Facilitating operation of a household appliance

Abstract

A system comprises a household appliance, wherein operation of the household appliance may be remotely monitored and / or controlled via a user interface of a user device based on data received at the user device via a first communications channel between the household appliance and the user device, the first communications channel comprising at least a wireless portion. The system comprises one or more controllers configured to: receive a signal generated on the basis of wireless communication via a second, short-range, communications channel between the household appliance and the user device; and in response to receiving the signal, cause the user interface of the user device to provide an output based on data received via the first communications channel, to enable remote monitoring and / or control of operation of the household appliance via the user interface of the user device.

Description

[0001] P08700-WG

[0002] - 1 -

[0003] FACILITATING OPERATION OF A HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE

[0004] Technical Field

[0005] The present disclosure concerns a household appliance. In particular, but not exclusively, the present disclosure concerns measures, including apparatus, systems, methods and computer programs, for facilitating operation of a household appliance.

[0006] Background

[0007] Household appliances, also referred to as domestic or home appliances, are used to perform household tasks such as cooking, cleaning, storing food, etc. Examples of such household appliances include ovens, refrigerators, freezers, hobs, dishwashers, washing machines, tumble dryers, air conditioning units and vacuum cleaners.

[0008] Some household appliances may be controlled and / or monitored by a user directly, e.g. by performing an action directly on the household appliance itself. For example, the appliance may comprise a user interface such as a touchscreen, operable to receive user input for controlling the appliance. Such a user interface (or a different user interface) may additionally provide an output, e.g. a visual output, to allow a user to monitor operation of the appliance.

[0009] Additionally or alternatively, some household appliances may be controlled and / or monitored remotely, that is, without the user having to perform an action directly on the appliance or to view the appliance directly. For example, a household appliance may be equipped with communications circuitry, such as a wireless transceiver. This allows the appliance to be remotely controlled and / or monitored based on data transmitted and / or received via a communications network. A user may use a user device, such as a mobile phone or smartwatch, to remotely control and / or monitor operation of the household appliance, via a user interface, such as a touchscreen, of the user device. The household appliance may communicate with the user device directly or via a server.

[0010] It is desirable to provide improved systems and methods for operating a household appliance.

[0011] Summary

[0012] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a system comprising: a household appliance, wherein operation of the household appliance may be remotely monitored and / or controlled via a user interface of a user device based on data received at the user device via a first communications channel between the household appliance and the user device, the first communications channel comprising at least a wireless portion; and one or more controllers configured to: receive a signal generated on the basis of wireless communication via a second, short-range, communications channel between the household appliance and the user device; and in response to receiving the signal, cause the user interface of the user device to provide an output based on data received via the first communications channel, to enable remote monitoring and / or control of operation of the household appliance via the user interface of the user device.

[0013] In embodiments, the one or more controllers are configured to receive the signal after establishment of the first communications channel between the household appliance and the user device. The communications channel may already have been established in the sense that the appliance and / or the user device and / or a server (if the first communications channel is via a server) may already have been configured to allow the household appliance to be remotely monitored and / or controlled by the user device. For example, this may be the case if the household appliance has been previously monitored and / or controlled by the user device. This may also be the case if the appliance has been enrolled with the server and registered to a user and / or user device even if no monitoring and / or control has taken place. The server (if the first communications channel is via a server), appliance and / or user device may store in memory configuration data, including for example home network credentials, a server address, an indications of successful enrolment with the server, data linking the appliance to user devices allowed to control and / or monitor the appliance, tokens, certificates and security keys to allow such remote monitoring and / or control.

[0014] In embodiments, the second communications channel comprises a Near-Field Communication, NFC, channel between the household appliance and the user device.

[0015] In embodiments, the second communications channel comprises a Bluetooth™ Low Energy, BLE, channel between the household appliance and the user device.

[0016] In embodiments, the first communications channel is configured to provide communications between the household appliance and the user device via a server.

[0017] In embodiments, the first communications channel is configured to use at least one wireless communications network, the at least one wireless communications network comprising at least one of: a Wi-Fi network, a 4G network, a 5G network, a 6G network, and a Bluetooth™ network. In embodiments, the received signal is generated in response to the wireless communication via the second communications channel having a signal strength that is greater than a predetermined threshold.

[0018] In embodiments, the one or more controllers are configured to cause the user interface to provide the output by causing, in response to receiving the signal, the user device to receive the data via the first communications channel.

[0019] In embodiments, the one or more controllers are configured to cause the user device to receive the data by controlling the household appliance to transmit remote monitoring data via the first communications channel, in response to receiving the signal, wherein the data received by the user device is derivable based on the remote monitoring data transmitted by the household appliance.

[0020] In embodiments, the household appliance is configured to transmit remote monitoring data via the first communications channel independently of wireless communication via the second communications channel, wherein the data received by the user device is derivable based on the remote monitoring data transmitted by the household appliance.

[0021] In embodiments, the one or more controllers are configured to cause the user device to receive the data by controlling the user device to request the data via the first communications channel, in response to receiving the signal.

[0022] In embodiments, the one or more controllers are configured to cause the user device to receive the data by controlling a server to transmit the data to the user device via the first communications channel, in response to receiving the signal.

[0023] In embodiments, the one or more controllers are configured to, in response to receiving the signal, control the user interface of the user device.

[0024] In embodiments, the output indicates operational information of the household appliance.

[0025] In embodiments, the operational information is based on the data received via the first communications channel.

[0026] In embodiments, the operational information comprises one or more of: a status of the household appliance, one or more operating parameters of the household appliance, information associated with an operating program of the household appliance, one or more settings of the household appliance, and a value of a timer of the household appliance.

[0027] In embodiments, the output is dependent on an operational state of the household appliance. In embodiments, the output is dependent on an appliance type of the household appliance.

[0028] In embodiments, the output is dependent on a previous action performed on the household appliance by a user associated with the user device.

[0029] In embodiments, the output is dependent on an identity of a user associated with the user device.

[0030] In embodiments, the output comprises a menu having one or more menu items that are selectable on the basis of user input at the user device, the one or more menu items being associated with operation of the household appliance.

[0031] In embodiments, the one or more controllers are configured to, in response to receiving the signal, cause a selected menu of a plurality of menus associated with a software application stored on the user device, to be displayed via the user device.

[0032] In embodiments, the one or more controllers are configured to perform the selection of the menu on the basis of the wireless communication via the second communications channel.

[0033] In embodiments, the selection of the menu is performed based at least in part on an appliance type of the household appliance.

[0034] In embodiments, the selection of the menu is performed based at least in part on an operational state of the household appliance.

[0035] In embodiments, the selection of the menu is performed based at least in part on a previous action performed on the household appliance by a user associated with the user device.

[0036] In embodiments, the user interface of the user device is one of a plurality of user interfaces of the user device, each of the plurality of user interfaces being useable to remotely monitor and / or control operation of a different one of a plurality of household appliances. In some such embodiments, the one or more controllers are configured to, in response to receiving the signal, select the user interface from the plurality of user interfaces, to enable remote monitoring and / or control of operation of the household appliance via the user interface of the user device.

[0037] In embodiments, the output provided on the user interface of the user device may comprise an output not available through a user interface of the household appliance.

[0038] In embodiments, the household appliance comprises at least one of the one or more controllers. In embodiments, the system comprises a server operable to communicate with the household appliance and / or with the user device, wherein the server comprises at least one of the one or more controllers.

[0039] In embodiments, the system comprises the user device, wherein the user device comprises at least one of the one or more controllers.

[0040] In embodiments, the wireless communication via the second communications channel comprises a wireless signal sent by an NFC tag in the household appliance to an NFC reader in the user device.

[0041] According to another aspect of the disclosure, there is provide a user device comprising: a user interface; communications circuitry operable to receive data via a first communications channel between a household appliance and the user device, wherein the user device is operable to remotely monitor and / or control the household appliance based on data received at the user device via the first communications channel, the first communications channel comprising at least a wireless portion; and one or more controllers configured to: receive a signal generated on the basis of wireless communication via a second, short-range, communications channel between the household appliance and the user device; and in response to receiving the signal, cause the user interface to provide an output based on data received via the first communications channel, to enable remote monitoring and / or control of operation of the household appliance via the user interface.

[0042] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method of facilitating operation of a household appliance, wherein operation of the household appliance may be remotely monitored and / or controlled via a user interface of a user device based on data received at the user device via a first communications channel between the household appliance and the user device, the first communications channel comprising at least a wireless portion, the method comprising: receiving a signal generated on the basis of wireless communication via a second, short-range, communications channel between the household appliance and the user device; and in response to receiving the signal, causing the user interface of the user device to provide an output based on data received via the first communications channel, to enable remote monitoring and / or control of operation of the household appliance via the user interface of the user device.

[0043] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a computer program comprising a set of instructions which, when executed by a computerised device, cause the computerised device to perform a method of facilitating operation of a household appliance, wherein operation of the household appliance may be remotely monitored and / or controlled via a user interface of a user device based on data received at the user device via a first communications channel between the household appliance and the user device, the first communications channel comprising at least a wireless portion, the method comprising: receiving a signal generated on the basis of wireless communication via a second, short-range, communications channel between the household appliance and the user device; and in response to receiving the signal, causing the user interface of the user device to provide an output based on data received via the first communications channel, to enable remote monitoring and / or control of operation of the household appliance via the user interface of the user device.

[0044] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a system comprising a household appliance and one or more controllers. The household appliance comprises: a first user interface; and communications circuitry configured to transmit data via a communications channel, wherein operation of the household appliance may be remotely monitored and / or controlled via a second user interface of a user device based on the transmitted data. The one or more controllers are configured to: receive a signal generated in response to performance of a predetermined user action at the first user interface of the household appliance; and in response to receiving the signal, control the user device to cause the second user interface to provide an output based on the data transmitted via the communications channel, to enable remote monitoring and / or control of operation of the household appliance via the second user interface of the user device.

[0045] In embodiments, the one or more controllers are configured to receive the signal after establishment of the communications channel. The communications channel may be a communications channel between the appliance and the user device. The communications channel may be via a server. In embodiments, monitoring data and control commands may not be communicated through the communications channel until after the signal is received in some circumstances. However, the communications channel may already have been established in the sense that the server (if the first communications channel is via a server), appliance and / or user device may already have been configured to allow the household appliance to be remotely monitored and / or controlled by the user device. The server (if the first communications channel is via a server), appliance and / or user device may store in memory configuration data to allow such remote monitoring and control. As a specific example, the server and the appliance may store configuration data allowing the appliance to connect to the server and specifying which user devices can control the appliance. The one or more controllers may be configured to P08700-WG

[0046] - 7 - control the user device to cause the second user information to provide the output by causing, in response to receiving the signal, the user device to receive the data via the first communications channel using said configuration data. In embodiments, the predetermined user action may only be performed after the server, appliance and / or user device are configured with such configuration data.

[0047] In embodiments, the household appliance is configured to transmit the data via the communications channel independently of the performance of the predetermined user action.

[0048] In embodiments, the first user interface comprises a user input part, and the predetermined user action comprises actuating the user input part.

[0049] In embodiments, the user input part comprises a button.

[0050] In embodiments, the user input part comprises a softkey button.

[0051] In embodiments, the user input part is a first user input part corresponding to the user device and / or a user of the user device. In some such embodiments, the first user interface further comprises a second user input part corresponding to a further user device and / or a further user. In embodiments, the predetermined user action comprises actuating the first user input part and not actuating the second user input part.

[0052] In embodiments, the communications channel is configured to provide communications between the household appliance and the user device via a server.

[0053] In embodiments, the communications channel is configured to use at least one wireless communications network or cellular network, the at least one wireless communications network or cellular network comprising at least one of: a Wi-Fi network, a 4G network, a 5G network, a 6G network, and a Bluetooth™ network.

[0054] In embodiments, the one or more controllers are configured to control the user device to request data, via the communications channel, for remotely monitoring and / or controlling the household appliance, in response to receiving the signal.

[0055] In embodiments, the output indicates operational information of the household appliance.

[0056] In embodiments, the output comprises a menu having one or more menu items that are selectable on the basis of user input at the user device, the one or more menu items being associated with operation of the household appliance.

