Remote monitoring system and method controlling the same

• US 20090210198A1
• Filed: 01/23/2006
• Published: 08/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Yong Tae, Lee, Hoon Bong, Choi, Kyoo Cheol, Kwon, Yong Hoan
• Granted Patent: US 8,217,752 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/188
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2101/20 Operation modes, e.g. delicate laundry washing programs, service modes or refreshment cycles
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/68 Operation mode; Program phase
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/58 Indications or alarms to the control system or to the user
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 33/32 Control of operational steps, e.g. optimisation or improvement of operational steps depending on the condition of the laundry
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/05 for wireless communication between components, e.g. for remote monitoring or control
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/32 characterised by graphical features, e.g. touchscreens
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 58/36 Control of operational steps, e.g. for optimisation or improvement of operational steps depending on the condition of the laundry

Abstract

The present invention relates to a remote monitoring system and a method controlling the same, which can selectively monitor according to a condition of power and a control of devices including a washer and a dryer installed in a remote place. The remote monitoring system comprises a communication module provided in each device for transmitting monitoring information after identifying an operation condition of each device according to a user'"'"'s demand; and a remote monitoring unit for selecting a device to be monitored based on a result after identifying a power condition of each device, as well as displaying an operation condition of each device based on the transmitted monitoring information and the control of each device.

Claims

1. A remote monitoring system for monitoring operation conditions of devices including a washer and a dryer comprising:

a communication module provided in each device for transmitting monitoring information after identifying an operation condition of each device according to a user'"'"'s demand; and

a remote monitoring unit for selecting a device to be monitored based on a result after identifying a power condition of each device, as well as displaying an operation condition of each device based on the transmitted monitoring information and the control of each device.

2. The remote monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the remote monitoring unit identifies if a power cord of each device is connected.

3. The remote monitoring system of claim 2, wherein the power of the remote monitoring unit is automatically off, once the remote monitoring unit judges that all power cords of the washer and the dryer are disconnected.

4. The remote monitoring system of claim 2, wherein in case a power cord of a device selected by a user is judged to be disconnected, the remote monitoring unit shuts off power or monitors an operation condition of the other device based on a result after identifying if the power cord of the other device is connected.

5. The remote monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the remote monitoring unit identifies if a power switch of each device is on or off.

6. The remote monitoring system of claim 5, wherein in case it is judged that power of the device selected by the user is off, the remote monitoring unit monitors an operation condition of the other device based on the result after identifying if the power of the other device is on.

7. The remote monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the remote monitoring unit comprising,

a first key input part for selecting a device between the washer and the dryer to be monitored,

a communication part for communicating with the communication module each provided in the washer and the dryer,

a first micom for outputting a control command based on a result of communicating with the communication module as well as for controlling the operation conditions of the washer and the dryer to be selectively displayed after identifying if the power of the device selected by the user is on or off, and

a first displayer for displaying the operation conditions of the washer and the dryer based on a control signal of the first micom.

8. A method controlling the remote monitoring system having a remote monitoring unit for remote monitoring operation conditions of a washer and a dryer comprising steps of:

selecting a device between the washer and the dryer to be monitored;

judging if power cords of the washer and the dryer are connected; and

controlling a displayer of the remote monitoring unit to be power-on or power-off based on the condition if the power cord of the device selected by a user is connected or not.

9. The method controlling the remote monitoring system of claim 8, wherein the step of judging if power cords of the washer and the dryer are connected comprises a step of the remote monitoring unit'"'"'s transmitting a message identifying an operation condition to the dryer as many times as predetermined, followed by judging if the power cord of the dryer is connected based on the result after identifying if there are as many answers transmitted from the washer, once the selected device is the dryer.

10. The method controlling the remote monitoring system of claim 8, wherein the step of judging if power cords of the washer and the dryer are connected further comprises a step of the remote monitoring part'"'"'s transmitting a message identifying an operation condition to the washer as many times as predetermined, followed by judging if the power cord of the washer is connected based on a result after there are as many answers transmitted from the washer, once the selected device is the washer.

11. The method controlling the remote monitoring system of claim 8, wherein the step of controlling a displayer of the remote monitoring unit to be power-on or power-off based on the condition if the power cord of the device selected by the user is connected or not comprises steps of

identifying if the power cord of the washer is connected, once a device selected by the user is the dryer and the power cord of the dryer is sensed to be disconnected,

remote monitoring the operation condition of the washer, once the power cord of the washer is identified to be connected, and

shutting off the power of the displayer, once the power cord of the washer is identified to be disconnected.

12. The method controlling the remote monitoring system of claim 8, wherein the step of controlling a displayer of the remote monitoring unit to be power-on or power-off based on the condition if the power cord of the device selected by the user is connected or not comprises steps of

identifying if the power cord of the dryer is connected, once a device selected by the user is the washer and the power cord of the washer is sensed to be disconnected,

remote monitoring the operation condition of the dryer, once the power cord of the dryer is identified to be connected, and

shutting off the power of the displayer, once the power cord of the dryer is identified to be disconnected.

13. A method controlling the remote monitoring system having a remote monitoring unit for monitoring operation conditions of a washer and a dryer comprises steps of:

selecting a device to be monitored between the washer and the dryer;

sensing if the washer and the dryer are power-on or power-off; and

selecting a device to be monitored based the power-on/off condition of the device selected by a user.

14. A method controlling the remote monitoring system of claim 13, wherein the step of selecting a device to be monitored based the power-on/off condition of the device selected by a user comprises a step of

monitoring an operation condition of a washer after changing the device selected in the remote monitoring unit into the washer until power is applied to a dryer, once the selected device is a dryer and the power of the dryer is sensed to be off.

15. A method controlling the remote monitoring system of claim 14, wherein the device selected in the remote monitoring unit is re-changed into a dryer to be monitored, once the power of the dryer initially selected by the user is on in the middle of monitoring the operation condition of the washer after changing the selected device into the washer.

16. A method controlling the remote monitoring system of claim 13, wherein the step of selecting a device to be monitored based the power-on/off condition of the device selected by a user comprises a step of

monitoring an operation condition of a dryer after changing the device selected in the remote monitoring unit into the dryer until power is applied to a washer, once the selected device is a washer and the power of the washer is sensed to be off.

17. A method controlling the remote monitoring system of claim 16, wherein the device selected in the remote monitoring unit is re-changed into a washer to be monitored, once the power of the washer initially selected by a user is on in the middle of monitoring the operation condition of the dryer after changing the selected device into the dryer.