determine an operation timing of the air-conditioning apparatus with taking the influence of the outdoor temperature into consideration; and executing a control process in response to the generated criterion information, the control process including: causing the air-conditioning apparatus to measure a temperature in the space; comparing the temperature measured in the space with the threshold indicated in the criterion information; in response to a comparison result indicating that the temperature measured in the space is equal to or less than the threshold, cause the air-conditioning apparatus to operate in the first operation mode, wherein a first operation start time when the air-conditioning apparatus in the first operation mode is required to start performing the air-conditioning control in order to adjust the temperature of the space to a specified temperature by a specified time is calculated without taking an influence of the outdoor temperature into consideration; and in response to a comparison result indicating that the temperature measured in the space is greater than the threshold, cause the air-conditioning apparatus to operate in the second operation mode, wherein a second operation start time when the air-conditioning apparatus in the second operation mode is required to start performing the air-conditioning control in order to adjust the temperature of the space to the specified temperature by the specified time is calculated with taking an influence of the outdoor temperature into consideration, thereby the second operation start time is determined such that a time period from the second operation start time to the specified time is longer than a time period from the first operation start time to the specified time. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The control method according to claim 1, wherein the generation process is configured to compare a first median value with a first room temperature, the first median value being a median value of room temperatures obtained in the morning in the past, the first room temperature being a room temperature at time when the air-conditioning control is started, select the first operation mode when the first room temperature is lower than the first median value, and select the second operation mode when the first room temperature is higher than the first median value. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The control method according to claim 2, wherein the generation process is configured to, when the second operation mode is selected, select a first air-conditioning control mode or a second air-conditioning control mode based a relationship between the first room temperature and the outdoor temperature, and wherein an air-conditioning control period in the first air-conditioning control mode is different from an air-conditioning control period in the second air-conditioning control mode. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The control method according to claim 1, wherein the criterion information is so configured that when cooling is performed in the space, a cooling period in the first operation mode is shorter than a cooling period in the second operation mode, and when heating is performed in the space, a heating period in the first operation mode is longer than a heating period in the second operation mode. ### Claim 5 A control apparatus comprising: a memory configured to store history information regarding an operation of an air-conditioning apparatus, the air-conditioning apparatus being configured to perform air-conditioning control of an air flow provided to a space isolated at least in part from an outside space by a wall, the history information indicating one or more of temperatures measured in the space in morning time of days by the air-conditioning apparatus; and a processor coupled to the memory, the processor being configured to: execute a generation process that includes generating criterion information by using the one or more of temperatures measured in the morning time of days indicated in the history information, the criterion information indicating threshold to be used for switching an operation mode of the air-conditioning apparatus between a first operation mode and a second operation mode, the first operation mode being a mode causing the air-conditioning apparatus to operate by a control scheme configured to determine an operation timing of the air-conditioning apparatus without taking an influence of an outdoor temperature into consideration, the second operation mode being a mode causing the air-conditioning apparatus to operate by a control scheme configured to determine an operation timing of the air-conditioning apparatus with taking the influence of the outdoor temperature into consideration; and, execute a control process in response to the generated criterion information, the control process including: causing the air-conditioning apparatus to measure a temperature in the space; comparing the temperature measured in the space with the threshold indicated in the criterion information; in response to a comparison result indicating that the temperature measured in the space is equal to or less than the threshold, cause the air-conditioning apparatus to operate in the first operation mode, wherein a first operation start time when the air-conditioning apparatus in the first operation mode is required to start performing the air-conditioning control in order to adjust the temperature of the space to a specified temperature by a specified time is calculated without taking an influence of the outdoor temperature into consideration; and in response to a comparison result indicating that the temperature measured in the space is greater than the threshold, cause the air-conditioning apparatus to operate in the second operation mode, wherein a second operation start time when the air-conditioning apparatus in the second operation mode is required to start performing the air-conditioning control in order to adjust the temperature of the space to the specified temperature by the specified time is calculated with taking an influence of the outdoor temperature into consideration, thereby the second operation start time is determined such that a time period from the second operation start time to the specified time is longer than a time period from the first operation start time to the specified time. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The control apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the generation process is configured to compare a first median value with a first room temperature, the first median value being a median value of room temperatures obtained in the morning in the past, the first room temperature being a room temperature at time when the air-conditioning control is started, select the first operation mode when the first room temperature is lower than the first median value, and select the second operation mode when the first room temperature is higher than the first median value. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The control apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the generation process is configured to, when the second operation mode is selected, select a first air-conditioning control mode or a second air-conditioning control mode based a relationship between the first room temperature and the outdoor temperature, and wherein an air-conditioning control period in the first air-conditioning control mode is different from an air-conditioning control period in the second air-conditioning control mode. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The control apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the criterion information is so configured that when cooling is performed in the space, a cooling period in the first operation mode is shorter than a cooling period in the second operation mode, and when heating is performed in the space, a heating period in the first operation mode is longer than a heating period in the second operation mode. ### Claim 9 A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for storing a program which causes a processor to perform processing, the processing comprising: storing history information regarding an operation of an air-conditioning apparatus, the air-conditioning apparatus being configured to perform air-conditioning control of an air flow provided to a space isolated at least in part from an outside space by a wall, the history information indicating one or more of temperatures measured in the space in morning time of days by the air-conditioning apparatus; executing a generation process that includes generating criterion information by using the one or more of temperatures measured in the morning time of days indicated in the history information, the criterion information indicating threshold to be used for switching an operation mode of the air-conditioning apparatus between a first operation mode and a second operation mode, the first operation mode being a mode causing the air-conditioning apparatus to operate by a control scheme configured to determine an operation timing of the air-conditioning apparatus without taking an influence of an outdoor temperature into consideration, the second operation mode being a mode causing the air-conditioning apparatus to operate by a control scheme configured to determine an operation timing of the air-conditioning apparatus with taking the influence of the outdoor temperature into consideration; and executing a control process in response to the generated criterion information, the control process including: causing the air-conditioning apparatus to measure a temperature in the space; comparing the temperature measured in the space with the threshold indicated in the criterion information; in response to a comparison result indicating that the temperature measured in the space is equal to or less than the threshold, cause the air-conditioning apparatus to operate in the first operation mode, wherein a first operation start time when the air-conditioning apparatus in the first operation mode is required to start performing the air-conditioning control in order to adjust the temperature of the space to a specified temperature by a specified time is calculated without taking an influence of the outdoor temperature into consideration; and in response to a comparison result indicating that the temperature measured in the space is greater than the threshold, cause the air-conditioning apparatus to operate in the second operation mode, wherein a second operation start time when the air-conditioning apparatus in the second operation mode is required to start performing the air-conditioning control in order to adjust the temperature of the space to the specified temperature by the specified time is calculated with taking an influence of the outdoor temperature into consideration, thereby the second operation start time is determined such that a time period from the second operation start time to the specified time is longer than a time period from the first operation start time to the specified time. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 9, wherein the generation process is configured to compare a first median value with a first room temperature, the first median value being a median value of room temperatures obtained in the morning in the past, the first room temperature being a room temperature at time when the air-conditioning control is started, select the first operation mode when the first room temperature is lower than the first median value, and select the second operation mode when the first room temperature is higher than the first median value. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 10, wherein the generation process is configured to, when the second operation mode is selected, select a first air-conditioning control mode or a second air-conditioning control mode based a relationship between the first room temperature and the outdoor temperature, and wherein an air-conditioning control period in the first air-conditioning control mode is different from an air-conditioning control period in the second air-conditioning control mode. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 9, wherein the criterion information is so configured that when cooling is performed in the space, a cooling period in the first operation mode is shorter than a cooling period in the second operation mode, and when heating is performed in the space, a heating period in the first operation mode is longer than a heating period in the second operation mode.