[0057] In embodiments, the one or more controllers are configured to, in response to receiving the signal, cause a selected menu of a plurality of menus associated with a software application stored on the user device, to be displayed via the user device. In embodiment, the output provided on the second user interface may comprise an output not available through the first user interface.

[0058] In embodiments, the household appliance comprises at least one of the one or more controllers.

[0059] In embodiments, the household appliance is configured to cause the second user interface to provide the output by transmitting, via the communications circuitry, information indicative of the predetermined user action performed at the first user interface.

[0060] In embodiments, the information indicative of the predetermined user action is transmitted to a server, to cause the server to control the user device on the basis of the predetermined user action.

[0061] In embodiments, the system comprises a server operable to receive the data transmitted from the household appliance, and to transmit to the user device, based on the received data from the household appliance, data for remotely monitoring and / or controlling the appliance, wherein the server comprises at least one of the one or more controllers.

[0062] In embodiments, the server is configured to receive, from the household appliance, information indicative of the predetermined user action performed at the first user interface. In embodiments, the server is configured to control the user device to cause the second user interface to provide the output based on the received information indicative of the predetermined user action.

[0063] In embodiments, the system comprises the user device, wherein the user device comprises at least one of the one or more controllers. The one or more controllers may cause the second user interface to provide an output based on data received via the communications channel. The one or more controllers may control the second user interface to provide the output based on a signal generated in response to performance of the predetermined user action, received directly from the household appliance or via the server, with identifying information for the household appliance and / or identifying information for a particular menu to provide on the second user interface.

[0064] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method of facilitating operation of a household appliance, the household appliance comprising a first user interface, the method comprising: transmitting data from the household appliance via a communications channel, wherein operation of the household appliance may be remotely monitored and / or controlled via a second user interface of a user device based on the transmitted data, and wherein the method further comprises receiving a signal generated in response to performance of a predetermined user action at the first user interface of the household appliance; and in response to receiving the signal, controlling the user device to cause the second user interface to provide an output based on the data transmitted via the communications channel, to enable remote monitoring and / or control of operation of the household appliance via the second user interface of the user device. The communications channel between the household appliance and the user device may be established before the performance of the predetermined user action although the data may not have been transmitted by the household appliance or it may not have been received by the user device. Controlling the user device to cause the second user interface to provide an output based on the data transmitted via the communications channel may comprise controlling the user device to cause the second user interface to provide the output based on data received after the performance of the predetermined user action via the communications channel. As such, the method may include, causing, in response to reception of a signal generated in response to performance of a predetermined user action, the user device to receive data from the household appliance via the communications channel.

[0065] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a computer program comprising a set of instructions which, when executed by a computerised device, cause the computerised device to perform a method of facilitating operation of a household appliance, the household appliance comprising a first user interface, the method comprising: transmitting data from the household appliance via a communications channel, wherein operation of the household appliance may be remotely monitored and / or controlled via a second user interface of a user device based on the transmitted data, and wherein the method further comprises receiving a signal generated in response to performance of a predetermined user action at the first user interface of the household appliance; and in response to receiving the signal, controlling the user device to cause the second user interface to provide an output based on the data transmitted via the communications channel, to enable remote monitoring and / or control of operation of the household appliance via the second user interface of the user device.

[0066] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a system comprising: a household appliance, wherein operation of the household appliance may be remotely monitored and / or controlled via a user interface of a user device based on data received at the user device via a first communications channel between the household appliance and the user device, the first communications channel comprising at least a wireless portion; and one or more controllers configured to: receive a signal generated on the basis of wireless communication via a second, short-range, communications channel between the user device and a device associated with the household appliance; and in response to receiving the signal, cause the user interface of the user device to provide an output based on data received via the first communications channel, to enable remote monitoring and / or control of operation of the household appliance via the user interface of the user device. The device associated with the household appliance may be an NFC or RFID tag reader or NFC or RFID tag. The tag may be located separately, for example remotely, from the household appliance. It may be provided in a home hub, kitchen hub and / or in another appliance and the system may comprise such hub or appliance. Alternatively, it may be located in, or on, an object such as a sticker, card, key chain, coaster or panel. The system may comprise such object.

[0067] According to another aspect of the disclosure, there is provide a user device comprising: a user interface; communications circuitry operable to receive data via a first communications channel between a household appliance and the user device, wherein the user device is operable to remotely monitor and / or control the household appliance based on data received at the user device via the first communications channel, the first communications channel comprising at least a wireless portion; and one or more controllers configured to: receive a signal generated on the basis of wireless communication via a second, short-range, communications channel between the user device and a device associated with the household appliance; and in response to receiving the signal, cause the user interface to provide an output based on data received via the first communications channel, to enable remote monitoring and / or control of operation of the household appliance via the user interface.

[0068] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method of facilitating operation of a household appliance, wherein operation of the household appliance may be remotely monitored and / or controlled via a user interface of a user device based on data received at the user device via a first communications channel between the household appliance and the user device, the first communications channel comprising at least a wireless portion, the method comprising: receiving a signal generated on the basis of wireless communication via a second, short-range, communications channel between the user device and a device associated with, but separate from, the household appliance; and in response to receiving the signal, causing the user interface of the user device to provide an output based on data received via the first communications channel, to enable remote monitoring and / or control of operation of the household appliance via the user interface of the user device. According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a computer program comprising a set of instructions which, when executed by a computerised device, cause the computerised device to perform a method of facilitating operation as described above.

[0069] It will of course be appreciated that features described in relation to one aspect of the present invention may be incorporated into other aspects of the present invention. For example, a method of the invention may incorporate any of the features described with reference to an apparatus of the invention and vice versa.

[0070] Brief description of the drawings

[0071] Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

[0072] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a household appliance according to embodiments;

[0073] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a system including a household appliance according to embodiments;

[0074] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a household appliance according to embodiments;

[0075] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of a user device according to embodiments;

[0076] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of a server according to embodiments;

[0077] Figure 6 is a flow diagram showing a method according to embodiments;

[0078] Figure 7 is a flow diagram showing a method according to embodiments; and

[0079] Figures 8A and 8B are schematic diagrams of systems including a household appliance according to embodiments.

[0080] Detailed Description

[0081] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a household appliance 100, according to embodiments. The household appliance 100, and / or components thereof, may be used to implement the methods described herein. A household (or “domestic”) appliance may be configured to perform one or more household tasks, such as cooking, cleaning, or storing food. As such, the household appliance 100 may comprise a cooking appliance, a cleaning appliance, a food storage appliance, etc. In the example shown in Figure 1, the household appliance 100 comprises an oven. Other examples of household appliances (which may be used to implement the presently-described methods) include, but are not limited to, refrigerators, freezers, air conditioning appliances, heating appliances, washing machines, tumble dryers, dishwashers, vacuum cleaners, hobs, microwaves, and toasters. The one or more household tasks performed by the household appliance 100 may be considered the primary function of the household appliance 100, which may additionally have one or more secondary functions.

[0082] In the embodiments shown in Figure 1, the household appliance 100 comprises a door 140. Opening the door 140 allows an internal cavity (not shown) of the household appliance 100 to be accessed. The door 140 may be opened and closed using a door opening mechanism 145, e.g. a handle. In alternative embodiments, for example where the household appliance 100 comprises a hob or an air conditioning unit, the household appliance 100 does not include a door or a door opening mechanism.

[0083] In the embodiments shown in Figure 1, the household appliance 100 comprises a user interface 110. The user interface 110 may comprise an output device and / or an input device. An example of an output device is a display device, which is operable to provide an output for a user, e.g. in the form of one or more displayed content items. Such a display device may comprise a liquid crystal display (LCD) device, such as a thin-film- transistor LCD (TFT LCD). The household appliance 100 may comprise other output devices additionally or alternatively to a display device, such as a speaker, a haptic output device, etc. In some cases, the user interface 110 does not comprise an output device. In embodiments where the user interface 110 comprises both an output device and an input device, these may be separate from one another or integrated into a single device. An input device may comprise one or more controls, knobs, dials, buttons, soft keys, microphones and / or other means for allowing a user to input instructions. The user interface 110 may comprise a touch screen which provides a user input device in addition to an output device (e.g. a display device). The household appliance 100 may comprise further user interfaces (not shown) in some cases. It will also be understood that, in some cases, the door opening mechanism 145 may be considered a type of user interface, in that a user may interact with the appliance 100 via the door opening mechanism 145, e.g. to open or close the door 140.

[0084] Figure 2 shows a schematic diagram of a system 200, according to embodiments. The system 200 comprises the household appliance 100 described above with reference to Figure 1. The household appliance 100 is operable to send and / or receive data via a communications network 210 which may comprise one or more different communication networks. The communications networks 210 may, for example, comprise a wireless communications network, such as a wireless local area network (WLAN), and one or more other networks, such as the Internet. The WLAN may be a Wi-Fi network. The communications network may additionally, or as an alternative to a Wi-Fi WLAN, comprise a Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN) such as a Bluetooth network or a Thread network. Specifically, it may comprise a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) network. The communications network 210 may additionally, or as an alternative to the above mentioned WPAN networks, comprise a WPAN using Near Field Communication (NFC) technology. The communications network 210 may further comprise a cellular network, such as a 4G, 5G and / or 6G cellular network.

[0085] In the embodiments shown in Figure 2, the household appliance 100 comprises communications circuitry 205. In embodiments, the communications circuity 205 comprises a wireless communications unit, such as a wireless transceiver. For example, the communications circuitry 205 may comprise one or more wireless antennas. The communications circuitry 205 may comprise a printed circuit board (PCB) including both a transmitter and a receiver, or may comprise separate transmitter and receiver PCBs. The household appliance 100 can send and / or receive data via the communications network 210 through use of the communications circuitry 205. That is, the household appliance 100 may be able to send data, receive data, or both send and receive data. In embodiments, operation of the household appliance 100 may be remotely monitored and / controlled based on remote access data sent and / or received via the communications circuitry 205. The sending and / or receiving of such data can occur when a connection to the communications network 210 (i.e. a connection between the appliance 100 and the communications network 210) is established. In embodiments, the connection comprises a wireless connection. Such a connection may comprise a local connection, e.g. a connection between the appliance and a Wi-Fi network, forming part of the communications network 210, and controlled by a local Wi-Fi router, also forming part of the communications network 210. This allows the appliance 100 to send and / or receive data via a local network (e.g. a home network) and / or via a wider network such as the Internet.

[0086] In embodiments, the communications unit 205 comprises a Wi-Fi unit operable to communicate with a server via the Internet. For example, the communications circuitry 205 may be configured to communicate with a gateway, e.g. a Wi-Fi router, with a modem for communicating with the Internet As mentioned above, the network 210 may comprise the Internet and / or a home network. In alternative embodiments, the household appliance 100 comprises communications circuitry that is not configured to perform wireless communications. For example, such communications circuitry may be configured to allow remote monitoring and / or control of the household appliance 100 via an Ethernet connection, or other wired communications mechanism. The methods described herein may also be implemented using such communications circuitry. As yet another alternative, the communications network 210 may comprise a 4G, 5G and / or 6G cellular network and the communications circuitry may comprise cellular communications circuitry, including a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM), in addition or as an alternative to a Wi-Fi unit.

[0087] In the embodiments shown in Figure 2, the system 200 also comprises a server 220. The server 220 is remotely located from the household appliance 100. The server 220 is operable to send and / or receive data via the communications network 210. As such, the server 220 is operable to receive remote access data (e.g. remote monitoring data) from the household appliance 100, for monitoring operation of the household appliance 100. In some embodiments, the server 220 is operable to send remote access data (e.g. remote control data) to the household appliance 100, for remotely controlling operation of the household appliance 100. The server 220 may be operable to both receive remote access data from, and send remote access data to, the appliance 100 in some cases.

