Facilitating operation of a household appliance

Abstract

A system comprises a household appliance, comprising communications circuitry operable to send and / or receive remote access data via a communications network, and one or more controllers. The household appliance is registered to a user device based on obtained data useable to communicate with the user device. On the basis of the registration, a remote access session between the household appliance and the user device is allowed to be established, during which operation of the household appliance may be monitored and / or controlled via the user device based on the remote access data. In response to a predetermined trigger event occurring while the household appliance remains connected to the communications network, the household appliance is unregistered from the user device, thereby to prevent further operation of the household appliance from being monitored and / or controlled via the user device.

Description

[0001] FACILITATING OPERATION OF A HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE

[0002] Technical Field

[0003] 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.

[0004] Background

[0005] 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.

[0006] 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 household appliance.

[0007] 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 household appliance or to view the household 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.

[0008] It is desirable to provide improved systems and methods for operating a household appliance.

[0009] Summary

[0010] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a system comprising: a household appliance comprising communications circuitry operable, when a connection to a communications network is established, to send and / or receive remote access data via the communications network; and one or more controllers configured to: obtain data useable to communicate with a user device; register the household appliance to the user device based on the obtained data; on the basis of the registration, allow a remote access session between the household appliance and the user device to be established, during which operation of the household appliance may be monitored and / or controlled via the user device based on the remote access data; and in response to a predetermined trigger event occurring while the household appliance remains connected to the communications network via the established connection, unregister the household appliance from the user device, thereby to prevent further operation of the household appliance from being monitored and / or controlled via the user device.

[0011] In embodiments, the predetermined trigger event comprises expiry of a predetermined time period.

[0012] In embodiments, the predetermined trigger event comprises completion of an operating program of the household appliance.

[0013] In embodiments, the predetermined trigger event comprises receipt of a request to register the household appliance to a further user device.

[0014] In embodiments, the household appliance remains connected to the communications network via the established connection after the household appliance is unregistered from the user device.

[0015] In embodiments, the communications network comprises a local area network, LAN.

[0016] In embodiments, the one or more controllers are configured to obtain an appliance identifier for identifying the household appliance. In some such embodiments, the registering the household appliance to the user device is further based on the obtained appliance identifier.

[0017] In embodiments, the one or more controllers are configured to end the remote access session prior to the predetermined trigger event.

[0018] In embodiments, the one or more controllers are configured to, prior to the predetermined trigger event and after ending the remote access session, allow a further remote access session between the household appliance and the user device to be established, during which operation of the household appliance may be further monitored and / or controlled via the user device based on the remote access data. In embodiments, the one or more controllers are configured to prevent, while the household appliance is registered to the user device, remote access sessions between the household appliance and a further user device from being established.

[0019] In embodiments, the one or more controllers are configured to: determine, in response to obtaining the data useable to communicate with the user device, whether the household appliance is already registered to a further user device; and in response to a positive determination, unregister the household appliance from the further user device.

[0020] In embodiments, the one or more controllers are configured to: in response to obtaining the data useable to communicate with the user device, perform an authentication process to authenticate the user device and / or a user associated with the user device; and register the household appliance to the user device based on a result of the authentication process.

[0021] In embodiments, the one or more controllers are configured to, in response to the predetermined trigger event, register the household appliance to a further user device, to allow a remote access session between the household appliance and the further user device to be established.

[0022] In embodiments, the one or more controllers are configured to, after unregistering the household appliance from the user device, re-register the household appliance to the user device, to allow a further remote access session between the household appliance and the user device to be established.

[0023] In embodiments, the one or more controllers are configured to re-register the household appliance to the user device on the basis of the data useable to communicate with the user device already obtained.

[0024] In embodiments, the one or more controllers are configured to re-register the household appliance to the user device in response to an absence of a request to register the household appliance to a further user device.

[0025] In embodiments, the one or more controllers are configured to re-register the household appliance to the user device in response to a predetermined user action performed by a user associated with the user device.

[0026] In embodiments, the obtained data comprises a user identifier identifying a user associated with the user device. In some such embodiments, the one or more controllers are configured to identify the user device on the basis of the user identifier.

[0027] In embodiments, the obtained data does not identify a user associated with the user device. In embodiments, the obtained data comprises an Internet Protocol, IP, address of a router in communication with the user device.

[0028] In embodiments, the one or more controllers are configured to obtain the data useable to communicate with the user device on the basis of wireless communication between the user device and the household appliance.

[0029] In embodiments, the one or more controllers are configured to establish the remote access session on the basis of the registration.

[0030] In embodiments, during the remote access session, the one or more controllers are configured to control a user interface of the user device.

[0031] In embodiments, during the remote access session, the one or more controllers are configured to cause the user interface of the user device to provide a predetermined output.

[0032] In embodiments, the predetermined output indicates operational information of the household appliance.

[0033] 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, 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.

[0034] In embodiments, the predetermined output is dependent on an operational state of the household appliance.

[0035] In embodiments, the communications circuitry is operable to send the remote access data to, and / or receive the remote access data from, a server.

[0036] In embodiments, the household appliance comprises at least one of the one or more controllers.

[0037] In embodiments, the system comprises a server operable to facilitate the remote access session between the household appliance and the user device. In some such embodiments, the server comprises at least one of the one or more controllers.

[0038] In embodiments, the obtaining the data useable to communicate with the user device comprises receiving, at the server, from the user device, the data useable to communicate with the user device.

[0039] In embodiments, the server is configured to receive the data useable to communicate with the user device from the user device via a router and one or more wireless communications networks. In embodiments, the server is configured to receive, from the user device, an appliance identifier for identifying the household appliance. In some such embodiments, the one or more controllers are configured to register the household appliance to the user device based on the appliance identifier.

