阅读说明：本技术 控制装置 (Control device ) 是由 解奥晨 于 2021-03-25 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明的一方式所涉及的控制装置具备获取与洗衣机的排水速度有关的时序数据的排水速度获取部、计算所述时序数据的变化量的变化量计算部以及基于所述变化量来判定与所述洗衣机的排水有关的异常的判定部。(A control device according to an aspect of the present invention includes a drainage speed acquisition unit that acquires time-series data relating to a drainage speed of a washing machine, a variation calculation unit that calculates a variation of the time-series data, and a determination unit that determines an abnormality relating to drainage of the washing machine based on the variation.)

1. A control device is characterized by comprising:

a water discharge speed acquisition unit for acquiring time series data related to the water discharge speed of the washing machine;

a variation calculating unit that calculates a variation of the time-series data;

and a determination unit that determines an abnormality related to the drainage of the washing machine based on the amount of change.

2. The control device of claim 1,

the variation calculating section calculates a variation between two consecutive water discharge speeds from the time series data,

the determination unit determines that the abnormality is present when the amount of change in the drainage rate is outside a predetermined range.

3. The control device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a drainage time calculation unit that calculates a drainage time based on a predicted drainage speed calculated from a variation amount of the time series data.

4. The control device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,

the washing machine further includes a replacement timing prediction unit that predicts a timing of replacement of the drainage filter of the washing machine based on a predetermined threshold value of the drainage speed set in advance as the timing of replacement and a change amount of the time series data.

5. The control device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,

a water supply speed obtaining part for obtaining data related to the water supply speed of the washing machine;

the determination unit compares a predicted water supply speed predicted from a time period during which the washing machine is operated with the water supply speed acquired by the water supply speed acquisition unit to determine an abnormality related to the water supply to the washing machine.

6. The control device according to claim 5, further comprising a water supply time calculation unit that calculates a water supply time based on the predicted water supply speed.

7. The control device according to any one of claims 1 to 6,

the washing machine further comprises an external information acquisition unit for acquiring external information of a predetermined area in which the washing machine is installed;

the determination unit estimates a cause of an abnormality in the water discharge or water supply of the washing machine based on the external information when the determination unit determines that the abnormality is caused.

8. A control device is characterized by comprising:

a water supply speed obtaining part for obtaining data related to water supply speed of the washing machine;

and a determination unit which compares a predicted water supply speed, which is predicted according to a time period during which the operation of the washing machine is performed, with the water supply speed acquired by the water supply speed acquisition unit, and determines an abnormality related to the water supply to the washing machine.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a control device.

Background

For example, japanese patent laid-open No. 2013-081712 discloses a washing machine configured to detect clogging of a drain filter.

The washing machine includes a water level sensor for detecting a water level in the washing tub, and determines whether or not the drain filter is clogged by comparing an amount of change per hour (drain rate) of the water level detected by the water level sensor with a predetermined threshold value.

Disclosure of Invention

However, in the control device (operation control unit) of the washing machine, even if a failure occurs due to an abnormality in the drain filter or the drain path, for example, if the drain speed is equal to or higher than the threshold value, the failure may not be found.

Therefore, as an example, an object of an aspect of the present invention is to provide a control apparatus capable of finding an abnormality related to drainage with higher accuracy.

A control device according to one aspect of the present invention includes a drainage speed acquisition unit that acquires time series data relating to a drainage speed of a washing machine; a variation calculating unit that calculates a variation of the time-series data; and a determination unit that determines an abnormality related to the drainage of the washing machine based on the amount of change.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a data processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an example of a processing flow for determining an abnormality related to the drainage of the washing machine executed by the data processing system.

Fig. 3 is an example of a data configuration of the speedometer.

Fig. 4 is a graph showing time series data relating to the water discharge speed.

Fig. 5 shows an example of the data structure of the external information list.

Fig. 6 is an example of notification data.

Fig. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a process flow for determining an abnormality related to water supply to the washing machine executed by the data processing system.

Fig. 8 is an example of a processing flow of the drainage time calculation executed by the data processing system.

Fig. 9 is an example of a processing flow of the water supply time calculation executed by the data processing system.

Fig. 10 is an example of a process flow for predicting the replacement timing of the drain filter executed by the data processing system.

Detailed Description

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the present specification and the drawings, the same or equivalent elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and overlapping description is omitted, and elements not directly related to the present invention may be omitted from illustration. The forms of the constituent elements shown in this embodiment are illustrative throughout, and are not limited to these forms.