[0088] In embodiments, the system 200 also comprises a user device 230. The user device 230 may be used to control and / or monitor the household appliance 100 without a user having to interact with the household appliance 100 directly and / or view the household appliance 100 directly. The user device 230 may comprise a mobile phone, personal computer, smartwatch device, tablet computer, etc. The user device 230 comprises communications circuitry 235. The user device 230 is operable to send and / or receive data via one or more communications networks, such as the communications network 210, using the communications circuitry 235. For example, the user device 230 may be operable to receive data from the server 220 and / or directly or indirectly from the household appliance 100. In embodiments, the user device 230 may be used to remotely monitor and / or control operation of the household appliance 100. The communications circuitry 235 may comprises a Wi-Fi unit for communicating over a Wi-Fi network, and / or a cellular communication unit for communicating over, for example, a 4G, 5G or 6G cellular communication network. The user device 230 comprises a user interface 240. The user interface 240 may comprise one or more output devices (such as a display device, speaker, haptic device, etc.) and / or one more input devices (such as a keyboard, microphone, etc.). In some cases, the user interface 240 comprises a touch screen providing both user output and input functionality. A user may monitor and / or control operation of the appliance 100 via the user interface 240 of the user device 230.

[0089] In embodiments, as indicated above, the household appliance 100 is configured to communicate with the user device 230 directly, additionally or alternatively to communicating via the server 220. For example, the household appliance may be configured to communicate with the user device 230 via a short-range wireless communications network, e.g. via Bluetooth, Thread, Zigbee or (Near Field Communication) NFC. For example, the household appliance 100 may communicate directly with the user device 230 using WLAN technology or WPAN technology and may also communicate with the server 220, and indirectly with the user device 230, using WLAN technology and the Internet. As such, in embodiments, the communications circuitry 205 of the appliance 100 may comprise a short-range wireless communication unit such as a BLE, Thread, Zigbee or NFC communication unit. The communication circuitry 235 of the user device would then also comprise a corresponding short-range communication unit. A short-range communication unit, in the form of for example a BLE, Thread or Zigbee unit, could also, or alternatively, enable the household appliance to communicate with a local hub, controller or bridge and / or be used to allow the household appliance to communicate via the local hub, controller or bridge to the Internet. As such, the appliance does not need to comprise a Wi-Fi unit in order to communicate via the server to a user device. In yet alternative implementations, the appliance may be configured to communicate, using the short-range network, with the server via the user device. In alternative embodiments, the household appliance 100 is configured to communicate with the user device 230 via the server 220 but is not able to communicate with the user device 230 directly.

[0090] The connection of the appliance 100 to the communications network 210 may be initially established using a user interface of the appliance 100. For example, a user may select a network and / or enter a network password via the user interface of the appliance 100. Additionally or alternatively, the user may select the network and / or enter credentials via the user device 230, which may pass such information to the appliance 100. The appliance 100 may then connect to, and enrol with, the server 220 using a stored server address or a server address received from the user device 230. The user may then register the appliance to itself and / or its user device, for example using the user device 230, such that it can remotely monitor and / or control the appliance using the user device. In embodiments, the appliance 100 is operable to be registered with the server 220 and / or connected to the communications network 210 without the appliance 100 being registered to a particular user. The appliance 100, server 220 and / or user device 230 may store in memory configuration data for enabling communication between household appliances and specific user devices such as network credentials, server addresses, an indication of successful enrolment of a household appliance with the server, information identifying household appliances and the linked users / user devices that have permission to control them and certificates, tokens and security keys for allowing trusted communication. Examples of configuration data in the appliance may involve one or more of home network credentials, a server address, indication of successful enrolment with the server or linked user devices. Examples of configuration data in the server 220 may involve identifying information for the user or user device, identifying information for the household appliances linked to the user and / or user device and indication of successful enrolment of the household appliances. Examples of configuration data stored in the user device 230 may involve a server address and identifying information of appliances linked to the user device or to the user associated with the user device. The configuration data in each of the server 220, appliance 100 and / or user device 230 may further involve certificates, security keys and / or tokens for allowing trusted communication. The configuration data may also comprise additional data or it may not comprise some of the data mentioned.

[0091] When operation of the household appliance 100 is to be monitored via the user device 230, the communications circuitry 205 is operable to transmit remote monitoring data to the user device 230 via the server 220. This may be referred to as a “first communications channel” between the appliance 100 and the user device 230. The first communication channel may comprise one or more WPAN, WLAN communication links via one or more local hubs, controllers, bridges, repeaters and gateways to the Internet and the server. It may also, or alternatively, comprise a cellular communication link. Moreover, the communication technology used for the first communication channel may change. For example, it may include cellular communication link when the user is outside the home and it may include a wi-fi link between the server and the user device when the user is inside the home. The first communication channel may be established by the configuration data, mentioned above, stored in the appliance 100, the user device 230 and / or server 220. As mentioned above, however, in some cases the first communications channel between the appliance 100 and the user device 230 may be a direct communications channel, e.g. in the form of a Bluetooth communications channel, which does not require the server 220 as an intermediary. In either case, the first communications channel is used for transmitting and / or receiving data for remote monitoring and / or control of operation of the appliance 100 using the user device 230. In some embodiments, the appliance 100 sends remote monitoring data to the server 220, which then forwards the received remote monitoring data to the user device 230. Alternatively, the appliance 100 may send first remote monitoring data to the server 220, and the server 220 may generate second remote monitoring data, using the first remote monitoring data, and send the second monitoring data to the user device 230. Accordingly, the server 220 may either simply forward data received from the appliance 100 to the user device 230, or may modify the received data, and / or generate new data, for sending to the user device 230. It will be understood that in either case, the appliance 100 transmits monitoring data to the user device 230 via the server 220. Similarly, when operation of the household appliance 100 is to be controlled via the user device 230, the communications circuitry 205 is operable to receive remote control data from the user device 230 via the server 220. Again, the server 220 may either simply forward data received from the user device 230 to the appliance 100, or may modify the received data, and / or generate new data, for sending to the appliance 100. Remote monitoring data and remote control data are both examples of remote access data.

[0092] In embodiments, remote monitoring data sent from the appliance 100 via the first communications channel indicates operational information of the appliance 100. The operational information may include, for example, the status of the household appliance 100, one or more operating parameters of the household appliance 100, information associated with an operating program of the household appliance 100, sensor data generated by one or more sensors of the household appliance 100, the value of a timer associated with the household appliance 100, user inputs received at the appliance 100, etc. For example, where the appliance 100 comprises a cooker, the operational information may include a current cooking temperature, a current cooking program, a time until the current cooking program is completed, an event corresponding to, for example, a user input to turn the cooker on or turn the cooker off or other user action on the cooker, etc. As such, the operational information indicated by the monitoring data may be dynamic, i.e. changing over time. In response to receiving such data, the server 220 may be configured to send monitoring data (which may be the same as the received monitoring data, or may be different monitoring data, for example a subset of the received data or data derived from the received data) indicative of the operational information of the household appliance 100 to the user device 230. The user device 230 may then output the operational information to the user, e.g. via a visual display of the user device 230. This allows the user to monitor operation of the household appliance 100 via the user device 230, which may (in some embodiments, in some circumstances and / or during some time periods) be located remotely from the household appliance 100. The remote monitoring data may change in response to software updates and commands from the server and / or other devices, including other user devices. In embodiments, remote control data received at the appliance 100 is based on user input at the user device 230. For example, in response to receiving user input, the user device 230 may be operable to send one or more remote control commands to the server 220. In response to receiving the remote control commands, the server 220 is operable to send data for remotely controlling the household appliance 100 to the communications circuitry 205 of the household appliance 100. This allows a user to remotely control the household appliance 100 via the user device 230. The user input may comprise a selection of one or more available remote control commands, for example. The available remote control commands may be displayed via the user interface 240 of the user device 230. The available remote control commands may be based on one or more characteristics of the household appliance 100. Such characteristics may include, for example, a make, model, type, capability and / or operational state of the household appliance 100. The available remote control commands may change in response to software updates and commands from the server and / or other devices, including other user devices.

[0093] In embodiments, remote monitoring and / or control of operation of the household appliance 100 via the user device 230 is enabled during an established remote access session between the household appliance 100 and the user device 230. The remote access session allows communications between the household appliance 100 and the user device 230 via the first communications channel, which may be direct or indirect, e.g. via the server 220. Establishment of remote access sessions between the appliance 100 and the user device 230 (and / or other user devices) may be controlled by the server 220. The server 220 may thus coordinate communications between the appliance 100 and the user device 230 for remotely monitoring and / or controlling the appliance 100. Additionally or alternatively, establishment of remote access sessions may be controlled at least partly by the user device 230, e.g. by an application running on the user device 230, or by the appliance 100. When remote access data is sent via the server 220, the establishment of a remote access session may, for example, involve the opening of a connection, using suitable protocols such as Transport Layer Security (TLS), Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), Message Queuing Telemetry Transport (MQTT) and / or WebSocket, between an application on the user device 230 and a service of the server 220 that manages monitoring and control data for a particular appliance and the sending, by the server 220, of monitoring data related to live updates from the appliance 100 over this connection to the application and, similarly, the sending of remote control commands, triggered for example by user input received at the user device 230, over this connection to the server 220 for the server 220 to control operation of the appliance 100.

[0094] In embodiments, in addition to the first communications channel between the household appliance 100 and the user device 230 (used for sending and / or receiving data for remote monitoring and / or control of the appliance 100), the household appliance 100 and the user device 230 can wirelessly communicate with one another via a second, short-range communications channel. The second communications channel may comprise an NFC channel. For example, the household appliance 100 may comprise an NFC tag, and the user device 230 may comprise an NFC reader. The NFC tag and reader may be part of the communications circuitry 205, 235 of the appliance 100 and the user device 230, respectively. Accordingly, wireless communication via the second communications channel may occur in response to the user device 230 being “tapped” against, or otherwise placed in proximity to, an NFC tag in the household appliance 100. Such short-range communications may be used to facilitate remote monitoring and / or control of the appliance 100, as will be described below. Alternatively, the second communications channel may comprise a BLE channel between the appliance 100 and the user device 230. In alternative embodiments, the second communications channel comprises a communications channel other than an NFC or BLE channel. In alternative embodiments, the appliance 100 and the user device 230 do not wirelessly communicate with one another via a second communications channel.

[0095] In embodiments, the household appliance 100 may also be controlled by a user directly, e.g. without the use of the user device 230. For example, where the household appliance 100 comprises a user input device such as a touchscreen, the user may control operation of the household appliance 100 via the user input device of the household appliance 100 instead of, or in addition to, via the user device 230. Similarly, the household appliance 100 may also be monitored by a user directly, e.g. without the use of the user device 230. For example, where the household appliance 100 comprises a display device such as a liquid crystal display, LCD, device, the user may monitor operation of the household appliance 100 via the display device of the household appliance 100 instead of, or in addition to, via the user device 230. In some embodiments, the household appliance 100 may be controlled and / or monitored both directly and indirectly using the user device 230.

[0096] Figure 3 shows a schematic block diagram of the household appliance 100, according to embodiments. In the embodiments shown in Figure 3, the household appliance 100 comprises a controller 310. The controller 310 is operable to perform various data processing and / or control functions, as will be described in more detail below. The controller 310 may comprise one or more components. The one or more components may be implemented in hardware and / or software. The one or more components may be co-located or may be located remotely from each other in the household appliance 100. The controller 310 may be embodied as one or more software functions and / or hardware modules. In embodiments, the controller 310 comprises one or more processors configured to process instructions and / or data. Operations performed by the one or more processors may be carried out by hardware and / or software. The controller 310 may be configured to implement at least some of the methods described herein. In embodiments, the controller 310 is operable to output control signals for controlling one or more components of the household appliance 100. In embodiments, the controller 310 is operable to receive signals from one or more components of the household appliance 100, and to control one or more components of the household appliance 100 based on such received signals. In alternative embodiments, at least some of the methods described herein are implemented by a controller that is not comprised in the household appliance 100. For example, the relevant methods may be implemented by a controller of a server, such as the server 220 described above with reference to Figure 2. Additionally or alternatively, at least some of the methods described herein may be implemented by a controller of a user device, such as the user device 230 described above with reference to Figure 2. Accordingly, the controller 310 of the household appliance 100, or at least the controller functionality associated with the relevant methods described herein, may be omitted in some embodiments. The user device 230 and the server 220 are described in more detail with reference to Figures 4 and 5 respectively. The controller(s) of the user device 230 and / or of the server 220 may be implemented in a similar manner to that described with respect to the controller 310 of the appliance 100.