[0040] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method of facilitating operation of a household appliance, the household appliance comprising communications circuitry operable, when a connection to a communications network is established, to send and / or receive remote access data via the communications network, the method comprising: obtaining data useable to communicate with a user device; registering the household appliance to the user device based on the obtained data; on the basis of the registration, allowing a remote access session between the household appliance and the user device to be established, during which operation of the household appliance may be monitored and / or controlled via the user device based on the remote access data; and in response to a predetermined trigger event occurring while the household appliance remains connected to the communications network via the established connection, unregistering the household appliance from the user device, thereby to prevent further operation of the household appliance from being monitored and / or controlled via the user device.

[0041] 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 communications circuitry operable, when a connection to a communications network is established, to send and / or receive remote access data via the communications network, the method comprising: obtaining data useable to communicate with a user device; registering the household appliance to the user device based on the obtained data; on the basis of the registration, allowing a remote access session between the household appliance and the user device to be established, during which operation of the household appliance may be monitored and / or controlled via the user device based on the remote access data; and in response to a predetermined trigger event occurring while the household appliance remains connected to the communications network via the established connection, unregistering the household appliance from the user device, thereby to prevent further operation of the household appliance from being monitored and / or controlled via the user device. According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a user device comprising: communications circuity; a user interface, wherein the user device is operable to remotely monitor and / or control operation of a household appliance via the user interface based on remote access data sent and / or received by the household appliance via a communications network; and one or more controllers configured to: send, via the communications circuitry, a request to register, on a temporary basis, the household appliance to the user device; and receive, via the communications circuitry, an indication that the household appliance has been registered to the user device in response to the request, the registration being based on data useable to communicate with the user device, wherein, on the basis of the registration, a remote access session between the household appliance and the user device is allowed to be established, during which operation of the household appliance may be monitored and / or controlled via the user interface of the user device based on the remote access data, and wherein, in response to a predetermined trigger event occurring while the household appliance remains connected to the communications network, the household appliance is unregistered from the user device, thereby to prevent further operation of the household appliance from being monitored and / or controlled via the user device.

[0042] In embodiments, the request is sent to a server. In some such embodiments, the one or more controllers are configured to: obtain an appliance identifier for identifying the household appliance; and send the appliance identifier to the server, wherein the household appliance is registered to the user device based on the appliance identifier.

[0043] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method of operating a user device, the user device comprising communications circuitry and a user interface, wherein the user device is operable to remotely monitor and / or control operation of a household appliance via the user interface based on remote access data sent and / or received by the household appliance via a communications network, the method comprising: sending, via the communications circuitry, a request to register, on a temporary basis, the household appliance to the user device; and receiving, via the communications circuitry, an indication that the household appliance has been registered to the user device in response to the request, the registration being based on data useable to communicate with the user device, wherein, on the basis of the registration, a remote access session between the household appliance and the user device is allowed to be established, during which operation of the household appliance may be monitored and / or controlled via the user interface of the user device based on the remote access data, and wherein, in response to a predetermined trigger event occurring while the household appliance remains connected to the communications network, the household appliance is unregistered from the user device, thereby to prevent further operation of the household appliance from being monitored and / or controlled via the user device.

[0044] 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 operating a user device, the user device comprising communications circuitry and a user interface, wherein the user device is operable to remotely monitor and / or control operation of a household appliance via the user interface based on remote access data sent and / or received by the household appliance via a communications network, the method comprising: causing to send, via the communications circuitry, a request to register, on a temporary basis, the household appliance to the user device; and receiving, from the communications circuitry, an indication that the household appliance has been registered to the user device in response to the request, the registration being based on data useable to communicate with the user device, wherein, on the basis of the registration, a remote access session between the household appliance and the user device is allowed to be established, during which operation of the household appliance may be monitored and / or controlled via the user interface of the user device based on the remote access data, and wherein, in response to a predetermined trigger event occurring while the household appliance remains connected to the communications network, the household appliance is unregistered from the user device, thereby to prevent further operation of the household appliance from being monitored and / or controlled via the user device.

[0045] 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.

[0046] Brief description of the drawings

[0047] Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

[0048] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a household appliance according to embodiments;

[0049] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a system including a household appliance according to embodiments;

[0050] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a household appliance according to embodiments; Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of a user device according to embodiments;

[0051] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of a server according to embodiments;

[0052] Figure 6 is a flow diagram showing a method according to embodiments;

[0053] Figure 7 is a flow diagram showing a method according to embodiments; and

[0054] Figures 8A and 8B are schematic diagrams of a system according to embodiments.

[0055] Detailed Description

[0056] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a household appliance, 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.

[0057] 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.

[0058] In the embodiments shown in Figure 1, the household appliance 100 comprises a display device 110. The display device 110 is an example of an output device. The display device 110 is operable to provide an output for a user, e.g. in the form of one or more displayed content items. In embodiments, the display device 110 comprises a liquid crystal display (LCD) device, such as a thin-film-transistor LCD (TFT LCD). In alternative embodiments, the household appliance 100 does not comprise the display device 110. In embodiments, the household appliance 100 comprises other output devices additionally or alternatively to the display device 110, such as a speaker, a haptic output device, etc. The household appliance may also comprise a user input device (not separately shown). The user 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 display device 110 may comprise a touch screen which also provides at least part of said user input device.

[0059] 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 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. Specifically, it may comprise a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) network.

[0060] 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 occurs 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. 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. 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.

[0061] 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.

[0062] In embodiments, the system 200 also comprises a user device 230. The user device 230 may be remotely located from the household appliance 100, although it will be understood that in some embodiments (or during some time periods) the user device 230 is not located remotely from the appliance 100. In either case, however, 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 interface 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. In embodiments, the communications circuitry 235 may comprises a Wi-Fi unit for communicating over a WiFi network, and / or a cellular communication unit for communicating over, for example, a 4G, 5G or 6G cellular communication network.

[0063] In embodiments, 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.

[0064] 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 a user device (which may be different from, or the same as, the user device 230 shown in Figure 2), which may pass such information to the appliance 100. The appliance 100 may then connect to the server 220 using a stored server address or a server address received from the user device 230. 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.

