System and method for controlling communication-executable refrigerator

• US 6,442,952 B2
• Filed: 04/12/2001
• Issued: 09/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Roh, Young Hoon, Cho, Chul Jin, Kim, Kwang Choon
• Primary Examiner(s): Tanner, Harry B.
• Application Number:
  US09/832,814
• Publication Number:
  US 20010054291A1
• Time in Patent Office: 509 Days
• Field of Search: 621/25, 621/26, 621/27, 621/29, 621/30, 236/51, 236/94, 165/11.1
• US Class Current: 62/127
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2600/07 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/36 Visual displays
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/00 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/26 Speech to text systems G10L15/08 takes precedence

Abstract

A system and method for controlling a refrigerator capable of transmitting and receiving information over an external communication network. A display unit is installed on the front surface of the refrigerator, and a touch panel is connected to the display unit to input a variety of user commands. A schedule management function, a self-diagnosis management function and a component replacement time management function are performed and, if an emergency situation occurs while those functions are performed, a pop-up message is outputted to the screen and information related to the pop-up message is transmitted over the external communication network. Therefore, the user can recognize an emergency situation at an accurate date, manage the refrigerator more efficiently and rapidly and handle information more conveniently. A touch panel and a radio remote controller are selectively used to input a variety of function key signals enabling a user to watch television through the display unit. Therefore, during housekeeping, the user can conveniently watch the television, enter desired key signals or check delivered mails or character messages based on key inputs entered by himself or herself. A camera and microphone are provided to send and receive image and voice mails, thereby removing the inconvenience of key input.

Claims

1. A system for controlling a communication-executable refrigerator, comprising:

a refrigerator microcomputer for controlling all components in the refrigerator to perform refrigeration and freezing functions of said refrigerator;

a display unit installed on a front surface of said refrigerator for displaying an image on its screen in response to an external video control signal;

a touch panel connected to said display unit for calculating coordinate values of a contact point with a user, detecting a position of the calculated coordinate values from the screen and inputting a command corresponding to the detected position; and

a main control unit for controlling an image output to said display unit and performing a function associated with the command inputted by said touch panel.

2. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein a communication interface is installed in said refrigerator and connected to an external communication network to perform data communication.

3. The system as set forth in claim 2, wherein said main control unit includes a communication controller for connecting said main control unit to said refrigerator microcomputer through said communication interface.

4. The system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a camera mounted to said refrigerator for picking up an image within a given area and generating the resulting video signal.

5. The system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

a microphone mounted to said refrigerator for performing a voice input function under the control of said main control unit; and

a speaker mounted to said refrigerator for performing a voice output function under the control of said main control unit.

6. The system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a tuner for performing a channel selection or tuning operation for television reception under the control of said main control unit.

7. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said touch panel is adapted to input a variety of function key signals for television watching, said function key signals including a channel selection key signal and a volume adjustment key signal.

8. The system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a remote controller for generating radio signals to remotely control a variety of functions for television watching, said functions including a channel selection function and a volume adjustment function.

9. The system as set forth in claim 8, further comprising a radio signal input unit for inputting said radio signals from said remote controller and transferring the inputted radio signals to said main control unit.

10. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said touch panel includes a predetermined number of screen areas, said screen areas being assigned different touch codes corresponding respectively to a variety of function key signals.

11. The system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a data storage unit for storing or outputting information in response to a write or read command from said main control unit.

12. The system as set forth in claim 11, wherein said data storage unit is adapted to compression-store an image mail under the control of said main control unit for sending or reception of the image mail using said camera, speaker and microphone.

13. The system as set forth in claim 11, wherein said data storage unit includes an address directory memory for storing a directory of mail destination addresses created by the user.

14. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said main control unit is adapted to, upon detecting the reception of a mail through said external communication network, display information about the mail reception on said display unit until the user checks the received mail.

15. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said main control unit is adapted to output an information transmission button image to said display unit for the transmission of information related to a pop-up message.

16. The system as set forth in claim 15, wherein said information transmission button image includes:

an order button for purchasing specific goods over said external communication network;

a call button for generating an external call during self-diagnosis management; and

a message send button for sending a specific message to a mobile terminal at a time set by the user.

17. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said main control unit operates interactively with said refrigerator microcomputer to perform a schedule management function, a self-diagnosis management function and a component replacement time management function and meanwhile output a pop-up message to said display unit upon the occurrence of an emergency situation.

18. A method for controlling a communication-executable refrigerator, comprising the steps of:

a), by a main control unit operating interactively with a refrigerator microcomputer which controls all components in the refrigerator, performing a schedule management function, a self-diagnosis management function and a component replacement time management function and meanwhile creating a pop-up message upon the occurrence of an emergency situation;

b) outputting the pop-up message created at said step a) to a display unit installed on a front surface of said refrigerator and in turn an information transmission button image to said display unit to transmit information related to said pop-up message over an external communication network; and

c), if a specific button in said information transmission button outputted at said step b) is pushed by a user, forwarding information associated with the pushed button to a predetermined destination address over said external communication network.

19. A method for controlling a communication-executable refrigerator, comprising the steps of:

a), by a main control unit which controls all functions associated with television watching, outputting a button image including a variety of function key buttons to a display unit, said function key buttons including a reception mode selection button, a channel selection button and a volume adjustment button, said display unit being installed on a front surface of the refrigerator to display an external image;

b) determining whether a specific screen area of a touch panel has been touched by a user, said touch panel being connected to said display unit and having a plurality of screen areas for inputting a variety of function key signals corresponding respectively to said function key buttons of said button image outputted at said step a); and

c) analyzing a touch code of the specific screen area of said touch panel if it is determined at said step b) that said specific screen area of said touch panel has been touched by the user and performing a function corresponding to said touch code as a result of the analysis.

20. The method as set forth in claim 19, further comprising the step of:

d) determining whether a remote controller has transmitted a radio key signal according to a user'"'"'s operation, if it is determined at said step b) that no specific screen area of said touch panel has been touched by the user, and then setting a key signal reception mode in accordance with the determined result.

21. A method for controlling a communication-executable refrigerator, comprising the steps of:

a) installing a communication interface, a display unit, a touch panel and a main control unit in the refrigerator for the implementation of data communication over an external communication network and in turn a camera, a speaker and a microphone in said refrigerator for sending or reception of an image mail;

b), by said main control unit, determining whether a user requests the creation or checking of the image mail; and

c), by said main control unit, controlling said camera, speaker and microphone in accordance with the result determined at said step b) to send or receive said image mail.