[0097] In embodiments, the household appliance 100 comprises communications circuitry 205, such as wireless communications circuitry, as described with reference to Figure 2 above. The controller 310 is operable to control the communications circuitry 205. In particular, the controller 310 is operable to cause the communications circuitry 205 to transmit and / or receive data via one or more communications networks. For example, the controller 310 may be operable to send signals to the communications circuitry 205 to enable remote access data to be sent to a server 220. Additionally or alternatively, the controller 310 may be operable to receive signals from the communications circuitry 205. Such signals may be received via the communications circuitry 205 from the server 220 and / or from the user device 230, for example. For example, the controller 310 may be operable to receive signals from the communications circuitry 205 corresponding to remote access data received from a server 220.

[0098] In embodiments, the household appliance 100 comprises a user interface 110, as described with reference to Figure 1 above. The controller 310 is operable to control the user interface 110, e.g. to cause the user interface 110 to display an output for a user. In embodiments, the controller 310 is operable to control content displayed by the user interface 110. For example, the controller 310 may be operable to cause predetermined content to be displayed or not displayed by the user interface 110, and / or to adjust the content displayed by the user interface 110. Where the user interface 100 comprises a user input device, the controller 310 may be operable to receive signals generated in response to a user interacting with the user input device, e.g. by such an operation being sensed by one or more sensors. The controller 310 may be operable to control the appliance 100 in response to receipt of such a signal.

[0099] In embodiments, the household appliance 100 comprises a door 140, as described with reference to Figure 1 above. In embodiments, the controller 310 is operable to receive a signal generated in response to a user opening and / or closing the door 140, e.g. by such an operation being sensed by sensor equipment. The controller 310 may be operable to control the household appliance 100 in response to receipt of such a signal.

[0100] In embodiments, the household appliance 100 comprises a heating element 330. The heating element 330 may, for example, be operable to convert electrical energy into heat. The heating element 330 may be controlled by a user of the household appliance, e.g. by activating the heating element 330 and / or setting a desired operating temperature of the household appliance 100. In embodiments, the controller 310 is operable to receive a signal generated in response to a user attempting to control the heating element 330, e.g. by such an operation being sensed by one or more sensors and / or being detected upon actuation of a user input device and / or communicated via the communication circuitry 205. The controller 310 may be operable to control the household appliance 100 in response to receipt of such a signal. In embodiments, the controller 310 is operable to control the heating element. For example, the controller 310 may be operable to apply energy (e.g. electrical energy) to the heating element 330, e.g. via one or more control signals generated by the controller 310.

[0101] In embodiments, the household appliance 100 comprises a timer 340. The timer 340 may be controlled by a user of the household appliance 100, e.g. to set a desired time after - l - which an alarm may sound and / or operation of the household appliance 100 may start or stop. In embodiments, the controller 310 is operable to receive a signal generated in response to a user attempting to control the timer 340, e.g. by such an operation being sensed by one or more sensors and / or being detected upon actuation of a user input device and / or communicated via the communication circuitry 205. The controller 310 is operable to control the household appliance 100 in response to receipt of such a signal. In embodiments, the controller 310 is operable to control the timer 340, e.g. via one or more control signals generated by the controller 310.

[0102] In embodiments, the household appliance 100 also comprises one or more operating sensors 350. The one or more operating sensors 350 may be arranged to sense performance and / or operation of the household appliance 100. The one or more operating sensors 350 may comprise heat sensors, motion sensors, image sensors, etc. In embodiments, the one or more operating sensors 350 are configured to output sensor data to the controller 310, to enable the controller 310 to control the household appliance 100 on the basis of sensor data. As such, the controller 310 may be operable to receive sensor data (e.g. signals comprising the sensor data) from the one or more operating sensors 350. In embodiments, the controller 310 is operable to control the one or more operating sensors 350, e.g. via one or more control signals generated by the controller 310.

[0103] The household appliance 100 also comprises a memory 360. The memory 360 is operable to store various data according to embodiments. The memory may comprise at least one volatile memory, at least one non-volatile memory, and / or at least one data storage unit. The volatile memory, non-volatile memory and / or data storage unit may be configured to store computer-readable information and / or instructions for use / execution by the controller 310.

[0104] The household appliance 100 may comprise more, fewer and / or different components in alternative embodiments. In particular, at least some of the components of the household appliance 100 shown in Figures 1, 2 and / or 3 may be omitted (e.g. may not be required) in some embodiments. For example, at least one of the user interface 110, door 140, door opening mechanism 145, heating element 330, timer 340, operating sensors 350 and memory 360 may be omitted in some embodiments. In some embodiments, the household appliance 100 does not comprise the controller 310 or at least some of the components of the controller 310. For example, the controller 310, or components of the controller, may be comprised in a further entity (e.g. a further household appliance, user device, etc.) that is capable of communicating with and optionally controlling the household appliance 100. The household appliance 100 may also comprise other components, in addition to or instead of for example the heating element, for realising the function(s) of the household appliance 100, such as one or more of the following components: a pump arrangement, a drum drive arrangement, a heat-pump arrangement, condensers, compressors, motors, fans and / or ionisers. In embodiments, the controller 310 is operable to receive a signal generated in response to a user attempting to control such components, for example by selection of a particular household appliance program or cycle. Such a selection, or attempted control by other means, may be sensed by one or more sensors and / or detected upon actuation of a user input device and / or communicated via the communication circuitry 205. The controller 310 may be operable to control the household appliance 100 in response to receipt of such a signal. In embodiments, the controller 310 is operable to control the components for realising the function(s) of the household appliance via one or more control signals generated by the controller 310.

[0105] In embodiments, data from at least some of the components of the appliance 100 mentioned herein may form the basis of remote monitoring data transmitted from the appliance 100. For example, remote monitoring data may indicate operational information of the appliance 100 (e.g. a program selection, operating settings, operating parameter values, timer values, etc.) derived from the data from the components. Such remote monitoring data may then be received at the user device 230 to allow remote monitoring and / or control of operation of the appliance 100.

[0106] Figure 4 shows a schematic block diagram of the user device 230, according to embodiments.

[0107] In the embodiments shown in Figure 4, the user device 230 comprises a controller 410. The controller 410 is operable to perform various data processing and / or control functions. The controller 410 may be implemented in a similar manner as the controller 310 of the household appliance 100 described above. The controller 410 may comprise one or more components. The one or more components may be implemented in hardware and / or software. The one or more components may be co-located or may be located remotely from each other in the user device 230. The controller 410 may be embodied as one or more software functions and / or hardware modules. In embodiments, the controller 410 comprises one or more processors configured to process instructions and / or data. Operations performed by the one or more processors may be carried out by hardware and / or software. The controller 410 may be configured to implement at least some of the methods described herein. In embodiments, the controller 410 is configured to act in conjunction with a software application stored on the user device 230. In embodiments, the controller 410 is operable to output control signals for controlling one or more components of the user device 230. In embodiments, the controller 410 is operable to receive signals from one or more components of the user device 230, and to control one or more components of the user device 230 based on such received signals.

[0108] In the embodiments shown in Figure 4, the user device 230 comprises communications circuitry 235, such as wireless communications circuitry, as described with reference to Figure 2 above. The controller 410 may be operable to receive and / or send remote access data from the household appliance via the communication circuitry 235 in order to monitor and / or control operations of the household appliance. Such signals may be received via the communications circuitry 235 from the household appliance 100 and / or from the server 220, for example.

[0109] In the embodiments shown in Figure 4, the user device 230 comprises a user interface 240. In embodiments, the user interface 240 comprises a display device. The user interface 240 may comprise a touchscreen, for example. The controller 410 is operable to control the user interface 240, e.g. to cause the user interface 240 to provide a particular output. Additionally or alternatively, the controller 410 may be operable to receive signals from the user interface 240, e.g. based on user input via the user interface.

[0110] In the embodiments shown in Figure 4, the user device 230 also comprises a memory 460. The memory 460 is operable to store various data according to embodiments. The memory may comprise at least one volatile memory, at least one non-volatile memory, and / or at least one data storage unit. The volatile memory, non-volatile memory and / or data storage unit may be configured to store computer-readable information and / or instructions for use / execution by the controller 410. In some embodiments, the memory may be configured to store a software application downloaded from a remote site over one or more networks including the Internet. The software application may comprise software instructions and data for remotely monitoring and / or controlling the household appliance 100.

[0111] It will be understood that the user device 230 may comprise more, fewer and / or different components in other embodiments.

[0112] Figure 5 shows a schematic block diagram of the server 220, according to embodiments.

[0113] In the embodiments shown in Figure 5, the server 220 comprises a controller 510. The controller 510 is operable to perform various data processing and / or control functions. The controller 510 may comprise one or more components. The one or more components may be implemented in hardware and / or software. The one or more components may be co-located or may be located remotely from each other in the server 220. The controller 510 may be embodied as one or more software functions and / or hardware modules. In embodiments, the controller 510 comprises one or more processors configured to process instructions and / or data. Operations performed by the one or more processors may be carried out by hardware and / or software. Although throughout the description will refer to a server, it will be understood that the server could comprise at least parts of one or more distinct servers communicatively connected in a computing cloud. The functions of the server could be distributed across one or more of the servers of the computing cloud. As such, the one or more components and the one or more processors, of the controller, may be distributed across servers in the computing cloud. The controller 510 may be configured to implement at least some of the methods described herein. In embodiments, the controller 510 is operable to output control signals for controlling one or more components of the server 220. In embodiments, the controller 510 is operable to receive signals from one or more components of the server 220, and to control one or more components of the server 220 based on such received signals.

[0114] In the embodiments shown in Figure 5, the server 220 comprises communications circuitry 535, such as wireless communications circuitry. The controller 510 is operable to control the communications circuitry 535. In particular, the controller 510 is operable to cause the communications circuitry 535 to transmit data via a communications network. Additionally or alternatively, the controller 510 may be operable to receive signals from the communications circuitry 535. Such signals may be received via the communications circuitry 535 from the household appliance 100 and / or from the user device 230, for example.

[0115] In the embodiments shown in Figure 5, the server 220 also comprises a memory 560. The memory 560 is operable to store various data according to embodiments. The memory may comprise at least one volatile memory, at least one non-volatile memory, and / or at least one data storage unit. The volatile memory, non-volatile memory and / or data storage unit may be configured to store computer-readable information and / or instructions for use / execution by the controller 510. The memory may store configuration data for allowing a first communications channel to be set up to enable remote monitoring and / or control of the household appliance 100 using the user device 230.

[0116] It will be understood that the server 220 may comprise more, fewer and / or different components in other embodiments.

[0117] Figure 6 shows a method 600 of facilitating operation of a household appliance, according to embodiments. The method 600 may be used to facilitate operation of the household appliance 100 described above with reference to Figures 1 to 3. Operation of the household appliance may be remotely monitored and / or controlled via a user interface 240 of a user device 230 based on data received at the user device 230 via a first communications channel between the household appliance 100 and the user device 230. The first communications channel comprises at least a wireless portion. That is, the first communications channel may be entirely wireless, or may be partly wireless and partly wired. The first communications channel may be configured to use one or more wireless communications networks. In embodiments, the method 600 is performed at least in part by the controller 310 of the household appliance 100. That is, the controller 310 is configured to perform at least some of the steps of the method 600. In alternative embodiments, the method 600 is performed at least in part by a controller that is separate from the household appliance 100. For example, the method 600 may be performed at least in part by a controller 510 of a server 220. In some cases, the method 600 is performed at least in part by a controller 410 of the user device 230. In alternative embodiments, some of the steps of the method 600 are performed by the controller 310 of the household appliance 100 and some other steps of the method 600 are performed by a controller of the server 220 and / or of the user device 230. Where at least part of the method 600 (and subsequent remote monitoring and / or control of operation of the household appliance) is performed by the user device 230, this may be, at least partly, via a dedicated software application downloaded and stored on the user device 230. The software application may be provided by the manufacturer of the household appliance 100 or an associated third party.

[0118] In step 610, a signal generated on the basis of wireless communication via a second, short-range, communications channel between the household appliance 100 and the user device 230 is received. The signal may be part of the wireless communication via the second channel (e.g. the signal may be received via the second channel) or the signal may be generated in response to the wireless communication but may not itself be communicated via the second channel.

