Internet-washer and operating method thereof

• US 20030176928A1
• Filed: 02/27/2003
• Published: 09/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/04/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Lee, Deung Hee, Lee, Sang Su
• Granted Patent: US 7,464,426 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/11
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/00 Parameters monitored or detected for the control of domestic laundry washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/38 Time, e.g. duration
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/00 Systems or parameters controlled or affected by the control systems of washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/50 Starting machine operation, e.g. delayed start or re-start after power cut
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/58 Indications or alarms to the control system or to the user
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 33/46 Control of the energy or water consumption
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/05 for wireless communication between components, e.g. for remote monitoring or control
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25168 Domotique, access through internet protocols
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25387 Control sequences so as to optimize energy use by controlled machine

Abstract

A method of controlling an Internet washing machine is disclosed, in which the electric power required to keep the Internet washing machine be in a remote-controllable state can be reduced. The method of controlling the Internet washing machine comprises the steps of counting down the remaining time from a point of time when the internet washing machine is turned on, starting a remote control mode by connecting an on-line server with the internet washing machine so that they are in a state of a session if an operating part does not work during the preset time, and starting a power saving mode if either the operating part does not work or a signal for remotely controlling the washing machine is not generated before the preset time from a point of time when the remote control mode is started.

Claims

1. An Internet washer comprising:

a network interface being connected on-line for receiving a remote command from a remote user;

an operation unit for receiving a local command manually inputted by a local user;

a control unit getting a control signal in accordance with the remote command received through the network interface or the local command received through the operation unit; and

a power control unit setting a current power mode of the washer to any one of power-on, power-off, and power-saving modes in response to the control signal generated by the control unit.

2. The Internet washer of claim 1, wherein the network interface is a wire/wireless data communication network interface card (NIC).

3. The Internet washer of claim 1, wherein the network interface is a RS-232C interface.

4. The Internet washer of claim 1, further comprising a display unit for displaying the current power mode of the washer set by the power control unit.

5. A method of controlling an Internet washer, comprising:

a first step of checking whether an input signal including a remote command is received through a network interface;

a second step of extracting the remote command by decoding the input signal if it is found in the first step that the input signal is received; and

a third step of performing a control function in accordance with the extracted control command.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the input signal includes at least one of a command for a power control function, a command for a washing-process control function, and a command for a report control function.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein a power is turned on and the washing-process control function is carried out if the remote command extracted through the second step is the command for the washing-process control function.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising a fourth step of displaying that the washer is being controlled in a remote control mode on a display unit when the power is turned on for the washing-process control function.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising a step of displaying a message included in the input signal received on a display unit when a power is turned on upon receiving the input signal including the command for the report control function.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein each of the respective steps is carried out when the Internet washer is set to a power saving mode.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the power saving mode is a mode in which a minimum power enabling the washer to turn its power on is provided while the power of the washer is turned off (OFF).

12. The method of claim 5, wherein each of the respective steps is carried out while a washing-process control function is performed.

13. A method of controlling an Internet washer, comprising:

a first step of measuring a first time that a power of the Internet washer is turned on (ON); and

a second step of establishing a session with an online server for being set to a remote control mode if a local command is not received through an operation unit within a first period of time after the first time, and otherwise carrying out a control function according to the local command.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the steps of:

measuring a second time that the session for being set to the remote control mode is established; and

carrying out a power control function for being set to a power saving mode if the local command is not received with a second period of time after the second time.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising a step of existing from the remote control mode and carrying out the control function according to the local command if the local command is received within the second period of time after the second time.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the power saving mode is a mode of a status that a minimum power enabling to turn on the power is provided while the power of the Internet washer is turned off.

17. A method of controlling an Internet washer, comprising:

a first step of counting a time from a time point that a power of the Internet washer is turned on (ON);

a second step of switching to a remote control mode by establishing a session with an on-line server if an operation occurrence of an operation unit is not made within a setup time; and

a third step of switching to a power saving mode if the operation occurrence of the operation unit or a reception for a remote control is not made until a time set up from a time point switching to the remote control mode expires.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising a step of carrying out a release of the remote control mode if the operation occurrence of the operation unit is made while the third step is carried out.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising a step of counting a time for switching to the power saving mode again from a completing time point of a control corresponding to the received signal if the reception of the signal for the remote control is made while the third step is carried out.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising a step of releasing the power saving and remote control modes if the operation occurrence of the operation unit is made while the Internet washer maintains the power saving mode through the third step.

21. The method of claim 17, further comprising a step of releasing the power saving mode only if the reception of the signal for the remote control is made while the Internet washer maintains the power saving mode and counting a time for switching to the power saving mode again from a time point completing a control corresponding to the received signal.