Communication-controlled washing system and method for operating the same
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A communication-controlled washing system comprising:
- a service provider for communicating with at least one washing machine, determining whether to permit the use of said washing machine and a function change thereof, receiving information regarding the operation of said machine and performing all control functions of said machine, including a use checking function, a diagnosis function and a function change function, on the basis of the received information;
communication means installed in said washing machine for processing a variety of control signals from said service provider, transferring the processed control signals to said machine, performing a protocol control function and transmitting load information signals from said machine to said service provider;
a washing machine controller connected to said communication means for operating said washing machine, controlling loads, performing said diagnosis function and transmitting and receiving information regarding a use history of said machine;
a display unit for displaying the current operating state of said washing machine under the control of said washing machine controller;
a key input unit for inputting key signals for selecting or changing washing functions according to user'"'"'s operations;
external memory means for performing read/write operations for data downloaded from said service provider according to a user'"'"'s selection for execution of control functions associated with the downloaded data; and
sense signal generation means installed in said washing machine for generating an identifier signal indicative of a using purpose of said machine and a fault sense signal indicative of the presence or not of a fault in said machine.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A communication-controlled washing system and a method for operating the same, wherein at least one washing machine is remotely controllable through a communication unit. A service provider controls the use, operation completion, operation progress and fault diagnosis of a plurality of washing machines individually over a communication network, resulting in a significant reduction in time and effort required for users or managers to limit the use of machines, upgrade programs or repair faults. Further, the optimum washing mode can be performed according to a use history and environmental conditions of each machine.
-
Citations
21 Claims
-
1. A communication-controlled washing system comprising:
-
a service provider for communicating with at least one washing machine, determining whether to permit the use of said washing machine and a function change thereof, receiving information regarding the operation of said machine and performing all control functions of said machine, including a use checking function, a diagnosis function and a function change function, on the basis of the received information;
communication means installed in said washing machine for processing a variety of control signals from said service provider, transferring the processed control signals to said machine, performing a protocol control function and transmitting load information signals from said machine to said service provider;
a washing machine controller connected to said communication means for operating said washing machine, controlling loads, performing said diagnosis function and transmitting and receiving information regarding a use history of said machine;
a display unit for displaying the current operating state of said washing machine under the control of said washing machine controller;
a key input unit for inputting key signals for selecting or changing washing functions according to user'"'"'s operations;
external memory means for performing read/write operations for data downloaded from said service provider according to a user'"'"'s selection for execution of control functions associated with the downloaded data; and
sense signal generation means installed in said washing machine for generating an identifier signal indicative of a using purpose of said machine and a fault sense signal indicative of the presence or not of a fault in said machine. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
a communication module for transmitting and receiving information between said service provider and said washing machine; and
a protocol processor for performing said protocol control function for the information transmission and reception through said communication module.
-
-
7. The communication-controlled washing system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said external memory means includes:
-
an external memory connected to said washing machine controller according to the user'"'"'s selection for performing said read/write operations for the data downloaded from said service provider; and
an external memory controller for addressing said external memory and controlling the processing of data in respective addresses of said external memory.
-
-
8. The communication-controlled washing system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said sense signal generation means includes:
-
an identifier unit for generating said identifier signal indicative of the using purpose of said washing machine, thereby allowing said service provider to provide control information and services according to the using purpose of said machine; and
a washing machine fault sensor for sensing the presence or not of a fault in said machine and outputting the sensed result as said fault sense signal.
-
-
9. A method for operating a communication-controlled washing system, comprising the steps of:
-
a) gaining access to a service provider through communication means and entering a unique identification character assigned to a specific washing machine to use the washing machine, said service provider adapted for permitting or restricting the use of a plurality of washing machines including said specific washing machine and performing all control functions associated with a washing operation;
b) by said service provider, checking said unique identification character entered at said step a) and determining from the checked result whether to permit or restrict the use of said specific washing machine;
c) by said specific washing machine, setting parameters associated with respective washing functions if its use is permitted by said service provider at said step b), performing the washing operation according to the set parameters and requesting said service provider to permit completion of said washing operation if said washing operation is completed;
d) by said service provider, receiving washing information from said specific washing machine if a completion permission request is transmitted from said specific washing machine at said step c), determining from the received washing information whether said washing operation has been normally completed and transmitting completion permission information to said specific washing machine if said washing operation has been normally completed; and
e) by said specific washing machine, completing said washing operation if said completion permission information is transmitted from said service provider at said step d) and then waiting for the next washing operation. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
c-1) by said specific washing machine, re-entering said unique identification character if its use is restricted by said service provider at said step b) and again requesting said service provider to permit its use; and
c-2) by said service provider, transmitting use disable information to said specific washing machine upon restricting the use of said specific washing machine even if said specific washing machine re-enters said unique identification character a predetermined number of times.