[0065] 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. 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.

[0066] In embodiments, remote monitoring data sent from the appliance 100 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 is configured to send monitoring data (which may be the same as the received monitoring data, or may be different monitoring 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.

[0067] 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 on 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.

[0068] In embodiments, remote monitoring and / or control of operation of the household appliance 100 via the user device 230 is enabled only 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, which may be direct or indirect, e.g. via the server 220. In other words, during an established remote access session, operation of the appliance 100 may be monitored and / or controlled via the user device 230, whereas such monitoring and / or control via the user device 230 may not be permitted (or enabled) outside of the remote access session. 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 co-ordinate 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.

[0069] In embodiments, establishment of remote access sessions between the appliance 100 and the user device 230 is performed on the basis of a registration of the appliance 100 to the user device 230. That is, when the appliance 100 is registered to the user device 230, establishment of a remote access session between the two entities is allowed, whereas when the appliance 100 is not registered to the user device 230, establishment of a remote access session between the two entities may be prevented. In other words, the household appliance 100 may first be registered to the user device 230 (or vice-versa), and then, once the registration has taken place, remote access sessions for providing remote control and / or monitoring of the appliance 100 via the user device 230 may be established. When remote access data is sent via the server, 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 and a service of the server that manages monitoring and control data for a particular appliance and the sending, by the server, of monitoring data related to live updates from the appliance 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, over this connection to the server for the server to control operation of the appliance.

[0070] In embodiments, the appliance 100 may be registered to only a single user device at a time. As such, only a single user device may be used, at a given time, to remotely monitor and / or control operation of the appliance 100. Additionally or alternatively, the appliance 100 may be registered to multiple user devices at once, e.g. multiple devices associated with a single user. Additionally, or alternatively, the appliance 100 may be registered to a main user, and a set of user devices belonging to the main user, on a permanent or extended basis, and also, on a temporary basis, an additional user device belonging to another user.

[0071] In embodiments, the registering of the appliance 100 to the user device 230 is performed at least in part by the server 220, although it will be understood that registration may be performed at least in part by the appliance 100 itself (or by the user device 230) in some cases. Registration may be used to link (or ‘assign’) the appliance 100 to a particular user device, to allow that particular user device to monitor and / or control operation of the appliance 100 whilst preventing other user devices (and / or user devices associated with other users) from monitoring and / or controlling operation of the appliance 100. Registration of the appliance 100 to the user device 230 may be performed based on data useable to communicate with the user device 230. Such data may subsequently be used to establish a remote access session involving the user device 230. Such data may comprise a user device identifier, e.g. data uniquely identifying the user device 230. For example, it could comprise a media access control, MAC, address of the user device, an Internet Protocol, IP, address of the user device, an International Mobile Equipment Identify (IMEI) of the user device and / or an International Mobile Subscriber Identify Number (IMSI). Additionally or alternatively, such data may comprise an address, e.g. an Internet Protocol, IP, address, of a router that is in communication with the user device 230. Accordingly, the data useable to communicate with the user device 230 may not identify the user device 230 itself, but may still be used to transmit data to and / or receive data from the user device 230. In some cases, the registration is also performed on the basis of an appliance identifier uniquely identifying the appliance 100. This may comprise an address, such as a media access control, MAC, address, of the appliance 100, for example. Alternatively, or additionally, it may comprise a serial number assigned by the appliance manufacturer to the appliance. The data useable to communicate with the user device 230, and optionally also the appliance identifier, may be stored on the server 220, thereby enabling the server 220 to register the appliance 100 to the user device 230.

[0072] In embodiments, when the appliance 100 is to be registered to the user device 230, the user device 230 obtains an appliance identifier identifying the appliance and sends the appliance identifier to the server 220. The appliance identifier may comprise a number or alphanumeric code provided on a display or label of the appliance 100. In some cases, the appliance identifier may be obtained by scanning a quick response, QR, code shown on a display or label of the appliance 100. In other cases, the appliance may transmit, and the user device may receive, the appliance identifier using short-range wireless communication technology, such as Bluetooth, NFC or RFID. The server 220 receives the appliance identifier from the user device 230 and uses this, along with data useable to communicate with the user device 230 (e.g. a registration identifier, a phone number, an IP address, an IMEI, an IMSI, a MAC address, a device token, etc.) to register the appliance 100 to the user device 230.

[0073] In embodiments, the appliance 100 is not registered (or at least is not required to be registered) to the user of the user device 230, but rather to the user device 230 itself. For example, the data used for the registration (the data useable to communicate with the user device 230) may not identify the user themselves. The user may not be required to have an account or user profile for using the appliance 100, and / or may not be required to log in to such an account in order to operate the appliance 100 via the user device 230. For example, the user may not be required to enter a username, email address and / or password associated with the user in order to register the appliance 100 to themselves. Accordingly, the server 220 may be unaware of the identity of the user when performing the registration, since the registration is performed on the basis of the user device 230, rather than the user. In alternative embodiments, registration is performed on the basis of the user in addition to, or instead of, on the basis of the user device. For example, registration may be performed on the basis of a user identifier such as an email address.

[0074] In embodiments, the household appliance 100 is configured to send remote monitoring data to the server 220 regardless of whether or not the user device 230 (or any other user device) has been registered to the appliance 100. Once the user device 230 is then registered to the appliance 100, the server 220 allows the remote monitoring data (or data derived from the remote monitoring data) to be passed to the user device 230 for remote monitoring and / or control of the appliance 100. In other words, the household appliance 100 may be unaware of which user device (if any) it is registered to, and may send its remote monitoring data to the server 220 independently of any such registration. In alternative embodiments, for example where the appliance 100 is configured to communicate with the user device 230 directly instead of (or in addition to) communicating via the server 220, the appliance 100 may only start sending remote monitoring data after the appliance 100 has been registered to the user device 230.

[0075] 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.

[0076] Figure 3 shows a schematic block diagram of the household appliance 100, according to embodiments.