A data processing system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to fig. 1 to 10. Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a data processing system 100.

As shown in fig. 1, the data processing system 100 includes a washing machine 200, a server device 300, and a portable terminal 400. As an example, the washing machine 200 is an apparatus for washing laundry and the like. As an example, the server device 300 is a computer for determining an abnormality or the like of the washing machine 200 using data acquired from the washing machine 200 or data acquired from the outside (hereinafter, also referred to as external information). The abnormality of the washing machine 200 refers to, for example, an abnormality related to water supply or water discharge. As an example, the mobile terminal 400 is a device for displaying (notifying) various information (for example, data relating to an abnormality of the washing machine 200) output from the server device 300.

The washing machine 200 includes a control part 210, a storage part 220, a communication part 230, and a water level sensor 240. The control unit 210 is constituted by, for example, a cpu (central Processing unit). The control unit 210 controls the washing machine 200 by reading and executing the program recorded in the storage unit 220.

The storage unit 220 is, for example, a rom (read Only memory) or a ram (random Access memory), and stores a program executed by the control unit 210, various parameters used by the control unit 210, and the like.

The communication unit 230 is an interface for connecting to a network and performing communication. The communication part 230 controls communication with the server device 300 provided remotely from the washing machine 200.

The water level sensor 240 is a component for detecting the water level of a washing tub (not shown) of the washing machine 200. For example, the water level sensor 240 detects the water level of the washing tub based on the pressure in a pressure detection pipe (not shown) that changes according to the water level in the washing tub.

The control part 210 includes a drainage speed calculation part 211 and a water supply speed calculation part 212. The drainage speed calculator 211 calculates a drainage speed based on a variation per unit time of the water level in the washing tub detected by the water level sensor 240. As an example, the drain speed calculation part 211 calculates a drain speed per operation of the washing machine 200. The water supply speed calculator 212 calculates the water supply speed based on the amount of change per unit time of the water level in the washing tub detected by the water level sensor 240. As an example, the water supply speed calculation part 212 calculates the water supply speed per operation of the washing machine 200.

The server device 300 includes a control unit 310, a storage unit 320, and a communication unit 330. The control unit 310 is constituted by, for example, a cpu (central Processing unit). The control unit 310 reads and executes the program stored in the storage unit 320, thereby controlling the server device 300.

The storage unit 320 is a non-transitory recording medium capable of storing programs and data, and is a large-capacity nonvolatile memory including an HDD, for example.

The communication unit 330 is an interface for connecting to a network to perform communication. As an example, the communication unit 330 controls communication with the washing machine 200 and the mobile terminal 400 installed remotely from the server device 300.

The control unit 310 executes various processes based on the programs and data recorded in the storage unit 320. In the present embodiment, the control unit 310 executes a program to realize each functional block shown in fig. 1. The control unit 310 functions as, for example, a drainage rate acquisition unit 311, a water supply rate acquisition unit 312, an external information acquisition unit 313, a variation amount calculation unit 314, a determination unit 315, an extraction unit 316, an operating time calculation unit 317, and a replacement timing prediction unit 318.

The drain speed acquisition part 311 acquires time series data related to the drain speed of the washing machine 200. The water supply speed obtaining part 312 obtains data on the water supply speed of the washing machine 200. The external information acquiring unit 313 acquires external information of a predetermined area where the washing machine 200 is installed. The variation calculating part 314 calculates the variation of the time series data regarding the water discharge speed of the washing machine 200. The determination unit 315 determines an abnormality related to the drainage of the washing machine 200 based on the amount of change in the time-series data related to the drainage speed. Extraction unit 316 predicts a reference water supply speed (predicted water supply speed) from a time period during which operation of washing machine 200 is performed. Further, the determination unit 315 compares the predicted water supply speed with the water supply speed acquired by the water supply speed acquisition unit 312, and determines an abnormality related to the water supply to the washing machine 200. Further, when the determination unit 315 determines that the abnormality is related to the drainage or the water supply of the washing machine 200, the determination unit 315 estimates (specifies) the cause of the abnormality based on the external information.

The operating time calculation unit 317 calculates the total operating time (washing time) from, for example, an operating program, process contents (for example, a washing process, a rinsing process, a dewatering process, etc.), a water amount, and the like. The operation time calculation section 317 includes a drainage time calculation section 317a that calculates the drainage time and a water supply time calculation section 317b that calculates the water supply time. The drainage time calculation unit 317a calculates the drainage time based on the predicted drainage speed calculated from the time series data on the drainage speed. The water supply time calculation unit 317b calculates the water supply time based on the predicted water supply speed predicted from the time period during which the operation of the washing machine 200 is performed. The replacement timing predicting unit 318 predicts the replacement timing based on a predetermined threshold of the drainage rate set in advance as the replacement timing of the drainage filter of the washing machine 200 and the amount of change in the time series data relating to the drainage rate.

