Method of operating mobile terminal for controlling washing machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9531860-B2
Application number	US-200913319725-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 11, 2009
Priority date	May 11, 2009
Publication date	Dec 27, 2016
Grant date	Dec 27, 2016

Abstract

The present invention relates to a mobile terminal capable of displaying recommended washing machine operation information to control a washing machine, a method of operating the mobile terminal, a washing machine capable of operating the recommended washing machine operation information, and a method of operating the washing machine.
The method of operating the mobile terminal to control a washing machine includes displaying a menu screen including a washing machine management menu, and displaying recommended washing machine operation information which is set according to external environment information when a recommended operation item is selected from the washing machine management menu. Thus since the recommended washing machine operation information is displayed using the mobile terminal according to external conditions such as weather, time, and season irrespective of time and place, convenience is provided.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of operating a mobile terminal for controlling a washing machine, the method comprising:
displaying, on a mobile terminal, a menu screen including a washing machine management menu, the mobile terminal comprising:
a wireless communication unit configured to collect external information or transmit recommended operation information to the washing machine, the wireless communication unit comprising:
a Global Positioning System (GPS) module configured to receive location information, and
a mobile communication module configured to transmit and receive 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 external audio input or a video input, the input unit comprising a microphone module configured to receive the external audio input in a call mode of the mobile terminal and convert the received audio signal into audio data;
an interface unit configured to interface communications between the mobile terminal and one or more external devices; and
a sensing unit configured to sense a current state of the mobile terminal, the current state of the mobile terminal including a position of the mobile terminal;

receiving, at the mobile terminal, the location information;
receiving, at the mobile terminal, a selection of a recommended operation item from the washing machine management menu;
in response to receiving the location information and the selection of the recommended operation from the washing machine management menu, displaying recommended washing machine operation information which is set according to external environment information, the recommended washing machine operation information being displayed with weather information, temperature information, and humidity information according to the location information;
displaying at least one of indoor operation diagnosis information, error content information, and a service call item in response to a monitoring item being selected from the washing machine management menu;
accessing a service center server and displaying a service center connecting state screen in response to the service call item being selected; and
transmitting washing machine diagnosis data to the service center,
wherein the external environment information includes at least one of weather information, time information, and season information, and
wherein the recommended washing machine operation information is displayed together with the at least one of weather information, time information, and season information.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving the external environment information, wherein the recommended washing machine operation information is set according to the received external environment information.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the displaying of the recommended washing machine operation information includes displaying data indicative of any one of a weak washing operation, an enhanced washing operation, and an enhanced drying operation according to weather information, as the recommended washing machine operation information.

4. The method of 1 , wherein the displaying of the recommended washing machine operation information includes displaying data indicative of a low noise operation or a general operation according to time information, as the recommended washing machine operation information.

5. The method of 1 , wherein the displaying of the recommended washing machine operation information includes displaying data indicative of any one of spring standard course operation, a wool course operation, a fall standard course operation, and a synthetic fiber course operation according to season information, as the recommended washing machine operation information.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising displaying a software upgrade processing screen, in response to a software upgrade item being selected from the washing machine management menu.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the washing machine management menu includes at least one of a recommended operation item, a remote control item, a monitoring item, and a software upgrade item.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving at least one of operation state information or an operation input menu information,
wherein the operation state information includes at least one of operation course information, operation administration information, remaining time, operation time, number of operations, water temperature information, door lock information, or water level information, and
wherein the operation input menu information includes at least one of an operation course input menu, an operation administration input menu, or an operation time input menu.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising displaying a washing machine remote control screen including at least one of operation state information or an operation input menu,
wherein the operation state information includes at least one of operation course information, operation administration information, remaining time, operation time, number of operations, water temperature information, door lock information, or water level information, and
wherein the operation input menu includes at least one of an operation course input menu, an operation administration input menu, or an operation time input menu.

Assignees

• Yum Kwan Ho
• Kim Sang Oh
• Jang Bong Mun
• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Yum Kwan Ho
• Kim Sang Oh
• Jang Bong Mun

Classifications

• A47L15/0063 Primary

  using remote monitoring or controlling of the dishwasher operation, e.g. networking systems · CPC title

• H04M2250/22

  including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector · CPC title

• H04B1/408

  the transmitter oscillator frequency being identical to the receiver local oscillator frequency · CPC title

• H04M1/72533 Primary

  Electricity · mapped topic

• D06F39/005

  Textiles & Paper · mapped topic