[0077] 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. 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. 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.

[0078] 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. In embodiments, the household appliance 100 comprises a display device 110, as described with reference to Figure 1 above. The controller 310 is operable to control the display device 110, e.g. to cause the display device 110 to display an output for a user. In embodiments, the controller 310 is operable to control the content displayed by the display device 110. For example, the controller 310 may be operable to cause predetermined content to be displayed or not displayed by the display device 110, and / or to adjust the content displayed by the display device 110.

[0079] 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.

[0080] In embodiments, the household appliance 100 comprises a user input device 320. The user input device 320 may, for example, at least partly be provided by a touch screen device forming part of the display device 110. The controller 310 is operable to receive signals generated in response to a user interacting with the user input device 320, 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.

[0081] 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.

[0082] 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 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.

[0083] 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.

[0084] 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.

[0085] 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 display device 110, door 140, door opening mechanism 145, communications circuitry 205, user input device 320, 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.

[0086] In embodiments, data from at least some of the components of the appliance 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 during a remote access session.

[0087] Figure 4 shows a schematic block diagram of the user device 230, according to embodiments.

[0088] 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 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.

[0089] 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 is operable to control the communications circuitry 235. In particular, the controller 410 is operable to cause the communications circuitry 235 to send data, e.g. requests to register a household appliance to the user device, via a communications network. Additionally or alternatively, the controller 410 may be operable to receive signals from the communications circuitry 235. Specifically, 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.

[0090] In the embodiments shown in Figure 4, the user device 230 comprises a user interface 420. The user interface 420 may comprise a touchscreen, for example. The controller 410 is operable to control the user interface 420, e.g. to cause the user interface 420 to provide a particular output. Additionally or alternatively, the controller 410 may be operable to receive signals from the user interface 420, e.g. based on user input via the user interface.

[0091] 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.

[0092] It will be understood that the user device 230 may comprise more, fewer and / or different components in other embodiments.

[0093] Figure 5 shows a schematic block diagram of the server 220, according to embodiments.

[0094] 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 TI- l

[0095] - l - 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.

[0096] 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.

[0097] 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. In embodiments, the memory 560 may be used to store registration information regarding the appliance 100. For example, information indicating which user device (if any) is currently, or has previously been, registered to the appliance 100 may be stored in the memory 560.

[0098] It will be understood that the server 220 may comprise more, fewer and / or different components in other embodiments.

[0099] 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. The household appliance 100 comprises communications circuitry 205 operable, when a connection to a communications network is established, to send and / or receive remote access data via the communications network. 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 a 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.

[0100] In step 610, data useable to communicate with a user device 230 is obtained. The data useable to communicate with a user device may be received as part of, or together with, a request to register the household appliance to the user device.

[0101] In step 620, the household appliance 100 is registered to the user device 230 based on the obtained data.

[0102] In step 630, on the basis of the registration, a remote access session between the household appliance 100 and the user device 230 is allowed to be established, during which operation of the household appliance 100 may be monitored and / or controlled via the user device 230 based on the remote access data.

[0103] In step 640, in response to a predetermined trigger event occurring while the household appliance 100 remains connected to the communications network via the established connection, the household appliance 100 is unregistered from the user device 230, thereby to prevent further operation of the household appliance 100 from being monitored and / or controlled via the user device 230.

[0104] As such, the registration of the appliance 100 to the user device 230 is temporary, rather than permanent. Unregistering the appliance 100 from the user device 230 in response to the predetermined trigger event enables the appliance 100 to subsequently be registered to a different user device, such that the different user device is able to establish its own remote access session with the appliance 100. Such a temporary registration may be considered a form of “temporary ownership” of the appliance 100. While the appliance 100 is registered to the user device 230, the user device 230 may be used to control and / or monitor the appliance 100, but the registration is on a temporary basis only. Accordingly, the overall use of the appliance 100 (in terms of establishing remote access sessions for remotely monitoring and / or controlling operation of the appliance 100) may be shared between different user devices, which may (optionally) be associated with different users. This results in a more flexible and / or versatile use of the household appliance 100.

[0105] In embodiments, the predetermined trigger event comprises expiry of a predetermined time period. The predetermined time period may start when the appliance 100 is registered to the user device 230, for example. Accordingly, registration of the appliance 100 to the user device 230 may last for a predetermined period of time before the appliance 100 is unregistered from the user device 230. The predetermined time period may for example comprise 3 hours, 2 hours, 1 hour, 30 minutes, 15 minutes, etc. Alternatively, the predetermined time period may start when the remote access session between the appliance 100 and the user device 230 is established, or when an operating program of the household appliance 100 is started. The expiry of a predetermined time period may be determined by a timer in the appliance, server or user device and the appliance may be unregistered from the user device based on data from the timer. Therefore, the registration of the appliance 100 to the user device 230 may be maintained only for a predetermined period of time, thereby providing a temporary registration.

[0106] In embodiments, the predetermined trigger event comprises completion of an operating program of the household appliance. For example, where the appliance 100 comprises a cooking appliance such as an oven, the operating program may comprise a cooking program (e.g. cooking at a particular temperature for a particular time). Similarly, where the appliance 100 comprises a washing machine, the operating program may comprise a particular washing cycle. In embodiments, the appliance 100 may be monitored and / or controlled via the user device 230 (in an established remote access session) for the duration of the operating program, and on completion of the operating program, the appliance 100 is unregistered from the user device 230, such that further operations of the appliance 100 (e.g. further cooking or washing programs) may not be monitored and / or controlled via the user device. Sensors and / or a timer in the household appliance may determine that the operating program is completed and the appliance may be unregistered based on data from the sensors and / or timer. Accordingly, the registration of the appliance 100 to the user device 230 may be maintained only for one or more operating programs of the appliance 100, thereby providing a temporary registration.

