NETWORK SYSTEM INCLUDING AN AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS AND A METHOD FOR CONTROLLING AN AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS

• US 20120158189A1
• Filed: 11/17/2011
• Published: 06/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Hwang, Dongbum, Cho, Sunguk, Moon, Muhyun, Lee, Sooyoung, Lee, Hoocheol
• Granted Patent: US 9,143,344 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/276
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/59 for presetting
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/62 characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/64 using pre-stored data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/65 for selecting an operating mode
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/10 Occupancy
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2829 involving user profiles according to which the execution of a home appliance functionality is automatically triggered

Abstract

A network system is provided. The network system may include a portable terminal in communication with the Internet, and an air conditioning apparatus that communicates with the portable terminal. The air conditioning apparatus may include a communication module that at least one of communicates with the portable terminal or accesses the portable terminal through the Internet; a user registration device that registers user information of the air conditioning apparatus; a user recognition device that recognizes a user registered in the user registration device; a controller that controls operation of the air conditioning apparatus using operating conditions designated by the registered user; and a driver that drives the air conditioning apparatus using the designated operating conditions.

Claims

1. A network system, comprising:

a portable terminal in communication with the Internet; and

an air conditioning apparatus in communication with the portable terminal, wherein the air conditioning apparatus comprises;

a communication module that at least one of communicates with the portable terminal or accesses the portable terminal through the Internet;

a user registration device that registers user information of the air conditioning apparatus;

a user recognition device that recognizes a user registered in the user registration device;

a controller that controls operation of the air conditioning apparatus using an operating mode selected by the recognized registered user; and

a driver that drives the air conditioning apparatus using the operating mode selected by the recognized registered user.

2. The network system according to claim 1, wherein the portable terminal comprises:

a controller;

a communication module that at least one of communicates with the air conditioning apparatus or accesses the Internet; and

a user registration device that registers user information of the air conditioning apparatus.

3. The network system according to claim 2, wherein the communication module includes any one of a Wi-Fi module, a Bluetooth module, and a Zig-Bee module.

4. The network system according to claim 2, wherein the user registration portion of the portable terminal comprises:

a key input configured to receive input of a user identification sign or operating conditions;

a voice input configured to record a voice of a user; and

a image capturing device configured to capture an image of a user.

7. The network system according to claim 1, wherein the user registration device of the air conditioning apparatus comprises:

a key input configured to receive input of at least one of a user identification sign or operating conditions;

a voice input configured to record a voice of a user; and

an image capturing device configured to capture an image of a user.

8. The network system according to claim 7, wherein the captured image comprises a photograph of a face of the user.

9. The network system according to claim 7, wherein the user recognition device includes at least one of the voice input or the image capturing device.

10. The network system according to claim 1, wherein the user recognition device includes a sensor mounted on the air conditioning apparatus that senses movement of a user.

11. The network system according to claim 1, wherein the portable terminal is capable of downloading a program through the Internet.

12. The network system according to claim 1, wherein the portable terminal comprises a mobile phone.

13. The network system according to claim 1, further comprising a memory that stores the user information.

6. The network system according to claim 6, wherein the user recognition device includes at least one of the voice input or the image capturing device.

5. The network system according to claim 6, wherein the captured image comprises a photograph of a face of the user.

14. A method for controlling an air conditioning apparatus, the method comprising:

registering a user of the air conditioning apparatus;

checking for the presence of a user approaching near the air conditioning apparatus;

identifying the approaching user;

selecting an operating mode suitable for the identified user; and

driving the air conditioning apparatus using the selected operating mode.

15. The method for controlling an air conditioning apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the registering the user is performed through a control panel disposed in or on the air conditioning apparatus or a portable terminal in communication with the Internet.

16. The method for controlling an air conditioning apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the registering the user comprises:

selecting a user registration menu;

inputting a user identification sign on the user registration menu to register a user; and

obtaining and storing at least one of a voice or an image of the registered user.

17. The method for an controlling air conditioning apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the registering the user further comprises receiving input of and storing designated operating conditions for the registered user.

18. The method for controlling an air conditioning apparatus according to claim 17, wherein registering the user is performed through the control panel of the air conditioning apparatus or a control application for the air conditioning apparatus installed in the portable terminal, wherein the user information registered through the control panel of the air conditioning apparatus is stored in the air conditioning apparatus, and wherein the user information registered through the control application is wirelessly transmitted to the controller of the air conditioning apparatus and stored in the air conditioning apparatus.

19. The method for controlling an air conditioning apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the wireless transmission of information between the portable terminal and the air conditioning apparatus is performed by any one of Wi-Fi communication, Bluetooth communication, and Zig-Bee communication.

20. The method for controlling an air conditioning apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the checking for the presence of the user approaching near the air conditioning apparatus comprises:

sensing movement of the user using a sensor disposed on or in the air conditioning apparatus; and

capturing an image of the sensed user using an image capturing device disposed on or in the air conditioning apparatus.

21. The method for controlling an air conditioning apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the checking for the presence of the user approaching near the air conditioning apparatus comprises:

capturing a series of images at a front of the air conditioning apparatus using the image capturing device disposed on or in the air conditioning apparatus; and

determining whether a user approaches or movement of the user, by comparing the captured images using an image difference comparison method.

22. The method for controlling an air conditioning apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the operating mode comprises one of:

an operating mode operating using operating conditions directly input by the identified user;

a preferred operating mode operating using operating conditions preferred by the identified user;

or

a designed operating mode selected by the identified user.

23. The method for controlling an air conditioning apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the operating conditions comprise operating conditions for a fan, a compressor, and a wind direction controller.

24. The method for controlling an air conditioning apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the operating conditions comprise operating conditions for a desired wind volume, temperature, and humidity.