An example of a process flow for determining an abnormality related to the drainage of the washing machine 200 executed by the data processing system 100 will be described with reference to fig. 2.

The drainage speed acquisition unit 311 acquires time series data D1 relating to the drainage speed (S201). In S201, the drain speed acquisition unit 311 acquires data relating to the drain speed from the washing machine 200 via the communication unit 330, for example, each time the washing machine 200 is operated. As the data on the drainage speed, the drainage speed acquisition unit 311 associates and acquires the date, the time period, and the drainage speed at which the washing machine 200 is operated with identification information (for example, the model, the ID, and the like of the washing machine 200) for identifying the washing machine 200. The drainage rate acquisition unit 311 sequentially records the acquired data on the drainage rate in the storage unit 320. In the present embodiment, the data on the plurality of water discharge speeds recorded in the storage unit 320 is time-series data D1 on the water discharge speed.

As shown in fig. 3, data related to the water discharge speed is recorded in a speed table 321 located in the storage section 320. In the velocity table 321, data on a plurality of water discharge velocities is recorded in time series.

Further, the drainage speed acquisition unit 311 acquires data on the drainage speed from the washing machine 200 every time the washing machine 200 is operated, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the time series data D1 on the drainage speed detected in the washing machine 200 may be acquired at once at an arbitrary timing, or the time series data D1 on the drainage speed detected in the washing machine 200 may be acquired at once at predetermined time intervals.

The drainage rate acquisition unit 311 acquires the drainage rate calculated for each operation of the washing machine 200, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and may acquire the drainage rate calculated for each step, or may acquire the drainage rate calculated for a predetermined time.

The variation calculating unit 314 calculates the variation of the time-series data D1 regarding the water discharge speed (S202). As an example, the variation amount of the time series data D1 is the variation amount of the water discharge speed that varies for each operation of the washing machine 200. Fig. 4 is a graph in which the horizontal axis represents the number of operations (number of washes) and the vertical axis represents the drainage rate. As shown in fig. 4, the variation calculating unit 314 extracts the drainage rates of two consecutive operations from the time series data D1, for example, and calculates the variation α of the two extracted drainage rates.

The variation calculating unit 314 calculates the variation that varies with each operation of the washing machine 200, but is not limited to this, and may calculate the variation in one operation based on, for example, the average of the variations that vary during a predetermined number of times of operation of the washing machine 200.

The variation calculating unit 314 uses the variation of the drainage rate based on the number of times of operation of the washing machine 200 as the variation of the time series data D1, but is not limited to this, and may use the variation of the drainage rate based on the cause of reduction of the drainage rate of the washing machine 200, and may use the variation of the drainage rate based on the operation time of the washing machine 200, for example. In this case, the drainage speed acquisition unit 311 acquires the drainage speed in association with the operation time.

The determination unit 315 determines an abnormality related to the drainage of the washing machine 200 based on the variation α of the time-series data D1 related to the drainage speed. The determination unit 315 determines whether the amount of change α is outside a predetermined range (S203). When determining unit 315 determines that amount of change α is out of the predetermined range (yes in S203), it determines that there is an abnormality in the drainage of washing machine 200 (S204). When determining unit 315 determines that amount of change α is within the predetermined range (no in S203), it determines that there is no abnormality related to the drainage of washing machine 200, and ends the processing flow.

In the present embodiment, the predetermined range is an allowable range of the variation amount α that is set in advance based on a variation in the value of the drain speed that decreases according to the number of operations (or the operation time) in normal use of the washing machine 200. The normal use means that the washing machine 200 performs a normal operation in a state where an abnormality related to drainage (for example, an abnormality of a drainage filter or a drainage path) does not occur. The predetermined range is a range set in advance, but is not limited to this, and may be set based on the amount of change in the time-series data D1 acquired during normal use of the washing machine 200, for example.

