Network system including an air conditioning apparatus and a method for controlling an air conditioning apparatus

• US 9,143,344 B2
• Filed: 11/17/2011
• Issued: 09/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Cho, Sunguk, Lee, Hoocheol, Moon, Muhyun, Hwang, Dongbum, Lee, Sooyoung
• Primary Examiner(s): Fennema, Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): STEVENS, THOMAS H
• Application Number:
  US13/298,634
• Publication Number:
  US 20120158189A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,405 Days
• Field of Search: 700/276, 455/414.1, 455/456.1, 705/51, 715/722
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/59 for presetting
• 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: F24F 11/64 using pre-stored data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/65 for selecting an operating mode
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/10 Occupancy
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2829 involving user profiles according to which the execution of a home appliance functionality is automatically triggered

Abstract

A network system is provided. The network system may include a portable terminal in communication with the Internet, and an air conditioning apparatus that communicates with the portable terminal. The air conditioning apparatus may include a communication module that at least one of communicates with the portable terminal or accesses the portable terminal through the Internet; a user registration device that registers user information of the air conditioning apparatus; a user recognition device that recognizes a user registered in the user registration device; a controller that controls operation of the air conditioning apparatus using operating conditions designated by the registered user; and a driver that drives the air conditioning apparatus using the designated operating conditions.

Claims

1. An air conditioning apparatus in communication with a portable terminal being linkable with the Internet, the air conditioning apparatus comprising:

a communication module that at least one of communicates with the portable terminal or accesses the portable terminal through the Internet;

a user registration device that registers user information of the air conditioning apparatus, the user registration device having a first input device to input initial operating conditions including at least one of an interior temperature, an interior humidity, or a wind volume of a fan;

a user recognition device that recognizes a user registered in the user registration device;

a timer configured to measure time elapsed to change operating conditions from the initial operating conditions;

a controller that senses whether command has been input to change the operating conditions; and

a driver that drives the air conditioning apparatus by the controller, wherein the air conditioning apparatus is operated with the initial operating conditions and the timer continuously counts time when the command changing the operating conditions has not been input, wherein the time elapsed to change the operating conditions and the changed operating conditions are stored when the command changing the operating conditions has been input, wherein the controller determines a preference operating mode using preference operating conditions based on the stored time and the changed operating conditions, wherein a weight value is given to the operating conditions having a largest selection frequency of accumulated operating conditions, wherein the controller determines that the operating conditions having a largest weight value is selected as a preference operating mode, and wherein when the user selects the preference operating mode, the controller controls the driver such that the driver drives the air conditioning apparatus using the selected preference operating mode.

2. The air conditioning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the portable terminal comprises:

a controller;

a communication module that at least one of communicates with the air conditioning apparatus or accesses the Internet; and

a user registration device that registers the user information of the air conditioning apparatus.

3. The air conditioning apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the communication module includes any one of a Wi-Fi module, a Bluetooth module, and a mesh network module.

4. The air conditioning apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the user registration device of the portable terminal comprises:

a key input configured to receive input of a user identification sign or the operating conditions;

a voice, input configured to record a voice of the user; and

an image capturing device configured to capture an image of the user.

5. The air conditioning apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the captured image comprises a photograph of a face of the user.

6. The air conditioning apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the user recognition device of the portable terminal includes at least one of the voice input or the image capturing device.

7. The air conditioning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the user registration device of the air conditioning apparatus comprises:

a key input configured to receive input of at least one of a user identification sign or the operating conditions;

a voice input configured to record a voice of the user; and

an image capturing device configured to capture an image of the user.

8. The air conditioning apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the captured image comprises a photograph of a face of the user.

9. The air conditioning apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the user recognition device includes at least one of the voice input or the image capturing device.

10. The air conditioning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the user recognition device includes a sensor mounted on the air conditioning apparatus that senses movement of the user.

11. The air conditioning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the portable terminal is configured to download a program through the Internet.

12. The air conditioning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the portable terminal comprises a mobile phone.

13. A method for controlling an air conditioning apparatus, the method comprising:

registering a user of the air conditioning apparatus, the registering comprising inputting initial operating conditions including at least one of an interior temperature, an interior humidity, or a wind volume of a fan;

determining whether a command has been input to change the operating conditions;

storing time elapsed to change the operating conditions and the changed operating conditions are stored when the command changing the operating conditions has been input;

determining a preference operating mode using preference operating conditions based on the stored elapsed time and the changed operating conditions;

checking for the presence of a user approaching near the air conditioning apparatus;

identifying the approaching user;

selecting the operating mode suitable for the identified user; and

driving the air conditioning apparatus using the selected preference operating mode, wherein the preference operating mode is determined based on the time elapsed to change the operating conditions from the initial operating conditions of the air conditioning apparatus, wherein an individual operating mode is determined based on driving conditions input by the registered user, wherein a weight value is given to the operating conditions having a largest selection frequency of accumulated operating conditions, wherein the operating conditions having a largest weight value is selected as the preference operating mode, and wherein when the user selects the preference operating mode, the air conditioning, apparatus is driven using the selected preference operating mode.

14. The method for controlling an air conditioning apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the registering the user is performed through a control panel disposed in or on the air conditioning apparatus or a portable terminal in communication with the Internet.

15. The method for controlling an air conditioning apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the registering the user comprises:

selecting a user registration menu;

inputting a user identification sign on the user registration menu to register the user; and

obtaining and storing at least one of a voice or an image of the registered the user.

16. The method for controlling an air conditioning apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the registering the user is performed through the control panel of the air conditioning apparatus or a control application for the air conditioning apparatus installed in the portable terminal, wherein user information registered through the control panel of the air conditioning apparatus is stored in the air conditioning apparatus, and wherein the user information registered through the control application is wirelessly transmitted to the controller of the air conditioning apparatus and stored in the air conditioning apparatus.

17. The method for controlling an air conditioning apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the wireless transmission of information between the portable terminal and the air conditioning apparatus is performed by any one of Wi-Fi communication, Bluetooth communication, and mesh network communication.

18. The method for controlling an air conditioning apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the checking for the presence of the user approaching near the air conditioning apparatus comprises:

sensing movement of the user using a sensor disposed on or in the air conditioning apparatus; and

capturing an image of the sensed user using an image capturing device disposed on or in the air conditioning apparatus.

19. The method for controlling an air conditioning apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the checking for the presence of the user approaching near the air conditioning apparatus comprises:

capturing a series of images at a front of the air conditioning apparatus using the image capturing device disposed on or in the air conditioning apparatus; and

determining whether the user approaches or movement of the user, by comparing the captured images using an image difference comparison method.

20. The method for controlling an air conditioning apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the operating conditions comprise operating conditions for a fan, a compressor, and a wind direction controller.

21. The method for controlling an air conditioning apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the operating conditions comprise operating conditions for a desired wind volume, temperature, and humidity.