[0119] In step 620, in response to receiving the signal, the user interface 240 of the user device 230 is caused to provide an output based on data received via the first communications channel, to enable remote monitoring and / or control of operation of the household appliance 100 via the user interface 240 of the user device 230.

[0120] As such, remote monitoring and / or control of operation of the household appliance 100 via the user interface 240 of the user device 230, which is based on data received at the user device 230 via the first communications channel, is enabled in response to wireless communication via the second, short-range communications channel. Wireless communication via the second channel is thus used as a trigger for remote monitoring and / or control using the first channel. This provides an improved mechanism for operating the household appliance 100, for several reasons. First, enabling remote monitoring and / or control via the first channel in response to wireless communication via the second channel is more user-friendly and / or efficient than a comparative case in which a user is required to directly interact with a user interface of the appliance 100 and / or a user interface of the user device 230 (e.g. by navigating one or more menus, selecting or issuing appropriate commands and / or entering one or more passcodes) in order to enable remote monitoring and / or control. Instead, the user can simply bring the user device 230 in proximity to the appliance 100, such that wireless communication via the short-range channel occurs, in order to initiate remote monitoring and / or control of the appliance 100 via the user device 230. Moreover, once remote monitoring and / or control via the first channel has been enabled, the user is no longer required to stay in the vicinity of the appliance 100, and the user is free to move away from the appliance 100, e.g. to another room of a house, whilst still being able to monitor and / or control operation of the appliance 100. Further, by allowing the appliance 100 to be monitored and / or controlled via the user interface 240 of the user device 230, the appliance 100 itself is not required to have its own user interface (e.g. a display device), or may have a user interface that is relatively limited in terms of size, functionality and / or versatility. This reduces the manufacturing cost and / or complexity of the appliance 100. Additionally, by using wireless communications via the second, short-range, communications channel as a trigger, the user device 230 may be required to be placed in relatively close proximity to the appliance 100. This provides improved safety and / or security, compared to a case in which remote monitoring and / or control can be enabled without the user having to be initially in the vicinity of the appliance 100. For example, the likelihood of a user unintentionally enabling remote control of the appliance 100 may be reduced. In some cases, a user may be required to demonstrate that they are in the vicinity of the appliance 100 in order to enable remote monitoring and / or control of the appliance 100. Using wireless communications via the second, short-range, channel as a trigger provides an efficient and user- friendly way of doing so. Once remote monitoring and / or control via the first channel has been triggered via the second channel, the user device will continue to receive and display monitoring data and the user will continue to be able to monitor and control the household appliance via the user device. The output provided by the user interface of the user device, e.g. data displayed and the menus and control commands available via the user interface of the user device, may change, for example based on the status of the appliance and / or commands and updates originating outside the appliance such us from the server or a second user device.

[0121] In embodiments, the signal is received after establishment of the first communications channel between the household appliance 100 and the user device 230. That is, the first communications channel may have already been established before the signal (generated on the basis of wireless communication via the second, short-range, communications channel) is received. As such, in embodiments, the received signal does not cause the first communications channel between the appliance 100 and the user device 230 to be established, but rather the received signal causes the user interface 240 of the user device 230 to provide an output based on data received via the established first communications channel. As discussed below, the data may have already been received at the user device 230 via the first communications channel prior to the signal being received, or the receipt of the signal may cause the data to be received at the user device 230 via the first communications channel. In either case, the data is received via the first communications channel. In more detail, in some embodiments, configuration of the household appliance 100, user device 230 and / or server 220, as the case may be, for example related to appliance network connection, enrolment and / or registration, for the establishment of the first communication channel may already have happened and the household appliance 100, user device 230 and / or server 220 stores configuration data for the first communication channel. In those embodiments, the first communication channel may already need to have been established for the signal to cause the user interface to provide the output based on data received via the first communications channel. In other words, in those embodiments, even if the signal causes a new remote access session to be established and data to be received via the first communication channel, the configuration of the appliance 100, server 220 and / or user device 230, will need to have taken place before the receipt of the signal for the user interface to be controlled to provide the output in response to the signal. As a specific example, the user device 230 may need to have downloaded a software application associated with the appliance 100 and used the software application to connect and enrol the appliance with the server 220 and to register it to the user device 230, causing configuration data for the first communication channel to be stored in the server 220 and / or the appliance 100 and the user device 230. The configuration data may include configuration data for establishing a trusted communication link. Receipt of the signal may then cause the user interface of the user device 230 to open the application or bring it to the foreground and establish a new remote access session via the established first communication channel. In alternative embodiments, the signal is received prior to establishment of the first communications channel between the household appliance 100 and the user device 230. For example, receipt of the signal may cause the first communications channel to be established.

[0122] In embodiments, the second communications channel comprises an NFC channel between the household appliance 100 and the user device 230. The wireless communication via the second communications channel may correspond to an “NFC tap” between the user device 230 and the appliance 100. In embodiments, the user device 230 comprises an NFC reader and the appliance 100 comprises an NFC tag, although it will be understood that this arrangement may be reversed in other embodiments. The NFC reader may transmit an interrogation signal, which causes the NFC tag to transmit digital data back to the NFC reader. The digital data may comprise an identifier of the tag and / or of the appliance or user device associated with the tag. For example, where the tag is associated with the appliance 100, the digital data may comprise an appliance identifier that uniquely identifies the appliance. Additionally or alternatively, the digital data may comprise an instruction or indication that causes a software application on the user device 230 to be launched and / or displayed in a foreground layer, and / or that causes the software application to display a particular menu. For example, the digital data may comprise an identifier for a particular menu. The signal generated at step 610 may be generated in response to such wireless communication, or may comprise one of the above-mentioned NFC signals. The second communications channel may comprise a radio-frequency identification, RFID, channel other than an NFC channel in alternative embodiments. For example, the appliance 100 may comprise an RFID tag other than an NFC tag.

[0123] In alternative embodiments, the second communications channel comprises a BLE channel between the household appliance 100 and the user device 230. For example, the appliance 100 and the user device 230 may each comprise BLE communications circuitry configured to transmit and / or receive BLE signals. The household appliance 100 and the user device 230 may have previously paired or the wireless communication via the second communication channel may merely comprise initial messages in the connection process such as a broadcast advertising message and / or a reply to an advertising message. Both NFC and BLE are examples of short-range communications channels, and each requires the user device 230 and the appliance 100 to be located in relatively close proximity to one another for wireless communication to take place. Accordingly, the use of NFC or BLE ensures that the user is in the vicinity of the appliance 100 when remote monitoring and / or control of operation of the appliance 100 via the first (longer-range) communications channel is to be enabled. This improves safety and / or security, since, for example, the user is prevented from unintentionally enabling remote control of the appliance 100 when in a completely separate location from the appliance 100.

[0124] In embodiments, the first communications channel is configured to provide communications between the household appliance 100 and the user device 230 via a server 220. In embodiments, the first communications channel is configured to use at least one wireless communications network. The at least one wireless communications network may comprise at least one of: a Wi-Fi network, a 4G network, a 5G network, a 6G network, and a Bluetooth™ network. In some cases, the first communications channel is configured to use a plurality of communications networks. For example, the appliance 100 may be connected via a WLAN to a home router, which in turn is connected to a server 220 via the Internet, and the user device 230 may be in communication with the server 220 via a cellular network. In alternative embodiments, the first communications channel is configured to provide communications between the appliance 100 and the user device 230 directly, e.g. without a server as an intermediary. This may be the case, for example, where the first communications channel comprises a Bluetooth™ channel between the appliance 100 and the user device 230. In some embodiments, the first communications channel comprises a BLE channel and the second communications channel comprises an NFC channel.

[0125] In embodiments, the received signal is generated in response to the wireless communication via the second communications channel having a signal strength that is greater than a predetermined threshold. The signal strength may be related to the distance between the user device 230 and the appliance 100. Accordingly, a signal strength that is greater than the predetermined threshold may be indicative of the user device 230 being positioned at a distance from the appliance 100 that is below a corresponding threshold distance, thereby indicating that the user is in the vicinity of the appliance 100. In alternative embodiments, the received signal is not generated in response to the wireless communication having a signal strength that is greater than a predetermined threshold. For example, the received signal may be generated in response to any detected wireless communication via the second communications channel between the user device 230 and the appliance 100, regardless of signal strength.

[0126] In embodiments, causing the user interface 240 to provide the output comprises causing, in response to receiving the signal, the user device 230 to receive the data via the first communications channel. Upon receiving the data via the first communications channel, the user device 230 may then provide an output via the user interface 240 of the user device 230. Such an output, which may for example comprise a displayed output provided on a display of the user device 230, allows the user to remotely monitor and / or control operation of the appliance 100.

[0127] In embodiments, causing the user device 230 to receive the data comprises controlling the household appliance 100 to transmit remote monitoring data via the first communications channel, in response to receiving the signal. The data received by the user device 230 is derivable based on the remote monitoring data transmitted by the household appliance 100. As such, in response to receiving a signal generated based on wireless communications via the second, short-range communications channel, the appliance 100 may be controlled to transmit remote monitoring data via the first communications channel. To transmit the remote monitoring data, the appliance 100 may be controlled directly (e.g. by a controller of the appliance itself), or indirectly (e.g. by a controller of the server 220 or the user device 230). In alternative embodiments, the household appliance 100 is configured to transmit remote monitoring data via the first communications channel independently of wireless communication via the second communications channel. For example, the appliance 100 may already be transmitting remote monitoring data via the first communications channel when the wireless communication via the second channel occurs.

[0128] In embodiments, causing the user device 230 to receive the data comprises controlling the user device 230 to request the data via the first communications channel, in response to receiving the signal. The user device 230 may be controlled directly (e.g. by a controller of the user device 230 itself), or indirectly (e.g. by a controller of the appliance 100 or the server 220). The user device 230 may be controlled via a software application stored on the user device 230. The user device 230 may send a request for the data to the server 220, and the server 220 may send the data to the user device 230 in response to such a request. Alternatively, the user device 230 may request the data from the appliance 100 directly.

[0129] In embodiments, causing the user device 230 to receive the data comprises controlling the server 220 to transmit the data to the user device 230 via the first communications channel, in response to receiving the signal. The server 220 may already have received remote monitoring data from the appliance 100, for example, but may only send the data to the user device 230 in response to receiving the signal. The server 220 may transmit the data to the user device 230 in response to a request from the user device 230 or, in some cases, without having received a request from the user device 230. Accordingly, causing the user device 230 to receive the data may comprise controlling the appliance 100, the user device 230, and / or the server 220.

[0130] In alternative embodiments, causing the user interface 240 to provide the output performed in step 620 does not comprise causing the user device 230 to receive the data via the first communications channel. That is, the user device 230 may receive the data via the first communications channel independently of the wireless communications via the second communications channel taking place. The user device 230 may receive the data for remotely monitoring and / or controlling the appliance 100 periodically or continuously, for example. In such cases, the wireless communications via the second channel causes the user device 230 to use the already-received data from the first communications channel to generate an output via the user interface 240 of the user device 230.

[0131] In embodiments, the method 600 comprises, in response to receiving the signal, controlling the user interface 240 of the user device 230. The user interface 240 may be controlled directly (e.g. by the user device 230 itself, e.g. on the basis of data received from a server 220) or may be controlled indirectly (e.g. by the server 220, by sending particular data to the user device 230). The user interface 240 may comprise a display of the user device 230, for example. Controlling the user interface 240 may comprise causing the user interface 240 to provide the output based on the data received via the first communications channel.

[0132] The output may comprise content to be displayed via a display of the user device 230. In embodiments, the output indicates operational information of the household appliance 100. The operational information may be based on the data received via the first communications channel. In embodiments, the operational information comprises one or more of: a status of the household appliance 100, one or more operating parameters of the household appliance 100, information associated with an operating program of the household appliance 100, one or more settings of the household appliance 100, and a value of a timer of the household appliance 100. Accordingly, the user of the user device 230 may monitor operation of the appliance 100 on the basis of the operational information provided via the user interface 240 of the user device 230. In some embodiments, the output provided on the user interface of the user device may comprise an output not available through a user interface of the household appliance. Where content comprised in the output is displayed on a display of the user device, the content displayed may comprise content not available to be viewed via the user interface 110 of the household appliance. Where the output indicates operational information, the operational information indicated may comprise operational information not available via a limited user interface 110 of the household appliance. For example, the output may comprise status, operating parameters, information associated with the operating program of the household appliance and / or settings not available to be controlled and / or viewed via the user interface of the household appliance. As a very specific but non-limiting example, information associated with the operating program not available via the user interface of the household appliance may comprise more detailed sustainability information, such as recommendations, explanations and charts, than that available via the user interface of the household appliance. In some implementations, the household appliance may not have a user interface or a very limited user interface (e.g. it may not have a display) and the only way available to the user to control the household appliance, or at least some operations of the household appliance, may be via the user interface of the user device.

