Refrigerator setup system and method

• US 6,397,606 B1
• Filed: 11/26/2001
• Issued: 06/04/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Kwang Choon, Kim, Jung Ho, Roh, Young Hoon, Cho, Jin Chul
• Primary Examiner(s): Esquivel, Denise L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NORMAN, MARC E
• Application Number:
  US09/991,938
• Publication Number:
  US 20020069652A1
• Time in Patent Office: 190 Days
• Field of Search: 621/26, 621/25, 236/51, 236/1.B, 165/11.1, 165/11.2, 700/17, 700/83, 340/870.16, 340/870.17
• US Class Current: 62/126
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2600/07 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 11/02 with cooling compartments at different temperatures
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/16 Convertible refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/36 Visual displays
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/00 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices

Abstract

A setup system and method for a refrigerator having a plurality of compartments respectively adapted to perform independent refrigerating and freezing functions. The setup system and method provides an application program adapted to control refrigerating and freezing environments for the refrigerator and initialized during the manufacturing process of the refrigerator by the manufacturer. In accordance with the refrigerator setup system and method, the user is allowed to install, directly or via program providing means connected to a network, the application program to establish respective refrigerating or freezing environments desired for the compartments. Thus, it is possible to provide effects of establishing refrigerating and freezing environments for respective compartments meeting the local characteristics of the area where the refrigerator is used.

Claims

1. A refrigerator setup system comprising:

program providing means for providing an application program for setting up refrigerating and freezing environments for a refrigerator meeting local characteristics of an area where the refrigerator is used;

communication connecting means provided at the refrigerator and adapted to allow the refrigerator to download the application program from the program providing means;

communication control means for controlling the communication connecting means to connect the refrigerator and the program providing means to each other; and

a refrigerator microcomputer for performing a control for refrigerating and freezing functions of the refrigerator in accordance with the downloaded application program.

2. The refrigerator setup system according to claim 1, wherein:

the refrigerator is provided with a plurality of compartments respectively adapted to perform independent refrigerating or freezing functions; and

the application program provided by the program providing means comprises programs for controlling respective refrigerating or freezing environments for the compartments included in the refrigerator.

3. The refrigerator setup system according to claim 2, wherein each of the compartments has a drawer structure capable of being forwardly drawn to open the compartment.

4. The refrigerator setup system according to claim 1, wherein the program providing means comprises an internet service provider for providing the application program to the refrigerator via a network.

5. The refrigerator setup system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a key manipulation unit connected to the refrigerator microcomputer and adapted to select an optimum one of diverse application programs.

6. The refrigerator setup system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a display unit connected to the refrigerator microcomputer and adapted to display information associated with the downloading of the application program.

7. A refrigerator setup method comprising the steps of:

(a) constructing program providing means adapted to provide an application program meeting local characteristics of an area where a refrigerator is used; and

(b) connecting the program providing means to communication connecting means provided at the refrigerator, downloading the application program from the program providing means to the refrigerator, and installing the application program in the refrigerator.

8. The refrigerator setup method according to claim 7, wherein the step (b) is executed when a user does not perform a manipulation for directly selecting a desired application program, stored in a microcomputer provided at the refrigerator, to install the application program.

9. The refrigerator setup method according to claim 7, wherein the step (b) comprises the step of selecting, diverse application programs stored in the program providing means, the application program meeting the local characteristics of the area where the refrigerator is used.

10. The refrigerator setup method according to claim 9, wherein the step (b) further comprises the step of selecting, from a plurality of refrigerator compartments provided at the refrigerator, a desired refrigerator compartment, for which a desired refrigerating or freezing environment is to be set up, before or after the selection of the application program meeting the local characteristics of the area where the refrigerator is used.

11. The refrigerator setup method according to claim 10, wherein the step (b) further comprises the step of selecting the refrigerating or freezing environment, to be set up, before or after the selection of the refrigerator compartment.