Controller and control method

Abstract

A controller comprises: a communication unit configured to communicate with an air conditioner; and a control unit configured to control the air conditioner via the communication unit. The control unit has an activation mode in which the air conditioner is activated before a set time so as to cause a temperature of an indoor space to reach a set temperature at the set time. In the activation mode, for each of a plurality of performance suppression rates indicating a degree of suppression of air conditioning performance of the air conditioner, the control unit calculates a power consumption amount of the air conditioner required from the activation of the air conditioner until the temperature of the indoor space reaches the set temperature, and the control unit controls the air conditioner based on the performance suppression rate minimizing the power consumption amount in the plurality of performance suppression rates.

1 . A controller configured to control an air conditioner, the controller comprising:
 a communication unit configured to communicate with the air conditioner; and   a control unit configured to control the air conditioner via the communication unit, wherein   the control unit has an activation mode in which the air conditioner is activated before a set time so as to cause a temperature of an indoor space to reach a set temperature at the set time,   in the activation mode, for each of a plurality of performance suppression rates, the control unit calculates a power consumption amount of the air conditioner required from the activation of the air conditioner until the temperature of the indoor space reaches the set temperature, each of the performance suppression rates indicating a degree of suppression of air conditioning performance of the air conditioner, and   the control unit controls the air conditioner based on a performance suppression rate minimizing the power consumption amount in the plurality of performance suppression rates.   
     
     
         2 . The controller according to  claim 1 , wherein
 for each of the plurality of performance suppression rates, the control unit infers a required period of time that is required for the temperature of the indoor space to reach the set temperature, and   for each of the plurality of performance suppression rates, the control unit calculates the power consumption amount based on the required period of time for each of the plurality of performance suppression rates.   
     
     
         3 . The controller according to  claim 2 , wherein for each of the plurality of performance suppression rates, the control unit infers the required period of time using a trained model for inferring the required period of time based on the temperature of the indoor space, an outdoor air temperature, the set temperature, and the performance suppression rate. 
     
     
         4 . The controller according to  claim 3 , wherein the trained model infers the required period of time based on a difference between the temperature of the indoor space and the outdoor air temperature, a difference between the temperature of the indoor space and the set temperature, and the performance suppression rate. 
     
     
         5 . The controller according to  claim 2 , wherein for each of the plurality of performance suppression rates, the control unit infers the required period of time using a trained model for inferring the required period of time based on the temperature of the indoor space, an outdoor air temperature, the set temperature, the performance suppression rate, and a specification of a building relating to the indoor space. 
     
     
         6 . The controller according to  claim 5 , wherein the trained model infers the required period of time based on a difference between the temperature of the indoor space and the outdoor air temperature, a difference between the temperature of the indoor space and the set temperature, the performance suppression rate, and the specification of the building. 
     
     
         7 . The controller according to  claim 1 , wherein
 for each of the plurality of performance suppression rates, the control unit infers an air conditioning load of the indoor space,   for each of the plurality of performance suppression rates, the control unit calculates a required period of time that is required for the temperature of the indoor space to reach the set temperature based on the air conditioning load for each of the plurality of performance suppression rates, and   for each of the plurality of performance suppression rates, the control unit calculates the power consumption amount based on the required period of time for each of the plurality of performance suppression rates.   
     
     
         8 . The controller according to  claim 7 , wherein for each of the plurality of performance suppression rates, the control unit infers the air conditioning load using a trained model for inferring the air conditioning load based on the temperature of the indoor space, an outdoor air temperature, the set temperature, and the performance suppression rate. 
     
     
         9 . The controller according to  claim 8 , wherein the trained model infers the air conditioning load based on a difference between the temperature of the indoor space and the outdoor air temperature, a difference between the temperature of the indoor space and the set temperature, and the performance suppression rate. 
     
     
         10 . A control method for a controller configured to control an air conditioner, the control method comprising:
 in an activation mode in which the air conditioner is activated before a set time so as to cause a temperature of an indoor space to reach a set temperature at the set time,   for each of a plurality of performance suppression rates, calculating a power consumption amount of the air conditioner required from the activation of the air conditioner until the temperature of the indoor space reaches the set temperature, each of the plurality of performance suppression rates indicating a degree of suppression of air conditioning performance of the air conditioner; and   controlling the air conditioner based on a performance suppression rate minimizing the power consumption amount in the plurality of performance suppression rates.