Air conditioner control system using a telephone network and method for operating the same

• US 6,925,360 B2
• Filed: 11/06/2003
• Issued: 08/02/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Jeon, Duck Gu, Jung, Jae Sik, Yoon, Sang Chul, Kwon, Jae Hwan
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rapp, Chad
• Application Number:
  US10/701,501
• Publication Number:
  US 20040107024A1
• Time in Patent Office: 635 Days
• Field of Search: 700/276, 700/278
• US Class Current: 700/276
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/57 using telephone networks
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/62 characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• 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 2012/285 Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/007 with remote control systems remote control in general G08C

Abstract

An air conditioner control system and method that uses a telephone network is provided. A remote electronic device is connected to a plurality of air conditioners through the telephone network to input a control command to each of the air conditioners. A control program is run in the remote electronic device to register profile information for the air conditioners. The air conditioners are configured to transmit and receive signals over there telephone network. The remote electronic device is configured to input control commands to some or all of the air conditioners on the basis of the registered profile information. A control command input by a remote user is automatically transmitted to a corresponding one of the air conditioners with reference to the registered profile information of the corresponding air conditioner.

Claims

1. A control system for conditioning air, comprising:

an electronic device that executes a control program having;

a registration module configured by a remote user to store profile information including an identification of a conditioning system to be controlled;

a data packet creation module that generates a control command data packet based on said stored profile information and a control command inputted by the remote user; and

a data packet transmitter that transmits said generated control command data packet over a PSTN to the conditioning system associated with said profile information to control an operation of the conditioning system, wherein the conditioning system is interfaced to the PSTN, said identification of the conditioning system stored in the profile information further comprising a telephone number associated with the PSTN interfaced conditioning system.

2. A control system for conditioning air, comprising:

an electronic device that executes a control program having;

a registration module configured by a remote user to store profile information including an identification of a conditioning system to be controlled;

a data packet creation module that generates a control command data packet based on said stored profile information and a control command inputted by the remote user; and

a data packet transmitter that transmits said generated control command data packet over a communications link to the conditioning system associated with said profile information to control an operation of the conditioning system, wherein said electronic device controls a plurality of conditioning systems, said registration module storing profile information uniquely identifying each conditioning system, said communications link comprising a PSTN, each conditioning system of the plurality of conditioning systems being interfaced to the PSTN, the profile information storing a telephone number and a unique identifier that are associated with the each conditioning system.

3. A method for controlling a conditioning system, comprising:

executing a control program in a remote electronic device to store profile information including an identification of a conditioning system to be controlled;

inputting a control command representing a desired operation to be performed by the conditioning system;

generating a control command data packet based on the stored profile information and the inputted control command; and

transmitting the generated control command data packet over a PSTN to the conditioning system associated with the profile information so that the conditioning system performs the desired operation, wherein storing profile information including an identification comprises storing profile information including a telephone number associated with the conditioning system.

4. A method for controlling a conditioning system, comprising:

executing a control program in a remote electronic device to store profile information including an identification of a conditioning system to be controlled;

inputting a control command representing a desired operation to be performed by the conditioning system;

generating a control command data packet based on the stored profile information and the inputted control command; and

transmitting the generated control command data packet over a communications link to the conditioning system associated with the profile information so that the conditioning system performs the desired operation, the remote electronic device controlling a plurality of conditioning systems, the control program being executed to store profile information uniquely identifying each conditioning system, wherein transmitting the generated control command data packet over a communications link comprises transmitting the generated control command data packet over a PSTN, each conditioning system of the plurality of conditioning systems being interfaced to the PSTN, the profile information including a telephone number and a unique identifier that are associated with each conditioning system.