[0133] In embodiments, the output is dependent on an operational state of the household appliance 100. For example, where the appliance 100 comprises an oven, when the oven is in a ‘pre-heating’ state, a temperature of the oven may be shown on the user interface 240 of the user device 230, whereas when the oven has warmed up and is in a ‘cooking’ state, the temperature of the oven is not shown, and a time until the end of a cooking operation is shown instead. Data indicating the operational state of the appliance 100 may be provided to the user device 230 via the first communications channel or via the second communications channel. As such, the output of the user interface 240 may be adapted to different operational states of the household appliance 100.

[0134] In embodiments, the output is dependent on an appliance type of the household appliance 100. For example, a first output may be provided if the appliance is an oven and a second, different output may be provided if the appliance is a hob. Data indicating the appliance type may be provided to the user device 230 via the first communications channel or via the second communications channel. As such, the output of the user interface 240 may be adapted to different appliance types. In embodiments, the output is dependent on an appliance identifier. Again, such an appliance identifier may be communicated from the appliance 100 via the first communications channel or the second communications channel. This allows the output provided via the user interface 240 of the user device 230 to be tailored to the specific appliance 100 that is to be remotely monitored and / or controlled. For example, the user interface 240 of the user device 230 may be caused to show information that is specific to the appliance 100.

[0135] In embodiments, the output is dependent on a previous action performed on the household appliance 100 by a user associated with the user device 230. The previous action may be performed by the user via a user interface 110 of the appliance 100, for example to select a particular operating program of the appliance 100, or to adjust or select one or more operating settings of the appliance 100. The output of the user interface 240 may thus be adapted depending on previous user actions at the appliance 100. An indication of the previous action may be sent from the appliance 100 to the user device 230 via the second communications channel, for example. Additionally or alternatively, the user device 230 may receive such an indication via the first communications channel.

[0136] In embodiments, the output is dependent on an identity of a user associated with the user device 230. As such, the output of the user interface 240 of the user device 230 may be adapted to different users. The output may be dependent on the user’s previous actions when remotely controlling the appliance 100 during earlier remote access sessions, for example, which may be stored on the user device 230 or retrieved from the server 220. The output may comprise one or more shortcuts, or preferred operating programs or settings of the appliance 100 that the user has previously used or selected. Additionally or alternatively, the output may be dependent on one or more user preferences relating to how content is to be displayed on the user device 230, e.g. with regard to text size, spacing, colours, etc. In embodiments, the output is dependent on an age of the user. For example, children may be able to view a timer of the appliance 100 on their user device but may be prevented from remotely controlling the appliance 100. In embodiments, certain users (e.g. users having a predetermined level of authority, priority level, premium or administrator status) are provided with a particular output, whereas other others are not. For example, some remote control commands may be made available to some users but not others. As a specific example, a particular output may be provided to a technician. For example, the output may be a log of errors to which other users do not have access.

[0137] In embodiments, the output comprises a menu having one or more menu items that are selectable on the basis of user input at the user device 230, the one or more menu items being associated with operation of the household appliance 100. The menu items may correspond to remote control commands, for example. A user may select a given menu item, which causes a remote control signal to be sent from the user device 230 to the appliance 100 (optionally via the server 220) to remotely control the appliance 100. Additionally or alternatively, the menu items may allow various characteristics of the appliance 100 to be remotely monitored by the user. For example, the menu items may correspond to a timer, an operating state of the appliance 100, one or more operating settings of the appliance 100, an operating program of the appliance 100, etc. In some situations, the data received via the first communication channel may be a connection status of the household appliance and the output may simply be the display of a menu including controls, e.g. toggles, for controlling the appliance.

[0138] In embodiments, the method 600 comprises, in response to receiving the signal, causing a selected menu of a plurality of menus associated with a software application stored on the user device 230, to be displayed via the user device 230. The software application may comprise a dedicated software application downloaded and stored on the user device 230. The software application may be provided by the manufacturer of the household appliance 100 or associated third party, for example. In embodiments, the software application is initially ‘closed’, or in a background layer, on the user device 230, and in response to receiving the signal, the software application is ‘opened’, or brought to a foreground of the user device 230, to display the selected menu. In alternative embodiments, the software application is initially in the foreground of the user device 230, and in response to receiving the signal, the selected menu of the software application is displayed. The received signal may include identifying information for a specific household appliance 100, or a specific menu for the household appliance, and the output may depend on that identifying information. For example, a first displayed menu of the software application may be switched to a second displayed menu in response to receiving the signal. For example, a menu for a first appliance, such as a washing machine, may originally be shown but when the user taps a second appliance, such as a tumble dryer, the menu for the first appliance may be switched to the menu for the second appliance.

[0139] As another example, for when an output is dependent on a previous action on the household appliance 100, if the user has selected a cotton laundry program on the user interface of a washing machine, the output on the user interface of the user device may be a menu of the software application for selecting a washing temperature for cotton. The program selection may be communicated via the first or second communication channel and the signal generated on the basis of the wireless communication via the second, short-range communication channel may trigger a portion of code of a software application that checks for any previous actions performed on the household appliance 100 and reported via the first communication channel, and specifically whether any recent program selection has been reported via the first communication channel, and then causes controls for making subsequent selections of washing parameters for the washing program, such as temperature, to be presented on the user interface of the user device 230. The output may comprise a menu or request for user input pre-populated with information derived from previous actions performed on the household appliance 100 and reported via the first communication channel.

[0140] In embodiments, the method 600 comprises performing the selection of the menu on the basis of the wireless communication via the second communications channel. For example, the appliance 100 may provide information to the user device 230 via the second communications channel which allows the user device 230 to select the appropriate menu to display. It will be understood that, while the selection of the menu is performed on the basis of wireless communication via the second, short-range, channel, it is still the first, longer-range channel which is used for communicating data for remotely monitoring and / or controlling the appliance 100. In alternative embodiments, the selection is performed on the basis of data communicated via the first channel. The selection may be performed at the user device 230, but it will be understood that in some embodiments the selection is performed at the appliance 100 or at the server 220. For example, the appliance 100 may select which menu is to be displayed, and may send an indication of the selected menu to the user device 230 via the second communications channel or the first communications channel. Alternatively, the server 220 may select which menu is to be displayed, and may send an indication of the selected menu to the user device 230.

[0141] In embodiments, the selection of the menu is performed based at least in part on an appliance type of the household appliance 100. Different menus in the plurality of menus may correspond to different appliance types. For example, a first menu may be associated with cooking appliances, whereas a second menu may be associated with cleaning appliances. Additionally or alternatively, a first menu may be associated with a particular subset of cooking appliances, such as ovens, and a second menu may be associated with a different subset of cooking appliances, such as hobs. As such, the displayed menu may be adapted to different appliance types. An indication of the appliance type may be communicated from the appliance 100 to the user device 230 via the second communications channel, for example. Additionally or alternatively, the user device 230 may receive an indication of the appliance type via the first communications channel. Alternatively, the appliance type may not be communicated to the user device 230, but rather the user device 230 simply receives an indication of which menu should be displayed, where such a selection has been made (e.g. by the appliance 100 or by the server 220) based on the appliance type. In some cases, the selection of the menu is performed based at least in part on a model, manufacturer and / or capability of the appliance 100. In embodiments, the selection of the menu is performed based at least in part on an operational state of the household appliance 100. For example, where the appliance 100 comprises an oven, a first menu may be selected when the oven is performing a pre-heating operation, whereas a second menu may be selected when the oven is performing a cooking operation (after the pre-heating operation). As such, the displayed menu may be adapted to different operational states of the household appliance 100. An indication of the operational state may be sent from the appliance 100 to the user device 230 via the second communications channel, for example. Additionally or alternatively, the user device 230 may receive such an indication via the first communications channel. Alternatively, the operational state may not be communicated to the user device 230, but rather the user device 230 simply receives an indication of which menu should be displayed, where such a selection has been made (e.g. by the appliance 100 or by the server 220) based on the operational state of the appliance 100.

[0142] In embodiments, the selection of the menu is performed based at least in part on a previous action performed on the household appliance 100 by a user associated with the user device 230. The previous action may be performed by a user via a user interface 110 of the appliance 100, for example to select a particular operating cycle or program of the appliance 100, or to adjust or select one or more settings of the appliance 100. Different menus may thus be selected in response to different previous user actions, thereby providing the user with information and / or control options that are tailored to the user’s previous actions. An indication of the previous action may be sent from the appliance 100 to the user device 230 via the second communications channel, for example. Additionally or alternatively, the user device 230 may receive such an indication via the first communications channel. Alternatively, an indication of the previous user action is not communicated to the user device 230, but rather the user device 230 simply receives an indication of which menu should be displayed, where such a selection has been made (e.g. by the appliance 100 or by the server 220) based on the previous user action.

[0143] The menu indicated by the received indication of which menu to display or selected based on appliance type, operational state or a previous action may correspond to a menu already displayed, or available, on the user interface of the appliance but may further include additional information and / or controls not available via the corresponding menu on the user interface of the household appliance.

[0144] In embodiments, the user interface 240 of the user device 230 is one of a plurality of user interfaces of the user device 230, each of the plurality of user interfaces being useable to remotely monitor and / or control operation of a different one of a plurality of household appliances. In some such embodiments, the method 600 comprises, in response to receiving the signal, selecting the user interface 240 from the plurality of user interfaces, to enable remote monitoring and / or control of operation of the household appliance 100 via the user interface 240 of the user device 230. Each user interface may comprise a different software application stored on the user device 230, or a different part of the same software application (e.g. a part of the application having a particular menu). For example, a first application (or application part) may be associated with ovens, and a second application (or application part) may be associated with dishwashers. The different applications (or application parts) may include different information to be displayed and / or different available remote control commands. The selection of the user interface from the plurality of user interfaces may be based on the appliance type of the appliance 100, which may be communicated to the user device 230 via the second communications channel or the first communications channel. Accordingly, the user device 230 may be useable to remotely monitor and / or control multiple different appliances, and which appliance is to be monitored and / or controlled at a given time may be determined based on the wireless communication via the second communications channel.

[0145] In some implementations, the output may comprise information (or application parts) for more than one of the different appliances at the same time. For example, although it has been described above that a first displayed menu, associated with a first appliance, may be switched to second displayed menu, associated with a second appliance, when the user taps the second appliance, in some implementations the second menu may be displayed, in addition to the first menu, in response to receiving the signal generated on the basis of wireless communication between the user device and the second appliance. For example, an application part, such as a menu, for a first appliance, such as an oven, may be displayed when the user taps the oven and if the user later taps a second appliance, such as a hood, an application part, such as a menu, for the hood will also be displayed. By tapping a third appliance, such as a cooker, the user device may receive a signal with identifying information for the third appliance or identifying information for a specific menu for the third appliance, and the user device may, in response, display a menu for the third appliance in addition to the menus for the first and / or second appliance. Alternatively, tapping an appliance in a certain location, such as a kitchen, may bring up the menus of all or some appliances in that location. More generally, tapping an appliance belonging to a group of appliances, may bring up application parts for all the appliances of the group on the user interface of the user device. In those cases, the signal generated on the basis of wireless communication via the second, short-range, communication channel may include identifying information for more than one specific household appliance or menu or identifying information for a group of household appliances or menus. When the signal comprises digital data read by the user device from an NFC tag in the appliance, the digital data may comprise identifying information for more than one appliance or menu. Showing multiple menus after multiple taps, or after a single tap of an appliance belonging to a group of appliances, may cause the user device to stack appliance user interface elements, one for each appliance, wherein each element includes the status of the corresponding appliance and / or one or more controls for selecting one or more remote control commands for the corresponding appliance, on the display of the user device. Selecting one of the elements may bring up additional remote monitoring data and a menu for selecting additional remote control commands for the appliance represented by the selected element.