[0107] In embodiments, the predetermined trigger event comprises receipt of a request to register the household appliance to a further user device. The request may be received at the appliance 100 and / or at the server 220, and may include data useable to communicate with the further user device. The request may be received via wireless communication circuitry 205 or a user input device 320 of the appliance and or via communications circuitry 535 of the server 220. Accordingly, the appliance 100 may be registered to the first user device 230 until a request is received to register the appliance 100 to a further user device. In other words, a request to register the appliance 100 to a further user device causes the “temporary ownership” of the appliance 100 by the first user device 230 to end. In embodiments, the request to register the appliance 100 to the further user device is sufficient on its own to cause the appliance 100 to be unregistered from the first user device 230. For example, the user of the further user device (who may be referred to as the “new user”) is not required to “reset” the appliance 100 to unregister the appliance from the first user device 230. Rather, the appliance 100 may be unregistered solely in response to the request to register the appliance 100 to the further user device being received. This is more efficient and / or user-friendly compared to a case in which a new user is required to actively “reset” the appliance 100 and / or request that the appliance 100 be unregistered from a previous user device.

[0108] The predetermined trigger event may comprise a combination of possible trigger events in some embodiments. For example, the appliance 100 may be unregistered from the user device 230 when a predetermined time period has expired, but may also be unregistered earlier than this if a request to register the appliance 100 to a different user device is received.

[0109] As mentioned, the predetermined trigger event occurs while the appliance 100 remains connected to the communications network via the established connection. That is, the appliance 100 uses the established connection to the communications network to send and / or receive remote access data for a remote access session with the user device 230, and then the appliance 100 is unregistered from the user device 230 whilst still connected to the communications network via the same connection. As such, the appliance 100 is not disconnected from the communications network and then re-connected to the communications network prior to being unregistered from the user device 230. This differs from some methods in which an appliance is registered to a first user (e.g. to operate the appliance at a first location), who then sells or gives the appliance to a second user (e.g. to operate the appliance at the same location or at a second, different location). In such comparative methods, the appliance is disconnected from a communications network when the change of ownership occurs, before being re-connected (to the same or a different communications network) in order to unregister the first user and / or register the second user. In the presently disclosed methods, in contrast, the appliance 100 retains its established connection to the communications network when the predetermined trigger event occurs. The appliance 100 may be located in a communal area accessible by multiple users, for example, and ‘ownership’ of the appliance 100 may be temporarily assigned to each of those users in turn, without having to disconnect and re-connect the appliance 100 from a network. For example, the appliance 100 may remain connected to the same wireless local area network (WLAN). As another example, an owner of a household appliance located in the owner’s home may want to give a guest temporary “ownership” of the appliance, while the guest is visiting the owner’s home. Again, the appliance 100 may remain connected to the same wireless local area network (WLAN). In embodiments, the household appliance 100 remains connected to the communications network via the established connection even after the household appliance 100 is unregistered from the user device 230.

[0110] In embodiments, the communications network comprises a local area network, LAN. Accordingly, the appliance 100 may send and / or receive remote access data via the LAN and may then be unregistered from the user device 230 in response to a trigger occurring whilst the appliance 100 is still connected to the LAN. Additionally or alternatively, the communications network may comprise a wide area network. In some cases, the appliance 100 has 5G and / or 6G connectivity, and the communications network comprises a 5G and / or 6G network. In any case, the predetermined trigger event may occur while the appliance 100 remains connected to the communications network via the same established connection.

[0111] In embodiments, an appliance identifier for identifying the household appliance 100 is obtained. Registering the household appliance 100 to the user device 230 may be further based on the obtained appliance identifier. Accordingly, the user device 230 may be authorized to remotely control and / or monitor a particular appliance only (i.e. the appliance associated with the appliance identifier). The appliance identifier may comprise a code (e.g. an alphanumeric code), which may be displayed on the appliance 100. In embodiments, the appliance identifier is embodied as a QR code. The user device 230 may scan the QR code (or the user may manually enter an alphanumeric identifier) using the user device 230, to obtain the appliance identifier, which is then sent from the user device 230 to the server 220. Alternatively, the user device may obtain the appliance identifier using a short-range wireless communication technology. For example, the appliance may broadcast the identifier in a BLE advertising message or the user device may read an appliance identifier stored in an NFC or RFID tag in / on the appliance. Of course, the appliance may communicate the appliance identifier in other suitable ways. The appliance identifier may be used to link, in a temporary manner, the appliance 100 with the user device 230. The appliance identifier may comprise a serial number or a MAC address of the appliance 100. In alternative embodiments, an appliance identifier is not used. For example, where the registering is performed by the appliance 100 itself, an appliance identifier may be omitted.

[0112] In embodiments, the method 600 comprises ending the remote access session prior to the predetermined trigger event. As such, the appliance 100 is unregistered from the user device 230 after the remote access session has already ended. Therefore, in embodiments, the predetermined trigger event does not comprise ending the remote access session. Ending the remote access session and unregistering the appliance 100 from the user device 230 may be considered as separate processes, although it will be understood that the appliance 100 is required to be registered to the user device 230 in order for the remote access session to be established in the first place. In alternative embodiments, the remote access session is ended at substantially the same time as the appliance 100 is unregistered from the user device 230. For example, the predetermined trigger event may cause the remote access session to be ended in addition to causing the unregistering of the appliance 100 from the user device 230. As such, the predetermined trigger event may occur before the remote access session is ended in some cases. Alternatively, the predetermined trigger event may comprise the ending of the remote access session. For example, a user may end the remote access session by closing an application on the user device 230 (the application being used for remote monitoring and / or control of operation of the appliance 100). In response to such an action, the appliance 100 may be unregistered from the user device 230.

