Online system and method for using the same

• US 9,948,478 B2
• Filed: 08/02/2012
• Issued: 04/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Ha, Mikyung
• Primary Examiner(s): Alunkal, Thomas
• Application Number:
  US14/238,694
• Publication Number:
  US 20140197934A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,084 Days
• Field of Search: 340 1229, 345173
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0063 using remote monitoring or controlling of the dishwasher operation, e.g. networking systems
• 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: H04L 12/12 Arrangements for remote connection or disconnection of substations or of equipment thereof
• 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: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

The present invention relates to a home appliance which can communicate with an outside of the home appliance, an online system and a method for using the online system including the same. According to embodiments of the present invention, a method for using an online system may be provided including the steps of log in a server by transmitting user information to the server through an external terminal, selecting a laundry machine of which course updating is desired through the external terminal and transmitting the same to the server, receiving updatable course information from the server, and displaying the information on the external terminal, selecting an updating desired course through the external terminal, and transmitting selected course information to the server, and updating the laundry machine with the selected course through the server.

Claims

1. A method for using an online system comprising:

log in a server by transmitting user information to the server through an external terminal;

selecting a laundry machine of which remote course updating is desired through the external terminal and based on the selected laundry machine, transmitting laundry machine information to the server;

transmitting, from the server and to the external terminal, updatable course information which is provided to be applicable to the laundry machine with reference to the user information and the laundry machine information;

receiving, at the remote terminal, updatable course information from the server, and displaying, on the external terminal, the received updatable course information;

selecting, at the external terminal, an updating desired course, and transmitting selected course information to the server; and

the server updating the laundry machine with the selected course through the server by communication with the laundry machine after determination of the laundry machine matching to the user information and the laundry machine information,

wherein the laundry machine has a WiFi communication module mounted thereto, with a server address for communication with the server, and a touch display for displaying input means for connecting the WiFi communication module to the server to communicate with the server.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the updatable course information includes existing updated course information and newly updatable course information.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the server transmits, to the external terminal, existing updated course information and newly updatable course information of the laundry machine, with the existing updated course information made distinctive from the newly updatable course information.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the external terminal simultaneously displays the existing updated course information and the newly updatable course information, with the existing updated course information being displayed to be distinctive from the newly updatable course information.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein, when the external terminal selects the newly updatable course from the simultaneously displayed existing updated course information and the newly updatable course information, the existing updated course is replaced with the selected new course to update the existing updated course of the laundry machine.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the user information includes user ID and password registered to the server.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the server is plural, and the user can select a server the user is to access through the external terminal.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, further including the server determining whether the laundry machine of the user is registered or not after log in, and transmitting, to the external terminal, a result of the determination to the external terminal.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the external terminal indicates the user to be able to select a registered laundry machine, if any.

10. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the external terminal indicates a method for registering the laundry machine to the server when there is no registered laundry machine.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein SSID information on an AP and the user information are inputted to the touch display, for the WiFi communication module to communicate with the server through the AP, and to register the laundry machine information and the user information to the server, altogether.

18. A non-transitory recording medium having the method for using an online system as claimed in one of claims 1 to 10, 12, or 13 stored therein.

19. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the touch display is provided to receive user AP information to be communicated connected to and the user information registered to a user site,

wherein the Wifi communication module transmits the user information and the user AP information inputted to the touch display to the user side or the server to register the laundry machine to the server, and

wherein the WiFi communication module maintains communication connection to the server for having remote management service requested by the laundry machine through the external terminal communication connected to the server after the registration.

21. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the online system comprises:

the server for providing remote management service;

a user site for registering the user by inputting the user information thereto, and transmitting the user information to the server, to register the user to the server,

the laundry machine having a unique device ID for transmitting the user information registered to the user site and the device ID to the user site or the server to register the laundry machine to the server, and communication connected to the server through WiFi communication connection to an AP for receiving remote management service through the server; and

the external terminal having an application mounted thereto which is communication connected to the server, for transmitting the user information and the laundry machine information desired to have remote management service provided thereto to the server, and requesting the remote management service of the laundry machine to the server on behalf of the laundry machine.

12. A method for using an online system, comprising:

registering a user to a server by using user information inputted to a user site;

inputting the user information to an external terminal provided to enable to update a course of a laundry machine to log in the server;

determining whether the laundry machine of the user is registered to the server or not after log in, and transmitting a result of the determination to the external terminal;

the external terminal indicating a registered laundry machine for enabling the user to select, and indicating a method for registering the laundry machine to the server when there is no registered laundry machine;

when a laundry machine, in which course update is desired, is selected through the external terminal, transmitting, from the external terminal, information on the selected laundry machine to the server;

transmitting, from the server and to the external terminal, updatable course information which is provided to be applicable to the laundry machine with reference to the user information and the laundry machine information;

receiving the updatable course information from the server, and displaying, on the external terminal, the updatable course information;

selecting, at the eternal terminal, an update desired course, and transmitting the selected course information to the server; and

the server updating the laundry machine with the selected course by communication with the laundry machine after determination of the laundry machine matching to the user information and the laundry machine information

wherein the laundry machine has a WiFi communication module mounted thereto, with a server address for communication with the server, and a touch display for displaying input means for connecting the WiFi communication module to the server to communicate with the server.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the server transmits, to the external terminal, existing updated course information and newly updatable course information of the laundry machine, with the existing updated course information made distinctive from the newly updatable course information.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein, when the newly updatable course is updated, the external terminal replaces an existing updated course with the newly updatable course.

15. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein, when the external terminal selects a newly updatable course, the existing updated course is replaced with the selected new course to update the existing updated course of the laundry machine.

16. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the laundry machine includes the touch display that displays default courses, user generated courses, and updated courses for enabling the user to select.

17. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein, when the external terminal selects a new updatable course and finishes updating the new updatable course, the touch display of the laundry machine displays the selected new course replacing the existing updated course.

20. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the laundry machine comprises:

a main controller;

the display provided to receive user AP information to be communication connected to and the user information registered to the user site; and

the WiFi communication module for transmitting the user information and the user AP information inputted to the display to the user site or the server to register the laundry machine to the server, and maintaining communication connection to the server for having remote management service requested by the laundry machine through the external terminal communication connected to the server after the registration.

22. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the online system comprises:

the server for providing remote management service;

the user site for registering the user by inputting the user information thereto, and transmitting the user information to the server, to register the user to the server;

the laundry machine having a unique device ID for transmitting the user information registered to the user site and the device ID to the user site or the server to register the laundry machine to the server, and communication connected to the server through WiFi communication connection to an AP for receiving remote management service through the server, and

the external terminal having an application mounted thereto which is communication connected to the server, for transmitting the user information and the laundry machine information desired to have remote management service provided thereto to the server, and requesting the remote management service of the laundry machine to the server on behalf of the laundry machine.