[0146] As mentioned above, in embodiments, the wireless communication via the second communications channel comprises a wireless signal sent by an NFC tag in the household appliance 100 to an NFC reader in the user device 230. Such a wireless signal may be sent in response to an interrogation signal sent by the NFC reader. In alternative embodiments, the wireless signal is sent by an NFC tag in the user device 230 to an NFC reader in the household appliance 100.

[0147] As mentioned above, at least part of the method 600 may be performed and / or facilitated by a software application stored on the user device 230. In embodiments, when the application is launched (or brought to a foreground layer), the application causes the user device 230 to send a request to the server 220 to identify which household appliances are available for remote monitoring and / or control, and / or to identify the current operating states of such appliances. This enables a remote access session via the first communications channel between the appliance and the user device to be established. Thereafter, the appliance may continuously or periodically communicate, via the first communications channel, differences in state (e.g. dynamic state updates) to the user device 230 via the server 220, without the application specifically requesting such updates. If the application is closed or moved to a background layer, the communication via the first communications channel may cease, and when the application is re-launched or brought to the foreground, the user device 230 may again ask the server 220 which appliances are available and what their states are, in order to open a new remote access session and re-establish communication via the first communications channel. In alternative embodiments, the communication via the first communications channel does not cease when the application is closed or moved to a background layer. Accordingly, communication via the first communications channel may not need to be re-established when the application is re-opened on the user device 230. In some cases, the application may be launched or brought to the foreground in response to the signal received at step 610. In other examples, however, the application may already be in the foreground when the signal is received at step 610. In that case, the signal may cause the application to display a particular menu, as described above.

[0148] Figure 7 shows a method 700 of facilitating operation of a household appliance, according to embodiments. The method 700 may be used to facilitate operation of the household appliance 100 described above with reference to Figures 1 to 3. The household appliance 100 comprises a first user interface, e.g. the user interface 110 described above. Operation of the household appliance may be remotely monitored and / or controlled via a second user interface 240 corresponding to a user interface 240 of a user device 230. In embodiments, the method 700 is performed at least in part by the controller 310 of the household appliance 100. That is, the controller 310 is configured to perform at least some of the steps of the method 700. In alternative embodiments, the method 700 is performed at least in part by a controller that is separate from the household appliance 100. For example, the method 700 may be performed in part by a controller 510 of a server 220. In some cases, the method 700 is performed in part by a controller 410 of the user device 230. In alternative embodiments, some of the steps of the method 700 are performed by the controller 310 of the household appliance 100 and some other steps of the method 700 are performed by a controller of the server 220 and / or of the user device 230. Where at least part of the method (and subsequent remote monitoring and / or control of operation of the household appliance) is performed by the user device 230, this may be, at least partly, via a dedicated software application downloaded and stored on the user device 230.

[0149] In step 710, data is transmitted from the household appliance 100 via a communications channel. Operation of the household appliance 100 may be remotely monitored and / or controlled via the second user interface 240 of a user device 230 based on the transmitted data.

[0150] In step 720, a signal generated in response to performance of a predetermined user action at the first user interface 110 of the household appliance 100 is received.

[0151] In step 730, in response to receiving the signal, the user device 230 is controlled to cause the second user interface 240 of the user device 230 to provide an output based on the data transmitted via the communications channel, to enable remote monitoring and / or control of operation of the household appliance 100 via the second user interface 240 of the user device 230.

[0152] Remote monitoring and / or control of operation of the appliance 100 via the second user interface 240 of the user device 230 is thus enabled in response to performance of the predetermined user action at the first user interface 110 of the appliance 100. This ensures that the user is in the vicinity of the appliance 100 when remote monitoring and / or control is to be enabled. This may prevent a user from unintentionally enabling remote monitoring and / or control of operation of the appliance 100, since the predetermined user action is performed at the appliance 100 itself, and therefore the user is required to be in the vicinity of the appliance 100 to perform the action.

[0153] In embodiments, the signal is received (in step 720) after establishment of the communications channel. That is, the communications channel may have already been established before the signal (generated in response to the predetermined user action) is received. As such, in embodiments, the received signal does not cause the communications channel between the appliance 100 and the user device 230 to be established, but rather the received signal causes the second user interface 240 of the user device 230 to provide an output based on data received via the established communications channel. In some cases, the data may have already been received at the user device 230 via the communications channel prior to the signal being received, or the receipt of the signal may cause the data to be received at the user device 230 via the communications channel. Accordingly, the order of actions 710 and 720 shown in Figure 7 may be reversed and transmission of data via the communications channel 710 may occur after the receipt of the signal 720. It will be appreciated that even if data has been transmitted and received via an established communication channel before receipt of the signal, further data may be transmitted, received and used for the output after receipt of the signal. In alternative embodiments, the signal is received prior to establishment of the communications channel between the household appliance 100 and the user device 230. For example, receipt of the signal may cause the communications channel to be established. The communications channel may be similar to the “first communications channel” between the appliance 100 and the user device 230 described above. As such, the communications channel may be established by configuration data stored in memory of the appliance 100, server 220 and / or user device 230, as described above for the first communications channel.

[0154] In embodiments, the household appliance 100 is configured to transmit the data via the communications channel independently of the performance of the predetermined user action. That is, the appliance 100 may already be transmitting the data via the communications channel when the predetermined user action is performed at the appliance 100.

[0155] In embodiments, the first user interface 110 of the appliance 100 comprises a user input part, and the predetermined user action comprises actuating the user input part. In embodiments, the user input part comprises a button. For example, the user input part may comprise a softkey button, e.g. provided via a touch screen interface. Actuating the user input part of the first user interface 110 may be sensed by a sensor, e.g. a capacitive touch screen sensor. In some cases, the predetermined user action comprises opening or closing a door 140 of the appliance 100.

[0156] In embodiments, the user input part of the first user interface 110 is a first user input part corresponding to the user device 230 and / or a user of the user device 230. In some such embodiments, the first user interface 110 further comprises a second user input part corresponding to a further user device and / or a further user. In embodiments, the predetermined user action comprises actuating the first user input part and not actuating the second user input part. For example, the first user input part may comprise a user’s name and / or a nickname for their mobile phone. The second user input part may be a different user’s name and / or a nickname for a different mobile phone or for the user’s tablet. The first and second user input parts may correspond to different buttons and / or selectable icons on a touch screen of the appliance 100, for example. Accordingly, a user may select their own particular user device for remotely monitoring and / or controlling operation of the appliance 100. The appliance 100 may be capable of being remotely monitored and / or controlled via multiple different user devices (optionally associated with multiple different users), and the user may select a particular one of the user devices via the user interface 110 of the appliance 100. In embodiments, the user devices are only selectable if the appliance 100 is registered to an account associated with the user device 230 or at least the user devices have been used to control / monitor the appliance in the past. As such, user devices are only selectable if the communications channel between the user device and the appliance 100 have already been established. Accordingly, the predetermined user action at the appliance 100, that triggers the user interface of a user device 230 to provide the output, can only be performed if the appliance 100 has been controlled and / or monitored, directly or via the server 220, via the user device 230 in the past or at least if the communications channel has already been established.

[0157] In embodiments, the communications channel is configured to provide communications between the household appliance 100 and the user device 230 via a server 220. In embodiments, the communications channel is configured to use at least one wireless communications network or cellular network, the at least one wireless communications network or cellular network comprising at least one of: a Wi-Fi network, a 4G network, a 5G network, a 6G network, and a Bluetooth™ network. This allows the user to continue to monitor and / or control the appliance 100 via the user device 230 as they move away from the appliance 100.

[0158] In embodiments, the method 700 comprises controlling the user device 230 to request data, via the communications channel, for remotely monitoring and / or controlling the household appliance 100, in response to receiving the signal. The user device 230 may send a request for the data to the server 220, and the server 220 may send the data to the user device 230 in response to such a request. Alternatively, the user device 230 may request the data from the appliance 100 directly.

[0159] In embodiments, the output indicates operational information of the household appliance 100. The operational information may be based on the data received via the communications channel. In embodiments, the operational information comprises one or more of: a status of the household appliance 100, one or more operating parameters of the household appliance 100, information associated with an operating program of the household appliance 100, one or more settings of the household appliance 100, and a value of a timer of the household appliance 100. The operational information may be dynamic, i.e. changing over time. The data received via the communications channel may also include identifying information for the household appliance 100 and the output may depend on the identifying information (e.g. type, model, make, serial number, etc). Alternatively, identifying information may not be communicated to the user device 230, but rather the user device 230 simply receives an indication of which menu should be displayed, where such a selection has been made (e.g. by the appliance 100 or by the server 220) based on the appliance type. In embodiments, the output comprises a menu having one or more menu items that are selectable on the basis of user input at the user device 230. The one or more menu items are associated with operation of the household appliance 100. The menu items may correspond to remote control commands, for example.

[0160] In embodiments, the method 700 comprises, in response to receiving the signal, causing a selected menu of a plurality of menus associated with a software application stored on the user device 230, to be displayed via the user device 230. For example, a first displayed menu of the software application may be switched to a second displayed menu in response to receiving the signal. The selected menu may correspond to the particular appliance (e.g. the menu may be selected based on an appliance type, model, make, etc., of the appliance 100). The data received via the communications channel may include identifying information for the household appliance 100, or a specific menu for the household appliance, and the output may depend on that identifying information. For example, if more than one appliance is controllable via a software application, the received data via the communications channel may include identifying information (e.g. serial number, appliance type etc) for the appliance at which the predetermined user action was performed, and / or identifying information for a menu for that appliance, such that the controller can cause the user interface to display a menu for the relevant appliance. The received data may include further information such as information regarding recent inputs on the user interface of the household appliance to be used for the controller of the user device to select an appropriate output for display on the user interface of the user device.

[0161] In circumstances, the output may include a notification on the user interface of the user device 230, the notification being associated with a software application stored on the user device 230. Clicking on the notification may provide further output in the form of a menu and / or operational information as described above. The server 220 may receive a signal from the household appliance 100 generated in response to performance of the predetermined user action and cause a push notification to be sent to a user device 230 selected in dependence on the signal from the household appliance 100. The server 220 may look up configuration data in memory and select a linked user device in dependence on the signal from the household appliance 100. Depending on the settings of the user device and the state of the application, the controller of the user device 230 may then cause a received notification to be displayed.

[0162] In embodiments where the method 700 is performed at least in part by a controller 310 of the household appliance 100, the household appliance 100 causes the second user interface 240 to provide the output by transmitting, via communications circuitry 205 of the appliance 100, information indicative of the predetermined user action performed at the first user interface 110 of the appliance 100. In embodiments, the information indicative of the predetermined user action is transmitted to a server 220, to cause the server 220 to control the user device 230 on the basis of the predetermined user action. For example, the information may indicate whether the user has actuated a first user input part of the first user interface 110 or a second user input part of the first user interface 110, where the different user input parts are associated with different user devices and / or different users. In response to receipt of an indication that the user has actuated the first user input part but not the second user input part, the server 220 may control the user device 230 as opposed to another user device. In alternative embodiments, the information indicative of the predetermined user action is transmitted to the user device 230 directly.

[0163] In embodiments, the method 700 is performed at least in part by a server 220 operable to receive the data transmitted from the household appliance 100 and to transmit to the user device 230, based on the received data from appliance 100, data for remotely monitoring and / or controlling the appliance 100. In some such embodiments, the server 220 receives, from the household appliance 100, information indicative of the predetermined user action performed at the first user interface 110. In embodiments, the server 220 controls the user device 230 to cause the second user interface 240 to provide the output based on the received information indicative of the predetermined user action.

[0164] Figure 8 A shows an example of a system 800 comprising the household appliance 100, the server 220 and the user device 230. In the system 800, the household appliance 100 can communicate with the user device 230 via a first communications channel 810. The first communications channel 810 uses the server 220 as an intermediary between the household appliance 100 and the user device 230. That is, the first communications channel 810 between the household appliance 100 and the user device 230 is via the server 220. The household appliance 100 can also communicate with the user device 230 via a second, short-range, communications channel 820. The second communications channel 820 is not via the server. That is, the second communications channel 820 is a direct communications channel between the appliance 100 and the user device 230. The first communications channel 810 and the second communications channel 820 may be as described above.

