ROBOT CLEANER, AND REMOTE MONITORING SYSTEM AND METHOD OF THE SAME

• US 20120265370A1
• Filed: 04/11/2012
• Published: 10/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: KIM, Yiebin, Lee, Kyungmin
• Granted Patent: US 8,924,042 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/2
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0016 characterised by the operator's input device input arrangements for computing systems in general G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0022 characterised by the communication link data switching networks in general H04L12/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0246 using a video camera in combination with image processing means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0255 using acoustic signals, e.g. ultra-sonic singals sonar systems designed for anti-collision purposes G01S15/93
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0274 using mapping information stored in a memory device navigation using map-matching G01C21/30
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0841 Registering performance data recording measured values G01D; information storage G11B
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services

Abstract

A robot cleaner having a network function is capable of informing information on its internal and external states, through a network service, on a time desired by a user, or periodically, or whenever an event occurs. A remote monitoring system and method of a robot cleaner are capable of allowing a network service user to check state information of the robot cleaner real-time or when necessary, under a configuration that a robot cleaner provides state information such as a cleaning state, the occurrence of an unexpected accident, to and an internal state of the robot cleaner, through a network service, by accessing a network server.

Claims

1. A robot cleaner, comprising:

a state detection unit configured to detect one or more information on internal and external states of the robot cleaner by using one or more sensors;

a controller configured to create contents for a network service based on the one or more state information; and

a communication unit connected to a network server, and configured to transmit the contents to the network server.

2. The robot cleaner of claim 1, further comprising a storage unit configured to store access information accessible to the network server.

3. The robot cleaner of claim 1, wherein the network service includes one is or more services among a message, a bulletin board, an e-mail, a web site and a social network

4. The robot cleaner of claim 3, wherein the state detection unit includes an obstacle detection unit configured to detect an obstacle by searching for a cleaning region.

5. The robot cleaner of claim 3, wherein the state detection unit includes an image detection unit installed at an upper side or a front side of a body, and configured to detect image information by capturing the periphery.

6. The robot cleaner of claim 1, wherein the controller creates the contents for a network service on a preset time, or when state information occurs or when requested from outside.

7. A remote monitoring method of a robot cleaner, the method comprising:

detecting one or more information on internal and external states of the robot cleaner;

creating contents for a network service based on the one or more state information;

accessing a network server; and

transmitting the contents to the network server.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising storing access information accessible to the network server.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the state information includes one or more external state information on intrusion detection, fire alarm, a cleaning map and a cleaning region, or includes one or more internal state information on cleaning performance, an error during cleaning performance, a mal-function, a power source and a dust box.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of detecting one or more information on internal and external states of the robot cleaner includes:

detecting image information by capturing the periphery;

detecting change of the image information; and

determining that an unexpected accident has occurred when a change amount is more than a reference value.

11. A remote monitoring system of a robot cleaner, the system comprising:

a robot cleaner configured to create contents for a network service based on one or more state information, and to share the contents through the network service; and

a terminal device configured to receive the contents through the network service.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising a network server configured to provide the network service.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the robot cleaner includes:

a state detection unit configured to detect one or more information on internal and external states of the robot cleaner by using one or more sensors;

a controller configured to create contents for a network service based on the one or more state information; and

a communication unit connected to a network server, and configured to transmit the contents to the network server.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising a storage unit configured to store access information accessible to the network server.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the state detection unit includes an obstacle detection unit configured to detect an obstacle by searching for a cleaning region.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the state detection unit includes an image detection unit installed at an upper side or a front side of a body, and configured to detect image information by capturing the periphery.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the controller creates the contents for a network service on a preset time, or when state information occurs or when requested from outside.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the terminal device includes:

a control module configured to create a control command for controlling is the robot cleaner by executing a remote control program;

a communication module configured to receive the contents with respect to the state information, and to transmit the control command to the robot cleaner; and

a user interface module configured to display the contents, and to receive the control command.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the terminal device further includes a storage module configured to store therein the remote control program and the contents

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the network service includes one or more services among a message, a bulletin board, an e-mail, a web site and a social network.