A household appliance system with improved safety

Abstract

The present invention relates to a control method which is suitable to be used in a household appliance system (1) comprising a modem (2), a household appliance (3) which connects to the wireless network by means of the modem (2), a network card (4) which is provided on the household appliance (3) and which provides the connection to the wireless local network, a short-range wireless module (5) which is connected to the network card (4), a server (6) which exchanges data with the household appliance (3) over the Internet, and a mobile device (8) which can connect to the household appliance (3) via the wireless network.

Description

[0001] 7.3577

[0002] DESCRIPTION

[0003] A HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE SYSTEM WITH IMPROVED SAFETY

[0004] The present invention relates to a household appliance system which can connect to a wireless local area network (WLAN).

[0005] Today, there is a wireless local area network in almost every home. Wireless local area networks established by means of modems enable electronic devices, especially smartphones and computers, to connect to the Internet. There are also household appliances which can connect to the wireless local area network in the house by means of a card provided therein. Thus, the household appliances can be controlled by the user by means of electronic devices such as smartphones and tablets which are suitable for installing applications. The ability to remotely to control the household appliance provides advantages and convenience to the user. The user can operate the household appliance when he / she is not at home. The user can control all the household appliances from a single point inside the house, thus achieving savings in time. The household appliances must pass several security steps to communicate with devices such as tablets and cellular phones and to connect to the home network. The devices such as cellular phones and tablets can join the network by using the network name and entering the security password. However, the household appliances do not have a keyboard for entering a password. Since small household appliances are desired to have dimensions as small as possible, providing a touch screen thereon is not an option. In the state of the art embodiments, an additional access point is provided on the household appliance. The cellular phone or the tablet is enabled to connect to the access point and in subsequent steps, the household appliance is enabled to connect to the network. The users find this method inconvenient since it is very time consuming. When a network password is not used, the household appliance can be controlled by other people.

[0006] In the state of the art Patent Document No. EP2885936 Bl, a method is disclosed, which enables the household appliances to join the network. 7.3577

[0007] The aim of the present invention is the realization of a control method which enables the household appliances to join a wireless local area network by means of a secure and simple method.

[0008] The control method realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof, is suitable to be used in a household appliance system comprising a modem, a household appliance which connects to the wireless network provided by the modem, a network card which is provided on the household appliance, a short-range wireless module which is connected to the network card, a server which exchanges data with the household appliance over the Internet, and a mobile device which can connect to the household appliance via the wireless network. By means of the modem, the household appliances are enabled to connect to the Internet and communicate with the server. The server can also communicate with the household appliances. Thus, data transmission can be carried out from the server to the household appliance and from the household appliance to the server. By means of the connection of the mobile device to the server, data is exchanged between the mobile device and the household appliance. Thus, the household appliances can be controlled remotely by means of a mobile device.

[0009] The control method of the present invention comprises the steps of ensuring that a first household appliance connected to the wireless local network continuously scans by means of the short-range wireless connection module, identifying a second household appliance which will connect to the wireless local network, sending information to the mobile device by means of the server and identifying the second household appliance by means of the mobile device to enable the second household appliance to join to the network. Thus, when a household appliance is connected to the wireless local network, other household appliances installed later can easily join the wireless local network.

[0010] In an embodiment of the present invention, the second household appliance comprises an identification code. During the short-range wireless connection scanning performed by the first household appliance, the identification code of the second household appliance is detected and it is decided that it is a household appliance which can join the network and information is sent to the server. 7.3577

[0011] In an embodiment of the present invention, the second household appliance information detected by the first household appliance and notified to the server is transmitted to the mobile device through the server. Thus, the user is informed of the presence of a new household appliance at home which can join the network.

[0012] In an embodiment of the present invention, the control method comprises the step of registering an identifier of the second household appliance via the mobile device according to the information coming from the server. The server, which receives the second household appliance information from the mobile device, saves an identifier of the second household appliance to the mobile device. This identifier can be a barcode, a QR code or a similar identifier. Thus, the presence of the second household appliance detected recently is confirmed by the user.

[0013] In an embodiment of the present invention, the control method comprises the steps of notifying the identified second household appliance to the server and comparing the same with the information defined by the first household appliance. Thus, it is controlled whether the second household appliance identified by the mobile device and the second household appliance detected by means of the short-range wireless network are the same device. Consequently, the second household appliance can join the network in a controlled and secure manner.