[0165] Figure 8B shows an example of a system 800 comprising the household appliance 100 and the user device 230. As in the example of Figure 8A, the household appliance 100 can communicate with the user device 230 via the first communications channel 810 and the second communications channel 820. However, unlike the example of Figure 8A, the first communications channel 810 of the example shown in Figure 8B does not use a server as an intermediary. As such, both the first communications channel 810 and the second communications channel 820 may be direct communications channels between the appliance 100 and the user device 230.

[0166] Although it has been described above, with respect to for example Figures 6, 8A and 8B, that the second communication channel is between the household appliance and the user device, in an alternative embodiment, the second communication channel may be between the user device and a device associated with the household appliance but separate, for example remote, from the household appliance. By bringing the user device close to, or tapping, the device, a signal generated on the basis of wireless communication (for example NFC) between the user device and the device associated with the household appliance is received in the user device. In response to receiving the signal, the user interface of the user device is triggered to provide an output based on data received via a first communications channel between the user devices and the appliance (for example via a server, the Internet and one or more wi-fi networks), to enable remote monitoring and / or control of operation of the household appliance via the user interface of the user device. The device associated with the household appliance may be an NFC or RFID tag reader or NFC or RFID tag. For example, the device associated with the appliance may be an NFC tag and the signal may be an NFC response received in an NFC tag reader of the user device in response to interrogating the NFC tag. The NFC tag may for example store identifying information for an appliance, a group of appliances, or a specific menu or combination of menus and the user device may read the identifying information from the tag. The tag may be located separately, for example remotely, from the household appliance. It may be provided in a home hub, kitchen hub and / or in another appliance. Alternatively, it may be located in, or on, an object such as a sticker, card, key chain, coaster or panel. A user could have more than one such device, each associated with a different appliance. Alternatively, a device could be associated with more than one appliance and tapping the device may cause the user interface to display remote monitoring data and / or one or more available remote control commands for more than one appliance. A user may for example keep such objects and / or tags representing different groups of appliances, e.g. one for the kitchen and one for the laundry room. The object(s) / tag(s) may be kept in a convenient place from which the user likes to control their appliances, such as the living room or at work. Alternatively, the object(s) / tag(s) may be kept on a key chain. Tapping the object(s) / tag(s) provides a convenient and user-friendly way of quickly getting access to status data for the appliances and a menu for selecting remote control commands for controlling the appliances. In some embodiments, tapping the object / tag may, in addition to causing the user interface to provide an output based on data received via the first communication channel, also cause the user device to send a control command via the first communication channel to control the household appliance. For example, it may cause the user device to send a control command to perform a predetermined action on the household appliance, such as a control command to turn on the household appliance. It is to be understood that any feature described in relation to any one embodiment and / or aspect may be used alone, or in combination with other features described, and may also be used in combination with one or more features of any other of the embodiments and / or aspects, or any combination of any other of the embodiments and / or aspects.

[0167] In embodiments of the present disclosure, the household appliance 100 comprises a controller 310. The controller 310 may be configured to perform various methods described herein. Additionally or alternatively, the methods described herein may be performed by a controller comprised in an entity other than the household appliance 100, e.g. the server 220 and / or the user device 230. In any case, the controller may comprise a processing system. Such a processing system may comprise one or more processors and / or memory. Each device, component, or function as described in relation to any of the examples described herein, for example the user device 230, server 220, etc., may similarly comprise a processor or may be comprised in apparatus comprising a processor. One or more aspects of the embodiments described herein comprise processes performed by apparatus. In some examples, the apparatus comprises one or more processors configured to carry out these processes. In this regard, embodiments may be implemented at least in part by computer software stored in (non- transitory) memory and executable by the processor, or by hardware, or by a combination of tangibly stored software and hardware (and tangibly stored firmware). Embodiments also extend to computer programs, particularly computer programs on or in a carrier, adapted for putting the above described embodiments into practice.

[0168] The one or more processors of processing systems may comprise a central processing unit (CPU). The one or more processors may comprise a graphics processing unit (GPU). The one or more processors may comprise one or more of a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a programmable logic device (PLD), or a complex programmable logic device (CPLD). The one or more processors may comprise an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). It will be appreciated by the skilled person that many other types of device, in addition to the examples provided, may be used to provide the one or more processors. The one or more processors may comprise multiple co-located processors or multiple disparately located processors. Operations performed by the one or more processors may be carried out by one or more of hardware, firmware, and software. It will be appreciated that processing systems may comprise more, fewer and / or different components from those described.

[0169] The techniques described herein may be implemented in software or hardware, or may be implemented using a combination of software and hardware. They may include configuring an apparatus to carry out and / or support any or all of techniques described herein. Although at least some aspects of the examples described herein with reference to the drawings comprise computer processes performed in processing systems or processors, examples described herein also extend to computer programs, as already indicated above, for example computer programs on or in a carrier, adapted for putting the examples into practice. The carrier may be any entity or device capable of carrying the program. The carrier may comprise a computer readable storage media. Examples of tangible computer-readable storage media include, but are not limited to, an optical medium (e.g., CD-ROM, DVD-ROM or Blu-ray), flash memory card, hard disk or any other medium capable of storing computer-readable instructions such as firmware or microcode in at least one ROM or RAM or Programmable ROM (PROM) chips.

[0170] Where in the foregoing description, integers or elements are mentioned which have known, obvious or foreseeable equivalents, then such equivalents are herein incorporated as if individually set forth. Reference should be made to the claims for determining the true scope of the present disclosure, which should be construed so as to encompass any such equivalents. It will also be appreciated by the reader that integers or features of the present disclosure that are described as preferable, advantageous, convenient or the like are optional and do not limit the scope of the independent claims. Moreover, it is to be understood that such optional integers or features, whilst of possible benefit in some embodiments of the present disclosure, may not be desirable, and may therefore be absent, in other embodiments.

Claims

- 49 -Claims1. A system comprising: a household appliance, wherein operation of the household appliance may be remotely monitored and / or controlled via a user interface of a user device based on data received at the user device via a first communications channel between the household appliance and the user device, the first communications channel comprising at least a wireless portion; and one or more controllers configured to: receive a signal generated on the basis of wireless communication via a second, short-range, communications channel between the household appliance and the user device; and in response to receiving the signal, cause the user interface of the user device to provide an output based on data received via the first communications channel, to enable remote monitoring and / or control of operation of the household appliance via the user interface of the user device.

2. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the one or more controllers are configured to receive the signal after establishment of the first communications channel between the household appliance and the user device.

3. A system according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the second communications channel comprises a Near-Field Communication, NFC, channel between the household appliance and the user device.

4. A system according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the second communications channel comprises a Bluetooth™ Low Energy, BLE, channel between the household appliance and the user device.

5. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the first communications channel is configured to provide communications between the household appliance and the user device via a server.- 50 -6. A system according to any of claims 1 to 3 or 5, wherein the first communications channel is configured to use at least one wireless or cellular communications network, the at least one wireless or cellular communications network comprising at least one of: a Wi-Fi network, a 4G network, a 5G network, a 6G network, and a Bluetooth™ network.

7. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the received signal is generated in response to the wireless communication via the second communications channel having a signal strength that is greater than a predetermined threshold.

8. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the one or more controllers are configured to cause the user interface to provide the output by causing, in response to receiving the signal, the user device to receive the data via the first communications channel.

9. A system according to claim 8, wherein the one or more controllers are configured to cause the user device to receive the data by controlling the household appliance to transmit remote monitoring data via the first communications channel, in response to receiving the signal, wherein the data received by the user device is derivable based on the remote monitoring data transmitted by the household appliance.

10. A system according to claim 8, wherein the household appliance is configured to transmit remote monitoring data via the first communications channel independently of wireless communication via the second communications channel, wherein the data received by the user device is derivable based on the remote monitoring data transmitted by the household appliance.

11. A system according to any of claims 8 to 10, wherein the one or more controllers are configured to cause the user device to receive the data by controlling the user device to request the data via the first communications channel, in response to receiving the signal.

12. A system according to any of claims 8 to 11, wherein the one or more controllers are configured to cause the user device to receive the data by controlling a server to transmit the data to the user device via the first communications channel, in response to receiving the signal.- 51 -13. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the output indicates operational information of the household appliance.

14. A system according to claim 13, wherein the operational information is based on the data received via the first communications channel.

15. A system according to claim 13 or claim 14, wherein the operational information comprises one or more of: a status of the household appliance, one or more operating parameters of the household appliance, information associated with an operating program of the household appliance, one or more settings of the household appliance, and a value of a timer of the household appliance.

16. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the output is dependent on an operational state of the household appliance.

17. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the output is dependent on an appliance type of the household appliance.

18. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the output is dependent on a previous action performed on the household appliance by a user associated with the user device.

19. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the output is dependent on an identity of a user associated with the user device.

20. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the output comprises a menu having one or more menu items that are selectable on the basis of user input at the user device, the one or more menu items being associated with operation of the household appliance.

21. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the one or more controllers are configured to, in response to receiving the signal, cause a selected menu of a plurality of menus associated with a software application stored on the user device, to be displayed via the user device.- 52 -22. A system according to claim 21, wherein the one or more controllers are configured to perform the selection of the menu on the basis of the wireless communication via the second communications channel.

23. A system according to claim 21 or claim 22, wherein the selection of the menu is performed based at least in part on an appliance type of the household appliance.

24. A system according to any of claims 21 to 23, wherein the selection of the menu is performed based at least in part on an operational state of the household appliance.

25. A system according to any of claims 21 to 24, wherein the selection of the menu is performed based at least in part on a previous action performed on the household appliance by a user associated with the user device.

26. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the user interface of the user device is one of a plurality of user interfaces of the user device, each of the plurality of user interfaces being useable to remotely monitor and / or control operation of a different one of a plurality of household appliances, and wherein the one or more controllers are configured to, in response to receiving the signal, select the user interface from the plurality of user interfaces, to enable remote monitoring and / or control of operation of the household appliance via the user interface of the user device.

27. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the output provided on the user interface of the user device comprises an output not available through a user interface of the household appliance.

28. A system according to any preceding claim, the system comprising a server operable to communicate with the household appliance and / or with the user device, wherein the server comprises at least one of the one or more controllers.

29. A system according to any preceding claim, the system comprising the user device, wherein the user device comprises at least one of the one or more controllers.

30. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the wireless communication via the second communications channel comprises a wireless signal sent by a Near Field Communication, NFC, tag in the household appliance to an NFC reader in the user device.

31. A user device comprising: a user interface; communications circuitry operable to receive data via a first communications channel between a household appliance and the user device, wherein the user device is operable to remotely monitor and / or control the household appliance based on data received at the user device via the first communications channel, the first communications channel comprising at least a wireless portion; and one or more controllers configured to: receive a signal generated on the basis of wireless communication via a second, short-range, communications channel between the household appliance and the user device; and in response to receiving the signal, cause the user interface to provide an output based on data received via the first communications channel, to enable remote monitoring and / or control of operation of the household appliance via the user interface.

32. A method of facilitating operation of a household appliance, wherein operation of the household appliance may be remotely monitored and / or controlled via a user interface of a user device based on data received at the user device via a first communications channel between the household appliance and the user device, the first communications channel comprising at least a wireless portion, the method comprising: receiving a signal generated on the basis of wireless communication via a second, short-range, communications channel between the household appliance and the user device; and in response to receiving the signal, causing the user interface of the user device to provide an output based on data received via the first communications channel, to enable remote monitoring and / or control of operation of the household appliance via the user interface of the user device.

33. A computer program comprising a set of instructions which, when executed by a computerised device, cause the computerised device to perform a method of facilitating operation of a household appliance, wherein operation of the household appliance may be remotely monitored and / or controlled via a user interface of a user device based on data received at the user device via a first communications channel between the household appliance and the user device, the first communications channel comprising at least a wireless portion, the method comprising: receiving a signal generated on the basis of wireless communication via a second, short-range, communications channel between the household appliance and the user device; and in response to receiving the signal, causing the user interface of the user device to provide an output based on data received via the first communications channel, to enable remote monitoring and / or control of operation of the household appliance via the user interface of the user device.

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