Method of managing use of an appliance through a communication network
First Claim
1. A method of managing use of an appliance, comprising:
- receiving information on a use of the appliance through a communication network;
calculating a charge for the use of the appliance based on the received use information; and
transmitting the calculated charge to a user'"'"'s terminal through the communication network.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to a method of managing the use of rented electric home appliances such as a washing machine, a dish washer, and so on, through a communication network and charging for the use thereof. The method includes receiving information on use of the appliance through a communication network, calculating a charge for use of the appliance based on the received information, and transmitting the calculated charge to a user'"'"'s terminal through the communication network. The method obviates the need to buy home appliances and avoids the inconvenience of appliance installation, maintenance, replacement and moving. Additionally, a subscriber can easily upgrade to a brand-new appliance as provided by the rental company. As a result, the rental service provider can satisfy various consumer'"'"'s or subscriber'"'"'s needs promptly resulting in increased profits.
20 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method of managing use of an appliance, comprising:
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receiving information on a use of the appliance through a communication network;
calculating a charge for the use of the appliance based on the received use information; and
transmitting the calculated charge to a user'"'"'s terminal through the communication network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of managing the use of an appliance through a communication network, comprising:
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authenticating a subscriber number received through the communication network;
transmitting a start signal for an appliance identified by the subscriber number from a server through the communication network to a corresponding subscriber'"'"'s terminal if the subscriber number is authenticated successfully;
receiving use information of the appliance through the communication network;
calculating a charge for the use of the appliance based on the received use information; and
transmitting the calculated charge to the subscriber'"'"'s terminal through the communication network. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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15. A method of managing use of a washing machine through a communication network, comprising:
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receiving information on washing condition program settings based on clothes inserted in the washing machine through the communication network;
calculating a charge for use of the washing machine based on the received information;
transmitting the calculated charge to a user'"'"'s terminal through the communication network; and
transmitting a start signal to the washing machine through the communication network if a washing request is received.
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19. A method of managing use of an appliance through a communication network, comprising:
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authenticating a subscriber number received through the communication network;
receiving automatically selected information on appliance use conditions through the communication network;
calculating a charge for use of the appliance, if the subscriber number is authenticated successfully;
transmitting the calculated charge to a subscriber'"'"'s terminal through the communication network; and
transmitting a start signal to the appliance through the communication network if a start request is received.
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23. A method of managing a usage of an appliance, comprising:
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receiving a subscriber number from a user over a communication network;
validating said subscriber number;
configuring an appliance for use if said subscriber number is valid;
receiving usage information from said appliance over the communication network;
calculating charge information based on said usage information; and
transmitting said charge information to said user.
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Specification