[0113] In embodiments, the method 600 comprises, prior to the predetermined trigger event and after ending the remote access session, allowing a further remote access session between the household appliance 100 and the user device 230 to be established, during which operation of the household appliance 100 may be further monitored and / or controlled via the user device 230 based on the remote access data. Therefore, multiple remote access sessions may be permitted between the appliance 100 and the user device 230 before the appliance 100 is unregistered from the user device 230. Each remote access session may correspond to a particular operating program or cycle of the appliance 100, for example. Additionally or alternatively, the first remote access session may be ended when an application on the user device 230 is closed (or moved to a background layer), and the further remote access session may be established when the application is re-opened (or brought to a foreground) on the user device 230. In embodiments, additional remote access sessions between the appliance 100 and the user device 230 may continue to be permitted until the predetermined trigger event (e.g. expiry of a predetermined time period, receipt of a request to register the appliance 100 to a different user device, etc.) occurs. In alternative embodiments, only a single remote access session between the appliance 100 and the user device 230 is permitted before the appliance 100 is unregistered from the user device 230.

[0114] In embodiments, the method 600 comprises preventing, while the household appliance 100 is registered to the user device 230, remote access sessions between the household appliance 100 and a further user device from being established. Accordingly, registration of the appliance 100 to the user device 230 provides the user device 230 with temporary exclusivity with respect to the appliance 100, such that the user device 230 is permitted to remotely monitor and / or control the appliance 100 for the duration of the registration, whilst one or more other user devices are prevented from being used to remotely monitor and / or control the appliance 100. In alternative embodiments, one or more further user devices are permitted to establish remote access sessions with the appliance 100 even while the appliance 100 is registered to the user device 230. Such further user devices may be associated with the same user as the user device 230, for example. Additionally or alternatively, such further user devices may be associated with a user having a predetermined level of authority, priority level, premium or administrator status, etc.

[0115] In embodiments, method 600 comprises determining, in response to obtaining the data useable to communicate with the user device 230, whether the household appliance 100 is already registered to a further user device. In response to a positive determination, the household appliance 100 may be unregistered from the further user device. Accordingly, the further user device may be unregistered automatically as part of the process for registering the user device 230. The user of the user device 230 may thus not be required to actively ‘reset’ the appliance 100 to unregister the previous user device, thereby improving efficiency and providing a more user-friendly experience. In alternative embodiments, the appliance 100 is not unregistered from the further user device automatically. For example, the user of the user device 230 may be prompted (e.g. on a display of the appliance 100 or of the user device 230) to unregister the appliance 100 from the further user device in order for the appliance 100 to be registered to the user device 230. As another example, the server (or appliance or user device) may only allow registration of a user device if an operating program or other activity started by another user device, as part of a remote access session, has finished. For example, the server (or appliance or user device) may determine whether an operating program started by the further user device has finished and, if not, a user of the user device 230 may be informed (e.g. via a display of the appliance 100 or of the user device 230) that an operating program started by the further user is still ongoing and / or that registration is not possible. The user may be asked to try to register the user device again once the program has finished. In other words, in some implementations, a user device can only be unregistered by a request to register the household appliance to another user provided that an activity started by the first user device has ended.

[0116] In embodiments, method 600 comprises, in response to obtaining the data useable to communicate with the user device 230, performing an authentication process to authenticate the user device 230 and / or a user associated with the user device 230. The household appliance 100 may be registered to the user device 230 based on a result of the authentication process. This provides increased security compared to a case in which an authentication process is not performed. The authentication process may involve prompting the user of the user device 230 to enter a password or a code, e.g. on the user device 230 or on the appliance 100. In some implementations, upon reception of a request to register the household appliance to a user device, the server or appliance may send a message to the user device, for example using a short message service and a telephone number associated with the user device, or to another application used on the user device, and the user may be prompted to enter a code communicated in the message into an application on the user device or in the user input device 320 of the appliance to authenticate the user device. Additionally or alternatively, the authentication process may comprise biometric authentication (e.g. on the basis of a fingerprint of the user). In alternative embodiments, an authentication process is not performed.

[0117] In embodiments, the method 600 comprises, in response to the predetermined trigger event, registering the household appliance 100 to a further user device, to allow a remote access session between the household appliance 100 and the further user device to be established. For example, the predetermined trigger event may comprise the receipt of a request to register the appliance 100 to the further user device, and in response to such a trigger event, the appliance 100 is unregistered from the first user device 230 and is automatically registered to the further user device associated with the request. In another example, the predetermined trigger event may comprise the expiry of a predetermined time period (e.g. one hour) and / or the end of an operation program and or other activity started by a user using a remote access session, and the further user device, having already requested to be registered to the appliance 100, is made to wait until the predetermined time period has expired or operating program / activity has finished, after which the appliance 100 is unregistered from the first user device 230 and is registered to the further user device. The further user device may be associated with a different user than the first user device 230. In alternative embodiments, the appliance 100 is not registered to a further user device in response to the predetermined trigger event.

[0118] In embodiments, the method 600 comprises, after unregistering the household appliance 100 from the user device 230, re-registering the household appliance 100 to the user device 230, to allow a further remote access session between the household appliance 100 and the user device 230 to be established. In embodiments, the method 600 comprises re-registering the household appliance 100 to the user device 230 in response to an absence of a request to register the household appliance 100 to a further user device. For example, where the trigger event comprises expiry of a predetermined time period, if no other user devices have requested to be registered to the appliance 100 when the trigger event occurs (or by a particular time after the trigger event), the appliance 100 may be re-registered to the user device 230 to allow the user device 230 to continue to remotely monitor and / or control the appliance 100. In embodiments, the method 600 comprises re-registering the household appliance 100 to the user device 230 on the basis of the data useable to communicate with the user device 230 already obtained (i.e. in step 610). Accordingly, there is no need to re-obtain the data used to register the appliance 100 to the user device 230, thereby improving efficiency. In alternative embodiments, data useable to communicate with the user device 230 is re-obtained in order to re-register the appliance 100 to the user device 230.

