METHOD OF PROVIDING OPERATING OPTIONS OF AN ELECTRIC APPLIANCE

• US 20160191270A1
• Filed: 12/30/2014
• Published: 06/30/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2014
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Grand Mate Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Grand Mate Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: HUANG, CHUNG-CHIN, HUANG, CHIN-YING, HUANG, HSIN-MING, HUANG, HSING-HSIUNG, YEH, YEN-JEN, LIN, KUAN-CHOU, TSAI, YU-CHIN
• Granted Patent: US 10,270,615 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2816 Controlling appliance services of a home automation network by calling their functionalities arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station; in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom H04Q9/00
• 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 12/2834 Switching of information between an external network and a home network access arrangements H04L12/2856
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/22 using selective relaying for reaching a BTS [Base Transceiver Station] or an access point

Abstract

A method of providing operating options of an electric appliance is applied in a wireless system, which includes a portable device, an electric appliance, and a relay apparatus. The portable device and the relay apparatus are connected to each other within either a near-end network or a far-end network. The electric appliance communicates with the relay apparatus, and has a plurality of operating options which can be selected to operate the electric appliance. If the portable device and the relay apparatus are connected within the near-end network, all of the operating options are displayed on the portable device for selection; if it'"'"'s within the far-end network, a part of the operating options are disabled on the portable device for selection.

Claims

1. A method of providing operating options of an electric appliance, wherein the method is applied in a wireless system, which includes a portable device, the electric appliance, and a relay apparatus, wherein the portable device and the relay apparatus are connected through either a near-end network or a far-end network;

the electric appliance communicates with the relay apparatus;

the electric appliance provides a plurality of operating options which can be selected to operate the electric appliance;

comprising the steps of;

A. establishing a network connection between the portable device and the relay apparatus; and

B. determining whether the network connection is within the near-end network or the far-end network;

wherein, if the network connection is within the near-end network, all of the operating options of the electric appliance are displayed on the portable device for selection;

if the network connection is within the far-end network, a part of the operating options of the electric appliance are disabled on the portable device for selection.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the portable device has a screen to display the operating options of the electric appliance.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein if the network connection is within the far-end network, the relay apparatus transmits a list which elaborates which ones among the operating options should be disabled to the portable device, and the portable device disables a part of the operating options according to the list.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein, the portable device determines the network connection is within the near-end network if IP addresses of the portable device and the relay apparatus are in a same Intranet in step B.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein in the relay apparatus determines the network connection is within the near-end network if IP addresses of the portable device and the relay apparatus are in a same Intranet in step B.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of making a list of restricted operating options before step A, wherein if the network connection is within the far-end network, a part of the operating options are disabled on the portable device for selection according to the list of the restricted operating options in step B.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless system includes a server which communicates with the relay apparatus through network, and the relay apparatus transmits an operation status of the electric appliance to the server;

the method further includes a step of sending a notify message to the portable device when the portable device and the relay apparatus are disconnected and the operation status of the electric appliance changes.