Remote monitoring system and method controlling the same

• US 8,217,752 B2
• Filed: 01/23/2006
• Issued: 07/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kwon, Yong Hoan, Lee, Hoon Bong, Kim, Yong Tae, Choi, Kyoo Cheol
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Terrell, Emily C
• Application Number:
  US10/592,871
• Publication Number:
  US 20090210198A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,360 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 340/3.1
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2101/20 Operation modes, e.g. delicate laundry washing programs, service modes or refreshment cycles
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/68 Operation mode; Program phase
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/58 Indications or alarms to the control system or to the user
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 33/32 Control of operational steps, e.g. optimisation or improvement of operational steps depending on the condition of the laundry
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/05 for wireless communication between components, e.g. for remote monitoring or control
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/32 characterised by graphical features, e.g. touchscreens
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 58/36 Control of operational steps, e.g. for optimisation or improvement of operational steps depending on the condition of the laundry

Abstract

The present invention relates to a remote monitoring system and a method controlling the same, which can selectively monitor according to a condition of power and a control of devices including a washer and a dryer installed in a remote place. The remote monitoring system comprises a communication module provided in each device for transmitting monitoring information after identifying an operation condition of each device according to a user'"'"'s demand; and a remote monitoring unit for selecting a device to be monitored based on a result after identifying a power condition of each device, as well as displaying an operation condition of each device based on the transmitted monitoring information and the control of each device.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a remote monitoring unit, the method comprising:

selecting a device to be monitored, wherein the selected device corresponds to one of a washer or a dryer and wherein the other one of the washer or dryer corresponds to an unselected device;

judging if a power cord of the selected device is connected; and

controlling a displayer of the remote monitoring unit to be powered-on or powered-off based on whether the power cord of the selected device is connected or not, wherein said judging comprises;

transmitting from the remote monitoring unit a message identifying an operation condition of the selected device, the message transmitted a first number of times,

receiving a second number of answers from the selected device,

determining whether the second number is equal to the first number, and

judging that the power cord of the selected device is not connected when the second number does not equal the first number, and

wherein, when the power cord of the selected device is judged to be disconnected, controlling the displayer of the remote monitoring unit to be powered-on or powered-off comprises;

identifying if the power cord of the unselected device is connected, remotely monitoring an operation condition of the unselected device when the power cord of the unselected device is identified as being connected, and

shutting off power of the displayer when the power cord of the unselected device is identified to be disconnected.