[0119] In embodiments, the method 600 comprises re-registering the household appliance 100 to the user device 230 in response to a predetermined user action performed by a user associated with the user device 230. The predetermined user action may be performed via a user interface of the user device 230. For example, an application running on the user device 230 may store a list of appliances which the user device 230 has previously interacted with and display the list to a user, and the predetermined user action may comprise a user selecting the appliance 100 from the stored list. Alternatively, the predetermined user action may be performed via a user interface of the appliance 100.

[0120] In embodiments, the data obtained at step 610 comprises a user identifier identifying a user associated with the user device 230. In some such embodiments, the method 600 comprises identifying the user device 230 on the basis of the user identifier. The user identifier may be associated with a user profile or user account. For example, the user identifier may comprise a name, username, email address, etc., of the user. In alternative embodiments, the data obtained at step 610 does not identify a user associated with the user device 230. That is, the data obtained at step 610 may comprise identifying information for the user device 230 itself but not identifying information for a user. Accordingly, in some cases, the user is not required to register themselves, to create a user account for operating the appliance 100, or, where such a user account exists, to log in to such an account, in order to operate the appliance 100 via the user device 230.

[0121] In embodiments, the data obtained at step 610 comprises an IP address of a router in communication with the user device 230. The user device 230 may communicate with a server via the router. Accordingly, the data obtained at step 610 may not necessarily identify the user device 230 itself, but may still be used to communicate with the user device 230 (e.g. by identifying a router). In embodiments, the data obtained at step 610 comprises data useable to identify the user device 230. Such data may comprise a phone number associated with the user device 230, a MAC address of the user device 230, an IMEI number of the user device 230, a telephone number associated with the user device, a virtual address such a device token or registration ID, etc.

[0122] In embodiments, the method 600 comprises the appliance obtaining the data useable to communicate with the user device 230 on the basis of wireless communication between the user device 230 and the household appliance 100. The wireless communication may comprise BLE communication. For example, the user device 230 may transmit the data (e.g. an identifier of the user device 230) to the appliance 100 via a BLE signal, and the appliance 100 may use the data to register itself to the user device 230, or may forward the data (along with an appliance identifier) to a server for the server to perform the registration. In alternative embodiments, the data is not obtained on the basis of wireless communication between the user device 230 and the appliance 100. For example, where the server 220 performs the registration, the user device 230 may send the data to the server 220, along with an appliance identifier, without having first obtained the data via wireless communication.

[0123] In embodiments, the method 600 comprises establishing the remote access session on the basis of the registration. This allows operation of the appliance 100 to be remotely monitored and / or controlled via the user device 230. The remote access session may be established by a server in communication with the user device 230 and / or with the appliance. Additionally or alternatively, the remote access session may be established by the user device 230 and / or by the appliance 100. During the remote access session, the user device 230 may receive remote monitoring data and display such data to a user to allow the user to remotely monitor the appliance 100. Additionally or alternatively, the appliance 100 may receive remote control data generated based on user input at the user device 230, thereby allowing the user to remotely control the appliance 100. In alternative embodiments, the remote access session is not established. Regardless of whether or not the remote access session is actually established, such establishment is allowed (e.g. is made possible) on the basis of the registration of the appliance 100 to the user device 230.

[0124] In embodiments, the method 600 comprises, during the remote access session, controlling a user interface of the user device 230. The user interface may be controlled directly (e.g. by the user device 230 itself, on the basis of data received from a server) or may be controlled indirectly (e.g. by the server 220, by sending particular data to the user device 230). The user interface may comprise a display of the user device 230, for example. In embodiments, the method 600 comprises, during the remote access session, causing the user interface of the user device 230 to provide a predetermined output. The predetermined output may comprise content to be displayed via a display of the user device 230, for example. In embodiments, the predetermined output indicates operational information of the household appliance 100. 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 of the user device 230.

[0125] In embodiments, the predetermined 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 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. As such, the output of the user interface may be adapted to different operational states of the household appliance 100.

[0126] In embodiments, the communications circuitry 205 is operable to send the remote access data to, and / or receive the remote access data from, a server. During the remote access session, the server may act as a conduit between the appliance 100 and the user device 230, e.g. to send remote access data to the user device 230 and / or receive remote access data from the user device 230. The server may also perform registration of the appliance 100 to the user device 230, although it will be understood that the registration may be performed by a different server or other network entity in some cases. In alternative embodiments, the communications circuitry 205 is operable to send the remote access data to, and / or receive the remote access data from, the user device 230 directly, i.e. not via a server.

[0127] In embodiments where the method 600 is performed at least in part by a controller 510 of the server 220, the obtaining the data useable to communicate with the user device 230 (in step 610) may comprise receiving, at the server 220, from the user device 230, the data useable to communicate with the user device 230. In embodiments, the server 220 receives the data useable to communicate with the user device 230 from the user device 230 via a router and one or more wireless communications networks. In such examples, the data may comprise an identifier of the user device 230 and / or an identifier (e.g. an address) of the router. In embodiments, the server 220 receives the data useable to communicate with the user device 230 from the user device 230 via a base station and a cellular communications network. In such examples, the data may comprise one or more user equipment identifiers appropriate for the type and generation of cellular communications network used. In embodiments, the server 220 receives, from the user device 230, an appliance identifier for identifying the household appliance 100. In some such embodiments, the method 600 comprises registering the household appliance 100 to the user device 230 based on the appliance identifier. As such, the server 220 may perform the registration based on data received from the user device 230. In alternative embodiments, the server 220 receives the data useable to communicate with the user device 230 and / or the appliance identifier from the appliance 100 rather than from the user device 230.