Next, the external information acquisition unit 313 acquires external information of a predetermined area in which the washing machine 200 is installed via the communication unit 330 (S205). When determining an abnormality related to drainage, external information acquisition unit 313 acquires external information of a predetermined area where washing machine 200 is installed, for example, from another computer connected to server device 300 via a network. The predetermined region in which the washing machine 200 is installed is set based on, for example, positional information of the washing machine 200. The same area (city street) as the area where the washing machine 200 is installed may be set as the predetermined area, or the interior of the building where the washing machine 200 is installed may be set as the predetermined area. The external information acquisition part 313 acquires external information in association with identification information (e.g., an ID of the washing machine 200) identifying the washing machine 200. The external information acquisition unit 313 sequentially records data related to the acquired external information in the storage unit 320.

As shown in fig. 5, data relating to external information is recorded in an external information table 322 located in the storage unit 320. The external information includes, for example, a water source location, failure information of a tap water route, disaster information, water quality information, temperature information, and the like. The acquired external information is classified into information associated with an abnormality related to drainage of the washing machine 200, information associated with an abnormality related to water supply of the washing machine 200, and other information, and is recorded in the storage part 320. For example, when the air temperature information is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature, the water supply path may freeze, and therefore the air temperature information is classified into information related to an abnormality in the water supply of the washing machine 200. Further, for example, if the hardness is equal to or higher than a predetermined hardness, the water quality information is classified as information related to an abnormality in the water supply to the washing machine 200 because clogging of the water supply filter may occur. In addition, if there is tap water path failure information and disaster information, the tap water path failure information and the disaster information are classified into information related to an abnormality related to water supply and drainage of the washing machine 200.

Next, when determining an abnormality related to the drainage of washing machine 200, determining unit 315 estimates the cause of the abnormality from the external information. Specifically, the determination unit 315 determines whether or not there is information related to an abnormality in the drainage of the washing machine 200 among the acquired external information (S206).

When determining unit 315 determines that the acquired external information includes information related to an abnormality in the drainage of washing machine 200 (yes in S206), it estimates the external information as a cause of the abnormality in the drainage of washing machine 200 (S207), and proceeds to S208. When determining unit 315 determines that the acquired external information does not include information related to an abnormality in drainage of washing machine 200 (no in S206), the process proceeds to S208. As shown in fig. 6, in S208, notification data 323 for notifying the user of data relating to the abnormality of the washing machine 200 is generated, and the notification data 323 is transmitted to the mobile terminal 400 via the communication unit 330, and the process ends. In S208, when the cause of the abnormality is estimated, notification data 323 including data on the cause of the abnormality is generated. In S208, when the causes of a plurality of abnormalities are estimated, notification data 323 including data on the causes of the plurality of abnormalities is generated. Note that, the notification data 323 is transmitted to the mobile terminal 400, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and may be transmitted to the washing machine 200, for example.

Referring to fig. 7, an example of a process flow for determining an abnormality related to water supply of the washing machine 200 executed by the data processing system 100 will be described.

The water supply speed acquisition unit 312 acquires data on the water supply speed (S701). In S701, the water supply speed acquisition unit 312 acquires data on the water supply speed from the washing machine 200 via the communication unit 330, for example, each time the washing machine 200 is operated. The water supply speed acquisition unit 312 associates the date, time period, and water supply speed at which the washing machine 200 is operated with identification information (for example, the model, ID, and the like of the washing machine 200) for identifying the washing machine 200, and acquires data on the water supply speed. The water supply speed acquisition unit 312 sequentially records the acquired data on the water supply speed in the storage unit 320. In the present embodiment, the data on the plurality of water supply rates recorded in the storage unit 320 is time-series data D1 on the water supply rate.

As shown in fig. 3, data related to the water supply speed is recorded in a speed table 321 existing in the storage part 320. As an example, in the speedometer 321, data related to the water supply speed is recorded in time series.

Extraction unit 316 predicts a reference water supply speed (predicted water supply speed) from a time period during which washing machine 200 is operated. Specifically, the extraction unit 316 extracts the water supply speed belonging to the same time zone as the time zone of the target water supply speed from the data recorded in the storage unit 320 as the predicted water supply speed (S702). In S702, data on the water supply rate for each time zone acquired in advance by the water supply rate acquisition unit 312 is recorded in the storage unit 320.

For example, when the target water supply rate is 9:00 am, the water supply rate of 9:00 am on the previous operation date is extracted from the storage unit 320 as the predicted water supply rate. Here, the time at which the target water supply speed is provided and the water supply speed acquired at the same time are extracted as the predicted water supply speed, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and a predetermined time period including the time at which the target water supply speed is provided and the water supply speed acquired at the same time period may be extracted as the predicted water supply speed. In addition, when there are a plurality of water supply speeds belonging to the same time zone as the time zone of the target water supply speed in the storage unit 320, it is preferable to set the water supply speed serving as a reference based on a deviation of values of the plurality of water supply speeds as the predicted water supply speed. In the case where there are a plurality of water supply speeds belonging to the same time zone, for example, an average value of the plurality of water supply speeds may be set as the predicted water supply speed.