[0014] In an embodiment of the present invention, the control method comprises the steps of ensuring that the second household appliance joins to the wireless network and sending information back to the mobile device. Thus, the user is informed when the second household appliance connects to the wireless local network.

[0015] The household appliance system of the present invention comprises a control method which is suitable to be used in a household appliance system comprising a modem, a household appliance which connects to the wireless network by means of the modem, a network card which is provided on the household appliance and which provides the connection to the wireless local network, a short-range wireless module which is connected to the network card, a server which exchanges data with the household appliance over the Internet, and a mobile device which can connect to the household appliance via the wireless network, and which comprises the steps of ensuring that a 7.3577 first household appliance connected to the wireless local network continuously scans by means of the short-range wireless connection module, identifying a second household appliance which will connect to the wireless local network, sending information to the mobile device by means of the server and identifying the second household appliance by means of the mobile device to enable the second household appliance to join to the network.

[0016] The present invention describes a control method which enable other household appliances after the first household appliance to join the wireless local network without authentication requirements such as passwords which cause inconvenience to the user.

[0017] The household appliance system realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figure, where:

[0018] Figure 1 - is the schematic view of the household appliance system.

[0019] Figure 2 - is the operational algorithm of the household appliance system.

[0020] The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

[0021] 1- Household appliance system

[0022] 2- Modem

[0023] 3- Household appliance

[0024] 3.1- First household appliance

[0025] 3.2- Second household appliance

[0026] 4- Network card

[0027] 5- Short-range wireless connection module

[0028] 6- Server

[0029] 7- Identifier

[0030] 8- Mobile device

[0031] The control method, which is suitable to be used in a household appliance system (1) comprising a modem (2), a household appliance (3) which connects to the wireless 7.3577 network by means of the modem (2), a network card (4) which is provided on the household appliance (3) and which provides the connection to the wireless local network, a short-range wireless module (5) which is connected to the network card (4), a server (6) which exchanges data with the household appliance (3) over the Internet, and a mobile device (8) which can connect to the household appliance (3) via the wireless network, comprises the steps of ensuring that a first household appliance (3.1) connected to the wireless local network continuously scans by means of the short-range wireless connection module (5), identifying a second household appliance (3.2) which will connect to the wireless local network, sending information to the mobile device (8) by means of the server (6) and identifying the second household appliance (3.2) by means of the mobile device (8) to enable the second household appliance (3.2) to join to the network. The first household appliance (3.1) connected to the wireless local network continuously scans by means of the short-range wireless connection module (5). The short-range wireless connection module (5) can be Bluetooth, etc. Thus, the second household appliance (3.2), which is nearby, can be detected. The information about the detected second household appliance (3.2) is transmitted to the mobile device (8) via the server (6) to inform the user. After the mobile device (8) identifies the second household appliance (3.2), the control is achieved by comparing the same with the device detected by the first household appliance (3.1) and the second household appliance (3.2) joins the wireless local network.

[0032] In an embodiment of the present invention, the control method comprises the step of sending information to the server (6) after the identification code which enables the second household appliance (3.2) to be identified by the first household appliance (3.1) is detected by the short-range wireless connection module (5). The first household appliance (3.1) continuously scans, and upon identifying the identification code coming from the second household appliance (3.2), the information is sent to the server (6). By means of the identification code of the second household appliance (3.2) which can be detected, the first household appliance (3.1) can understand that the second household appliance (3.2) is a household appliance which can participate in the wireless local network. 7.3577

[0033] In an embodiment of the present invention, the control method comprises the step of transmitting the presence of the second household appliance (3.2) to the mobile device (8) via the server (6). The second household appliance (3.2) information detected by the first household appliance (3.1) is transmitted to the server (6) and is transmitted to the mobile device (8) via the server (6). Thus, the user can initiate the process of joining the newly purchased household appliance to the network.

[0034] In an embodiment of the present invention, the control method comprises the step of registering an identifier (7) of the second household appliance (3.2) via the mobile device (8) according to the information coming from the server (6). An identifier (7) is provided on the second household appliance (3.2). This identifier (7) can be a barcode, QR code, etc. After the information about the detection of the second household appliance (3.2) is received by the mobile device (8), the identifier (7) is registered by means of the mobile device (8).

