Mobile terminal

• US 8,509,922 B2
• Filed: 05/10/2010
• Issued: 08/13/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Sangoh, Jang, Bongmun, Yum, Kwanho
• Primary Examiner(s): KASENGE, CHARLES R
• Application Number:
  US12/776,699
• Publication Number:
  US 20100286801A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,191 Days
• Field of Search: 700/9, 700/11, 700/12, 700/15, 700/17, 700/19, 700/80, 700/83, 700/275, 700/276
• US Class Current: 700/17
• 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 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/526 giving audible indications
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/66 Sleep mode
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/02 Sensors detecting door opening
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/08 Sensors using Radio Frequency Identification [RFID]
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/00 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2809 indicating that an appliance service is present in a home automation network monitoring functionality H04L43/0817; discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services, H04L67/51
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/282 based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2825 Reporting to a device located outside the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with telemetering systems H04M11/002
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/285 Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators

Abstract

A mobile terminal includes a wireless communication unit for collecting external information or transmitting recommended operation information to a home appliance, and a controller for generating the recommended operation information for the home appliance based on the collected external information. The mobile terminal may provide customized recommended operation information for each home appliance without separately including a device for controlling one or more home appliances provided in a home.

Claims

1. A mobile terminal, comprising:

a wireless communication unit for collecting external information or transmitting recommended operation information to at least one home appliance, the wireless communication unit comprising;

a GPS module that receives location information; and

a mobile communication module that transmits and receives voice call signals;

an output unit, comprising;

an audio output module configured to output an audio signal processed by the mobile terminal; and

a display configured to output a video signal processed by the mobile terminal;

an input unit configured to receive at least one of an audio input or a video input, the input unit comprising a microphone module configured to receive an external audio input in a call mode of the mobile terminal and convert the received external audio input into audio data;

an interface unit that provides for communication between the mobile terminal and one or more external devices; and

a controller for generating the recommended operation information for the at least one home appliance based on the collected external information, wherein the at least one home appliance comprises a washing machine, and wherein the controller generates recommended operation information for the washing machine based on the external information, the external information comprising image information of laundry to be treated by the washing machine and at least one of weather information, time information, season information, outdoor temperature information, indoor temperature information, or indoor humidity information.

2. The mobile terminal according to claim 1, wherein the display displays the generated recommended operation information.

3. The mobile terminal according to claim 2, wherein the at least one home appliance comprises a plurality of home appliances, and wherein the display displays a home appliance selection picture for selection of any one of the plurality of home appliances.

4. The mobile terminal according to claim 1, wherein the external information is collected through user input or is prestored in the mobile terminal.

5. The mobile terminal according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communication unit receives state information of the at least one home appliance from the at least one home appliance.

6. The mobile terminal according to claim 1, wherein the at least one home appliance comprises the washing machine and at least one of an air conditioner, a refrigerator, or a stereo.

7. The mobile terminal according to claim 1, wherein the external information further comprises resident information comprising at least one of a number of residents or a location and motion of each of the residents.

8. The mobile terminal according to claim 1, wherein the input unit further comprises a camera unit for collecting image information.

9. The mobile terminal according to claim 1, wherein the at least one home appliance comprises a plurality of home appliances, and wherein the display displays a home appliance selection picture comprising one or more home appliance images,

wherein the controller controls the display to, when a specific one of the one or more home appliance images is selected, display the selected home appliance image so as to distinguish the selected home appliance from the other home appliance images.

10. A mobile terminal, comprising:

a wireless communication unit for collecting external information or transmitting recommended operation information to at least one home appliance, the wireless communication unit comprising;

a GPS module that receives location information; and

a mobile communication module that transmits and receives voice call signals;

an output unit, comprising;

an audio output module configured to output an audio signal processed by the mobile terminal; and

a display configured to output a video signal processed by the mobile terminal;

an input unit configured to receive at least one of an audio input or a video input, the input unit comprising a microphone module configured to receive an external audio input in a call mode of the mobile terminal and convert the received external audio input into audio data;

an interface unit that provides for communication between the mobile terminal and one or more external devices; and

a controller for generating the recommended operation information for the at least one home appliance based on the collected external information, wherein the at least one home appliance comprises a refrigerator, and wherein the wireless communication unit receives door opening/closing information of the refrigerator, and

wherein the controller generates the recommended operation information for the refrigerator based on the door opening/closing information and the external info nation, the external information comprising at least one of weather information, time information, season information, outdoor temperature information, indoor temperature information or indoor humidity information.

11. The mobile terminal according to claim 10, wherein the input unit further comprises:

a camera unit for collecting images of items stored in the refrigerator, wherein the controller generates food information related to the items stored in the refrigerator based on the collected images and the display displays the generated food information on a screen.

12. The mobile terminal according to claim 11, wherein the controller controls the display to display an alarm message based on at least one of the door opening/closing information of the refrigerator or the food information.

13. The mobile terminal according to claim 11, wherein the food information comprises at least one of an image, name, current date, storage date, elapsed period, expiration date or barcode information of a selected one of the items stored in the refrigerator.