The determination unit 315 compares the target water supply speed with the predicted water supply speed, and determines an abnormality related to the water supply to the washing machine 200. The determination unit 315 calculates a difference between the target water supply rate and the predicted water supply rate (S703). The determination unit 315 determines whether or not the calculated difference exceeds a predetermined threshold (S704). When determining unit 315 determines that the difference exceeds the predetermined threshold (yes in S704), it determines that there is an abnormality in the water supply to washing machine 200 (S705). When determining unit 315 determines that the difference does not exceed the predetermined threshold (no in S704), it determines that there is no abnormality related to the water supply to washing machine 200, and the process ends.

In the present embodiment, the predetermined threshold is an allowable value of a difference between the target water supply speed and the predicted water supply speed, which is set in advance based on a deviation of values of the plurality of water supply speeds acquired in the same time period in normal use of the washing machine 200. The normal use means that the washing machine 200 performs a standard operation in a state where an abnormality related to water supply (for example, an abnormality of a water supply path) does not occur.

Next, the external information acquisition unit 313 acquires external information of a predetermined area in which the washing machine 200 is installed via the communication unit 330 (S706). Here, since the processing is the same as S205, the description is omitted.

Next, when determining that there is an abnormality in the water supply to washing machine 200, determining unit 315 estimates the cause of the abnormality based on the external information. Specifically, the determination unit 315 determines whether or not there is information related to an abnormality in the water supply of the washing machine 200 among the acquired external information (S707).

When determining unit 315 determines that the acquired external information includes information on an abnormality in the water supply to washing machine 200 (yes in S707), it estimates the external information as a cause of the abnormality in the water supply to washing machine 200 (S708), and proceeds to S709. When determining unit 315 determines that the acquired external information includes no information relating to an abnormality in the water supply to washing machine 200 (no in S707), the process proceeds to S709. As shown in fig. 6, in S709, notification data 323 for notifying the user of data relating to the abnormality of washing machine 200 is generated, notification data 323 is transmitted to portable terminal 400 via communication unit 330, and the process ends. In S709, when the cause of the abnormality is estimated, notification data 323 including data on the cause of the abnormality is generated. In S709, when the causes of a plurality of abnormalities are estimated, notification data 323 including data on the causes of the plurality of abnormalities is generated. Note that, the notification data 323 is transmitted to the mobile terminal 400, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and may be transmitted to the washing machine 200, for example.

In addition, the external information may also include information acquired by other washing machines. The information acquired by the other washing machine includes, for example, time series data relating to the water discharge speed of the other washing machine and time series data relating to the water supply speed of the other washing machine. In this case, for example, the water supply speed acquired by another washing machine may be extracted as the predicted water supply speed of the target washing machine 200. More specifically, another washing machine that can achieve substantially the same water supply speed as the target washing machine 200 can be extracted from the position information (e.g., address information) of each washing machine located within the predetermined area, and the water supply speed of the other washing machine can be used as the predicted water supply speed.

Further, another washing machine similar to the water supply speed of the target washing machine 200 may be extracted from the position information (for example, address information) of each washing machine located in the predetermined area, and the water supply speed of the target washing machine 200 may be predicted from the water supply speed of the other washing machine. More specifically, for example, the target washing machine 200 and another washing machine installed on a different floor in the same building may be extracted, and the water supply speed of the target washing machine 200 may be predicted from the water supply speeds of the other washing machines based on the floor difference.

The determination unit 315 compares the target water supply speed with the predicted water supply speed to determine an abnormality related to the water supply to the washing machine 200, but is not limited thereto. For example, when there is a concern about a decrease in the water supply speed due to clogging of the water supply filter, for example, when water having high hardness is used or when bath water is used via a bath water pump (not shown), the determination unit 315 may determine an abnormality in the water supply to the washing machine 200 based on the amount of change in the time-series data D1 relating to the water supply speed. In this case, since the process flow for determining the abnormality related to the drainage of the washing machine 200 is the same, the description thereof is omitted.