[0035] In an embodiment of the present invention, the control method comprises the steps of notifying the identified second household appliance (3.2) to the server (6) and comparing the same with the information defined by the first household appliance (3.1). The appliance detected by the first household appliance (3.1) is compared with the appliance registered via the mobile device (8). Thus, the verification of the second household appliance (3.2) is ensured.

[0036] In an embodiment of the present invention, the control method comprises the steps of ensuring that the second household appliance (3.2) joins to the wireless network and informing the user again via the mobile device (8). After the appliance is verified, the second household appliance (3.2) joins the wireless local network. The user is informed via the mobile device (8).

[0037] In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance system (1) comprises a control method, which is suitable to be used in a household appliance system (1) comprising a modem (2), a household appliance (3) which connects to the wireless network by means of the modem (2), a network card (4) which is provided on the household appliance (3) and which provides the connection to the wireless local network, a short-range wireless module (5) which is connected to the network card (4), 7.3577 a server (6) which exchanges data with the household appliance (3) over the Internet, and a mobile device (8) which can connect to the household appliance (3) via the wireless network, and which comprises the steps of ensuring that a first household appliance (3.1) connected to the wireless local network continuously scans by means of the short-range wireless connection module (5), identifying a second household appliance (3.2) which will connect to the wireless local network, sending information to the mobile device (8) by means of the server (6) and identifying the second household appliance (3.2) by means of the mobile device (8) to enable the second household appliance (3.2) to join to the network. By means of the first household appliance (3.1) connected to the wireless local network, the second household appliance (3.2) can join the wireless local network.

[0038] By means of the present invention, by means of the first household appliance (3.1) connected to the wireless local network, the second household appliance (3.2) can join the wireless local network. Thus, the second household appliance (3.2) is enabled to easily join the network without the user being required to enter information such as the network password again. Ease of use is provided while a secure connection is ensured by means of the control carried out via both the first household appliance (3.1) and the mobile device (8).

Claims

77CLAIMS1- A control method, which is suitable to be used in a household appliance system (1) comprising a modem (2), a household appliance (3) which connects to the wireless network by means of the modem (2), a network card (4) which is provided on the household appliance (3) and which provides the connection to the wireless local network, a short-range wireless module (5) which is connected to the network card (4), a server (6) which exchanges data with the household appliance (3) over the Internet, and a mobile device (8) which can connect to the household appliance (3) via the wireless network, comprising the steps of ensuring that a first household appliance (3.1) connected to the wireless local network continuously scans by means of the short-range wireless connection module (5), identifying a second household appliance (3.2) which will connect to the wireless local network, sending information to the mobile device (8) by means of the server (6) and identifying the second household appliance (3.2) by means of the mobile device (8) to enable the second household appliance (3.2) to join to the network.2- A control method as in Claim 1, comprising the step of sending information to the server (6) after the identification code which enables the second household appliance (3.2) to be identified by the first household appliance (3.1) is detected by the short-range wireless connection module (5).3- A control method as in Claim 1 or Claim 2, comprising the step of transmitting the presence of the second household appliance (3.2) to the mobile device (8) via the server (6).4- A control method as in any one of the above claims, comprising the step of registering an identifier (7) of the second household appliance (3.2) via the mobile device (8) according to the information coming from the server (6).775- A control method as in any one of the above claims, comprising the steps of notifying the identified second household appliance (3.2) to the server (6) and comparing the same with the information defined by the first household appliance (3.1).6- A control method as in any one of the above claims, comprising the steps of ensuring that the second household appliance (3.2) joins to the wireless network and informing the user again via the mobile device (8).7- A household appliance system (1) comprising a modem (2), a household appliance (3) which connects to the wireless network by means of the modem (2), a network card (4) which is provided on the household appliance (3) and which provides the connection to the wireless local network, a short-range wireless module (5) which is connected to the network card (4), a server (6) which exchanges data with the household appliance (3) over the Internet, and a mobile device (8) which can connect to the household appliance (3) via the wireless network, characterized by being operated by means of a control method comprising the steps of ensuring that a first household appliance (3.1) connected to the wireless local network continuously scans by means of the short-range wireless connection module (5), identifying a second household appliance (3.2) which will connect to the wireless local network, sending information to the mobile device (8) by means of the server (6) and identifying the second household appliance (3.2) by means of the mobile device (8) to enable the second household appliance (3.2) to join to the network.

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