Operation execution control server, rule generation server, terminal device, linkage system, method for controlling operation execution control server, method for controlling rule generation server, method for controlling terminal device, and computer-readable recording medium

{
  "publication_number": "US10666450B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Operation execution control server, rule generation server, terminal device, linkage system, method for controlling operation execution control server, method for controlling rule generation server, method for controlling terminal device, and computer-readable recording medium",
  "abstract": "Within a certain time period, an action is executed according to a circumstance in which a plurality of events occur. A linking server (1) includes (i) an event detecting section (103) which detects an occurrence of each of a plurality of events specified in a linking rule and (ii) an action execution control section (105) which controls a device controlling server (2) to execute an action in a case where an occurrence of one of the plurality of events is detected and then, within the certain time period, occurrences of all of remaining ones of the plurality of events are detected.",
  "claims": [
    "1. An operation execution controlling server which controls an operation execution service to execute an action in accordance with a linking rule indicative of the action and of a trigger that triggers the action, the linking rule being set so that occurrences of a plurality of events serve as the trigger corresponding to the action, the operation execution controlling server comprising: a processor; a memory in electronic communication with the processor; instructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable to: detect each of the occurrences of the plurality of events according to information received from an information providing service, and control the operation execution service to execute the action in a case where an occurrence of one of the plurality of events is detected and then, within a certain time period, occurrences of all of remaining ones of the plurality of events are detected, the plurality of events including an action event for causing another action, which is different from the action, to be executed, the instructions being executable to: control the operation execution service or another operation execution service to execute the another action associated with the action event; detect an occurrence of the action event in a case where the another action is executed, and in a case where occurrences of all of the plurality of events except for the action event are detected, control the operation execution service or the another operation execution service to execute an alternative action that compensates for failure to cause the another action to be executed.",
    "2. The operation execution controlling server as set forth in claim 1, wherein: the linking rule is set so as to specify an order of the occurrences of the plurality of events; and the instructions are executable to control the operation execution service to execute the action in a case where it is detected that the plurality of events have occurred in the order thus specified.",
    "3. The operation execution controlling server as set forth in claim 1, wherein: in a case where a plurality of linking rules are set and a plurality of actions respectively associated with the plurality of linking rules should be executed, the instructions are executable to control one or none of the actions to be executed.",
    "4. A linking system comprising: an information providing server; a device controlling server; an operation execution controlling server; and a control-target device, the operation execution controlling server being configured to control the control-target device to execute an action in accordance with a linking rule indicative of the action and of a trigger that triggers the action, the linking rule being set so that occurrences of a plurality of events serve as the trigger corresponding to the action, the information providing server being configured to transmit, to the operation execution controlling server, information concerning the plurality of events, and the operation execution controlling server being configured to control, via the device controlling server, the control-target device to execute the action in a case where an occurrence of one of the plurality of events is detected according to the information transmitted from the information providing server and then, within a certain time period, occurrences of all of remaining ones of the plurality of events are detected, in the operation execution controlling server, the plurality of events including an action event for causing another action, which is different from the action, to be executed, the operation execution controlling server controlling the operation execution service or another operation execution service to execute the another action associated with the action event, the operation execution controlling server detecting an occurrence of the action event in a case where the another action is executed, and in a case where occurrences of all of the plurality of events except for the action event are detected, the operation execution controlling server controlling the operation execution service or the another operation execution service to execute an alternative action that compensates for failure to cause the another action to be executed.",
    "5. A method of controlling an operation execution controlling server which controls an operation execution service to execute an action in accordance with a linking rule indicative of the action and of a trigger that triggers the action, the linking rule being set so that occurrences of a plurality of events serve as the trigger corresponding to the action, the method comprising the steps of: (a) detecting each of the occurrences of the plurality of events according to information received from an information providing service; and (b) controlling the operation execution service to execute the action in a case where in the step (a), an occurrence of one of the plurality of events is detected and then, within a certain time period, occurrences of all of remaining ones of the plurality of events are detected, the plurality of events including an action event for causing another action, which is different from the action, to be executed, the step (b) comprising controlling the operation execution service or another operation execution service to execute the another action associated with the action event, the step (a) comprising detecting an occurrence of the action event in a case where the another action is executed, and the step (b) comprising, in a case where occurrences of all of the plurality of events except for the action event are detected, controlling the operation execution service or the another operation execution service to execute an alternative action that compensates for failure to cause the another action to be executed."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present invention relates to, for example, an operation execution controlling server which controls an operation execution service to execute an action in accordance with a linking rule indicative of the operation and of a trigger that triggers the operation.\n\nA system which links a plurality of network services is known as conventional art. For example, Patent Literature 1 below discloses an intermediation method which facilitates operations for user registration during linking of a plurality of network services.\n\n[Patent Literature 1]\n\nJapanese Patent Application Publication, Tokukai, No. 2014-211873 (Publication Date: Nov. 13, 2014)\n\nUsing conventional art such as that described above makes it possible for a service for controlling operations of a device to control the device to carry out a certain operation, the service being triggered to do so by provision of information from another service. For example, obtaining information indicating that a living room door in a user's house has been opened can be a trigger to control a device in the living room to speak (output a voice) a message directed to the user.\n\nHowever, according to such conventional art, only a single event can be set as a trigger. This in some cases makes it impossible to execute an action according to the circumstances. For example, in a case where a user returns home and opens the living room door, an appropriate welcoming message is, for example, “Welcome home”. In a case where the user is leaving the living room, an appropriate message is, for example, “See you”.",
  "cpc": [
    "H04L 12/2814",
    "B25J 11/0005",
    "G06F 13/00",
    "G06F 9/54",
    "G06F 9/542",
    "H04L 12/2818",
    "H04L 12/2825",
    "H04L 2012/2847"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B25J 11/00",
    "G06F 13/00",
    "G06F 9/54",
    "H04L 12/28"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Sharp Corp"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Kazuhiro Miki",
    "Masaya Nakamura",
    "Masahiro Chiba"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2016-09-15",
  "publication_date": "2020-05-26",
  "grant_date": "2020-05-26",
  "priority_date": "2015-12-01",
  "application_number": "US-201615757813-A",
  "family_id": "58796896",
  "cited_by_count": 1,
  "citations": [
    "US20030087665A1",
    "JP2002092194A",
    "US20020055794A1",
    "JP2004145875A",
    "JP2006342978A",
    "JP2008033618A",
    "JP2010152708A",
    "US20120131185A1",
    "US20140067131A1",
    "US20140180488A1",
    "US20140317410A1",
    "JP2014211873A",
    "JP2014216884A",
    "US20160182704A1",
    "US20150094825A1",
    "JP2015070430A",
    "CN104142659A",
    "US20160277203A1",
    "US20160323977A1",
    "JP2015144027A",
    "US20180173409A1"
  ]
}