An example of a processing flow of the drainage time calculation executed by the data processing system 100 will be described with reference to fig. 8. The processing flow from S801 to S802 in the processing flow of the drain time calculation is the same as the processing flow from S201 to S202 in the processing flow of determining an abnormality related to the drain of the washing machine 200 shown in fig. 2, and therefore, the description is omitted.

If the variation amount of the water discharge speed that varies with each operation of the washing machine 200 is calculated by the variation amount calculation unit 314, the operation time calculation unit 317 (discharge time calculation unit 317a) calculates the predicted water discharge speed based on the variation amount (S803).

Next, the operating time calculation unit 317 (the drainage time calculation unit 317a) calculates (corrects) the drainage time using the calculated predicted drainage speed (S804). In S804, for example, in each step corresponding to the operation line, the drainage time predetermined in advance according to the amount of water or the like is corrected to the drainage time calculated using the predicted drainage speed. This can further improve the accuracy of the operation time of the washing machine 200.

An example of a process flow of the water supply time calculation executed by the data processing system 100 will be described with reference to fig. 9. In the process flow of the water supply time calculation, the process flow from S901 to S902 is the same as the process flow from S701 to S702 of the process flow of determining the abnormality in the water supply of the washing machine 200 shown in fig. 7, and therefore, the description thereof is omitted.

If the extraction part 316 extracts the predicted water supply speed, the operating time calculation part 317 (water supply time calculation part 317b) calculates (corrects) the water supply time using the predicted water supply speed (S903). In S903, for example, in each step corresponding to the operation line, the water supply time predetermined in advance according to the water amount or the like is corrected to the water supply time calculated by predicting the water supply speed. This can further improve the accuracy of the operation time of the washing machine 200.

In the above configuration, the accurate operation time can be calculated by calculating the operation time using the predicted water discharge time and the predicted water supply time. As shown in fig. 6, data relating to the operation time of the washing machine 200 may be included in the notification data 323, and the notification data 323 may be transmitted to the washing machine 200 or the mobile terminal 400 via the communication unit 330.

The calculation of the water discharge time and the water supply time uses the predicted water discharge speed and the predicted water supply speed, respectively, but is not limited thereto, and for example, the water discharge time and the water supply time may be corrected using the water discharge speed and the water supply speed obtained in real time, as long as the water discharge speed and the water supply speed are obtained for each step of the washing machine 200 or at any time.

An example of a process flow for predicting the replacement timing of the drain filter executed by the data processing system 100 will be described with reference to fig. 10. In the processing flow for predicting the timing of replacement of the drain filter, the processing flow from S1001 to S1002 is the same as the processing flow from S201 to S202 of the processing flow for determining an abnormality in the drain of the washing machine 200 shown in fig. 2, and therefore, the description thereof is omitted.

If the variation amount of the time-series data D1 relating to the drainage speed of the washing machine 200 is calculated by the variation amount calculation unit 314, the replacement timing prediction unit 318 predicts the replacement timing based on the predetermined threshold T1 (see fig. 4) of the drainage speed preset as the replacement timing of the drainage filter of the washing machine 200 and the variation amount of the time-series data D1 (S1003). In S1002, the amount of change in the water discharge rate, which changes every operation of the washing machine 200, is calculated as the amount of change in the time series data D1. In S1003, the replacement timing of the drain filter is predicted based on the number of operations. Specifically, the replacement timing is predicted based on the difference between the current drainage rate and a predetermined threshold T1 of the drainage rate set as the replacement timing, and the amount of change per one operation. Here, the timing of replacement is represented by the remaining number of operations expected to reach a predetermined threshold T1. The notification data 323 may include the remaining number of operations until the drain filter is replaced. As shown in fig. 6, the notification data 323 may include the clogging rate of the drain filter. The clogging rate of the drain filter is calculated based on the current drain speed and a threshold T1 defined by the drain speed set as the timing of replacement.

In addition, as an example, the control unit (control device) 310 of the server device 300 functions as the drainage speed acquisition unit 311, the water supply speed acquisition unit 312, the external information acquisition unit 313, the variation amount calculation unit 314, the determination unit 315, the extraction unit 316, the operating time calculation unit 317, and the replacement timing prediction unit 318, but is not limited thereto, and the control unit (control device) 210 of the washing machine 200 may have the above-described functions, and the control unit (control device) of the portable terminal 400 may have the above-described functions. Further, a server such as a cloud may be configured to perform processing of the control unit 310 of the server device 300.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made. For example, a configuration substantially the same as that described in the above embodiment, a configuration having the same operational effects, or a configuration capable of achieving the same object may be substituted.