-
-
11. The method as set forth in claim 9, wherein said step d) includes the step of by said service provider, checking said washing information, determining from the checked result whether said washing operation has been normally completed, transmitting said completion permission information to said specific washing machine if said washing operation has been normally completed and settling accounts for a fee for using said specific washing machine.
-
12. The method as set forth in claim 9, wherein said step e) includes the steps of:
-
e-1) by said specific washing machine, completing said washing operation if said completion permission information is transmitted from said service provider at said step d), entering a power saving mode and then waiting for the next washing operation; and
e-2) by said specific washing machine, keeping its door closed if completion restriction information is transmitted from said service provider at said step d) and inquiring of said service provider about whether to permit the completion of said washing operation.
-
-
13. A method for operating a communication-controlled washing system, comprising the steps of:
-
a) gaining access to a service provider through communication means and installing identifier means in a specific washing machine assigned a unique identification character, said service provider adapted for permitting or restricting the use of a plurality of washing machines including said specific washing machine and performing all control functions associated with a washing operation, said identifier means adapted for generating an identifier signal indicative of a using purpose of said specific washing machine;
b) by said service provider, checking the using purpose of said specific washing machine in response to said identifier signal from said identifier means to provide a specific service to said specific washing machine; and
c) by said service provider, determining service contents in accordance with the result checked at said step b) and exchanging information regarding the determined service contents with said specific washing machine through said communication means. - View Dependent Claims (14)
-
-
15. A method for operating a communication-controlled washing system, comprising the steps of:
-
a) by a specific washing machine assigned a unique identification character, gaining access to a service provider through communication means, sensing the presence or not of a fault in a plurality of sensors and loads therein and generating a fault sense signal upon sensing the presence of the fault, said service provider adapted for permitting or restricting the use of a plurality of washing machines including said specific washing machine and performing all control functions associated with a washing operation;
b) by said service provider, discriminating the type of said fault in response to said fault sense signal generated at said step a) and determining from the discriminated result whether said specific washing machine can repair said fault by itself or a visit-repair service is required to repair said fault; and
c) by said service provider, transmitting self-repair information to said specific washing machine if it is determined at said step b) that said specific washing machine can repair said fault by itself, and operation disable information to said specific washing machine if it is determined at said step b) that said visit-repair service is required. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
c-1) by said service provider, displaying said self-repair information on a display unit of said specific washing machine to enable a washing machine user to personally repair said fault on the basis of the displayed self-repair information, if it is determined at said step b) that said specific washing machine can repair said fault by itself; and
c-2) by said service provider, determining whether the presence of a fault in said sensors and loads in said specific washing machine is sensed when said washing operation is resumed after the self-repair is completed at said step c-1).
-
-
17. The method as set forth in claim 15, wherein said step c) includes the step of by said service provider, transmitting a telephone number of a service center nearest to said specific washing machine and other necessary information to said specific washing machine if it is determined at said step b) that said visit-repair service is required.
-
18. A method for operating a communication-controlled washing system, comprising the steps of:
-
a) by a washing machine controller in a specific washing machine, exchanging washing control information with a service provider over a communication network and starting a washing operation of said specific washing machine in response to a key operation of a key input unit in said specific washing machine by an unspecified user, said service provider adapted for permitting or restricting the use of a plurality of washing machines including said specific washing machine and performing all control functions associated with the washing operation;
b) by said washing machine controller, sensing control input parameters necessary to said washing operation of said specific washing machine if said washing operation is started at said step a) and performing a washing control mode according to the sensed control input parameters;
c) by said washing machine controller, transmitting a record regarding said washing operation of said specific washing machine to said service provider if said washing control mode is completed at said step b) and by said service provider, receiving said washing operation record from said washing machine controller, accumulatively adding the received washing operation record to previous washing operation records and storing the added result; and
d) by said service provider, classifying service contents according to used time zones and the number of used times and providing the classified service contents to said specific washing machine.
-
-
19. A method for operating a communication-controlled washing system, comprising the steps of:
-
a) allowing at least one washing machine and a service provider to perform an initialization operation therebetween, said washing machine adapted for receiving remote control information from said service provider over a communication network, performing a washing operation according to the received remote control information and transmitting information regarding the washing operation to said service provider, said service provider adapted for communicating with said washing machine through communication means, determining whether to permit the use of said washing machine and a function change thereof, receiving said washing operation information from said washing machine and performing all control functions of said washing machine, including a use checking function, a diagnosis function and a function change function, on the basis of the received washing operation information;
b) by said service provider, if said washing machine desires to download a new program about a specific function and various service information, searching for said program and information and transmitting the searched program and information to said washing machine; and
c) by said washing machine, changing a preset program to said program transmitted at said step b), setting control parameters for an optimum washing mode according to said information transmitted at said step b) and performing said washing operation on the basis of the changed program and the set control parameters. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
-
Specification