NETWORK SYSTEM AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF

• US 20120191254A1
• Filed: 12/28/2011
• Published: 07/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: CHO, Sunguk
• Granted Patent: US 9,008,845 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 11/46 Improving electric energy efficiency or saving
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• 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 11/65 for selecting an operating mode
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2140/60 Energy consumption
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2818 from a device located outside both the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless eletrical link G08C17/00; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with remote control systems H04M11/007
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2825 Reporting to a device located outside the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with telemetering systems H04M11/002

Abstract

A network system is provided. The network system includes an air conditioner, a terminal, a power supply source, and a power management apparatus. The air conditioner includes a first communication module so as to enable communication. The terminal includes a second communication module which is communication-connected to the firs communication module, and downloads predetermined information from a web server. The power supply source supplies power to the air conditioner. The power management apparatus manages power information supplied from the power supply source. On the basis of at least one of the power information and information on an operation of the air conditioner, the terminal displays power use information of the air conditioner.

Claims

1. A network system comprising:

an air conditioner having a first communication module to enable communication;

a terminal having a second communication module to wirelessly communicate with the first communication module of the air conditioner, the terminal to wirelessly receive information from a server and the terminal to wirelessly perform a voice call or video call with another terminal;

a power supply to supply power to the air conditioner; and

a power management apparatus to obtain power information from the power supply,

wherein the terminal displays power use information of the air conditioner based on the power information from the power management apparatus or information related to operation of the air conditioner.

2. The network system according to claim 1, wherein the power information from the power management apparatus includes one of supplied power information, electricity cost information, produced power information or power quality information.

3. The network system according to claim 1, wherein the terminal provides a control signal to the air conditioner to control an operation time or function of the air conditioner.

4. The network system according to claim 1, wherein the power management apparatus comprises:

a power measurement unit to receive power supply amount information from the power supply; and

a power management unit to control an operation of the air conditioner based on power of the air conditioner.

5. The network system according to claim 1, wherein the power management apparatus is wirelessly connected to the second communication module of the terminal to provide a wireless communication between the power management apparatus and the terminal.

6. The network system according to claim 1, wherein a power sensing part is provided in an outdoor unit of the air conditioner to sense power information received from the power supply.

7. The network system according to claim 6, wherein the sensed power information includes information of supplied power or information of used power.

8. The network system according to claim 1, wherein the power use information of the air conditioner includes a used power amount of the air conditioner or a power cost of the air conditioner.

9. The network system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a server to store state information of the terminal or the air conditioner, or operation information of the terminal or the air conditioner; and

a wireless access point to allocate an Internet Protocol (IP) address, and the wireless access point to set a communication environment of the air conditioner.

10. The network system according to claim 9, wherein the wireless access point determines an IP address of the air conditioner based on a domain name received from the terminal.

11. A network system comprising:

an air conditioner to receive power from a power supply;

a terminal to control operation of the air conditioner;

a server to store operation information regarding operation of the air conditioner or the terminal; and

a communication interface to enable communication between the air conditioner and the terminal, wherein the terminal includes a controller to control the operation of the air conditioner to reduce consumption power or electricity cost, based on power information received from the power supply or the operation information of the air conditioner received from the server.

12. The network system according to claim 11, further comprising:

a first server to store one of state information of the terminal or the air conditioner, or operation information of the terminal or the air conditioner; and

a second server to allocate an Internet Protocol (IP) address to the air conditioner.

13. The network system according to claim 11, wherein the communication interface comprises:

a network to allow the terminal to search for a domain name; and

an access point to couple the terminal with the air conditioner, with an Internet Protocol (IP) address corresponding to the domain name.

14. The network system according to claim 11, wherein the terminal displays power use information of the air conditioner based on the power information from the power management apparatus or information related to operation of the air conditioner.

15. A control method of a network system that includes an air conditioner and a terminal, the control method comprising:

executing information stored in the terminal;

providing a wireless communication between the terminal and the air conditioner;

receiving, at the terminal, one of operation information of the air conditioner or power information relating to power supplied to the air conditioner; and

determining to power the air conditioner in a power saving mode.

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising displaying, on the terminal, a used power amount or a power cost of the air conditioner, based on the operation information of the air conditioner or the power information relating to power supplied to the air conditioner.

17. The method according to claim 15, further comprising providing a control signal from the terminal to the air conditioner, when the air conditioner is determined to be powered in the power saving mode, the control signal indicating an operation time or an operation mode of the air conditioner.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein providing the control signal comprises providing a time to avoid an on-peak time, from among operation time of the air conditioner.

19. The control method according to claim 17, wherein providing the control signal comprises providing a predetermined mode as a mode for reducing a consumption power or an electricity cost of the air conditioner.

20. The method according to claim 15, wherein the terminal directly receives the power information or the terminal receives the power information from a power supply source.