[0128] Figure 7 shows a method 700 of operating a user device, according to embodiments. The method 700 may be used to operate the user device 230 described above with reference to Figures 2 and 4. The user device 230 comprises communications circuitry 235 and a user interface 420. The user device 230 is operable to remotely monitor and / or control operation of a household appliance 100 via the user interface 420 based on remote access data sent and / or received by the household appliance 100 via a communications network. In embodiments, the method 700 is performed at least in part by the controller 410 of the user device 230. That is, the controller 410 is configured to perform at least some of the steps of the method 700. The method (and subsequent remote monitoring and / or control of operation of the household appliance) may be carried out, at least partly, using 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 or associated third party. In step 710, a request to register, on a temporary basis, the household appliance 100 to the user device 230 is sent via the communications circuitry 235. The request may be generated at the user device 230 based on user input received via the user device 230, for example. When a software application on the user device is used, the request may be generated, or information to be included in the request may be obtained, by the software application and the application may cause the communications circuitry to send the request. In embodiments, the request comprises data useable to communicate with the user device 230. For example, the request may comprise an identifier to identify the user device 230. The (software application of the) user device may obtain this identifier from memory 460. In embodiments, the request is sent to a server 220. The server may obtain data useable to communicate with the user device, which may be, depending on how the request is routed to the server, different or the same as any data included by the user device in the request, from the request and / or from information sent together with the request. The server 220 may then perform registration of the appliance 100 to the user device 230 on the basis of the obtained data. For example, in embodiments, the server may perform registration of the appliance to the user device on the basis of a user device identifier included in the request. In some such embodiments, the method 700 comprises obtaining an appliance identifier for identifying the household appliance 100, and sending the appliance identifier to the server 220. The household appliance 100 may then be registered to the user device 230 based on the appliance identifier. Obtaining an appliance identifier at the user device may comprise scanning (with a camera of the user device) and processing a barcode, QR code or text provided on / at the appliance, receiving the appliance identifier as a user input via the user interface or receiving the identifier via short-range communication signal from the appliance. The appliance identifier may be included in the request. Obtaining the appliance identifier at the server may comprise obtaining the appliance identifier from the request. In alternative embodiments, the request is sent by the user device 230 to the appliance 100.

[0129] In step 720, an indication is received, via the communications circuitry 235, that the household appliance 100 has been registered to the user device 230 in response to the request. When a software application is used, the software application may receive this request from the communications circuitry 235. The indication may be received from the server (e.g. in examples where the server performs the registration), or may be received from the appliance 100. On the basis of the registration, a remote access session between the household appliance 100 and the user device 230 is allowed to be established, during which operation of the household appliance 100 may be monitored and / or controlled via the user interface 410 of the user device 230 based on the remote access data. The indication that the household appliance has been registered to the user device may simply be the establishment of a remote access session. This may be visible to the user by displaying monitoring data and / or options in a menu for controlling the appliance in the software application used to send the request. Alternatively, it may, for example, be a message confirming that the request has been approved and the remote access session may be established later. The remote access session may be established at least in part by the user device 230. Additionally or alternatively, the remote access session may be established at least in part by the appliance 100 and / or by a server in communication with the appliance 100 and / or the user device 230. In embodiments, the registered user device 230 requests establishment of the remote access session by sending such a request to the server. The server may then establish the remote access session on the basis of such a request. In alternative embodiments, the user device 230 may itself establish the remote access session. In embodiments, the request to register the appliance to the user device may also serve as a request to establish a remote access session.

[0130] In response to a predetermined trigger event occurring while the household appliance 100 is connected to the communications network, the household appliance 100 is unregistered from the user device 230, thereby to prevent further operation of the household appliance 100 from being monitored and / or controlled via the user device 230. The predetermined trigger event may occur while the appliance 100 remains connected to the communications network via the same established connection as that used by the appliance 100 for the remote access session (e.g. a LAN connection). In embodiments, unregistering the appliance 100 from the user device 230 prevents a further remote access session between the appliance 100 and the user device 230 from being established. The unregistering of the appliance 100 from the user device 230 may be performed by the appliance 100, by a server, and / or by the user device 230. The predetermined trigger event may occur during the remote access session or after the remote access session has been ended. In some cases, the predetermined trigger event may occur (and the appliance 100 consequently unregistered from the user device 230) without the remote access session ever having been established.

[0131] Although a dedicated software application has been described as an example with respect to Figure 7, other options are contemplated. For example, the user device may send the request to register the appliance and receive the indication that the appliance has been registered via a web server. The address of the web server could for example be provided in a QR code or barcode on the appliance, scanned by the user device, and the user device may use a web browser, on the user device, to access the web server. In embodiments, the user could send the request using an application or a browser without setting up (and logging in to) a user account or providing a user identifier, such as an email address, together with a password.

[0132] Figures 8A and 8B show the system 200 in two different states, according to embodiments. The system 200 comprises the household appliance 100 and the server 220. The system 200 also comprises two user devices 230a, 230b. Each of the user devices 230a, 230b may be in accordance with the user device 230 described above with reference to Figures 2 and 4. The two user devices 230a, 230b may be associated with two different users, for example.

[0133] In the first state (shown in Figure 8A), the household appliance 100 is registered to the first user device 230a. Accordingly, a remote access session between the appliance 100 and the first user device 230a is established, during which operation of the appliance 100 may be remotely monitored and / or controlled via the first user device 230 based on remote access data sent from and / or received by the appliance 100. The household appliance 100 is not registered to the second user device 230b (indicated with a dashed line in Figure 8A). The registration of the appliance 100 to the first user device 230a is temporary, in that it will be terminated in response to a predetermined trigger event, e.g. expiry of a predetermined time period, completion of an operational cycle of the appliance 100, receipt of a request to register the appliance 100 to the second user device 230b, etc.

[0134] In the second state (shown in Figure 8B), the appliance 100 has been unregistered from the first user device 230a and registered to the second user device 230b. Accordingly, a remote access session between the appliance 100 and the second user device 230b may be established, during which operation of the appliance 100 may be remotely monitored and / or controlled via the second user device 230b based on remote access data sent from and / or received by the appliance 100. The household appliance 100 is no longer registered to the first user device 230a (indicated with a dashed line in Figure 8B). The switch from the first state (shown in Figure 8A) to the second state (shown in Figure 8B) is in response to the predetermined trigger event. As such, the appliance 100 is not permanently registered to either of the user devices 230a, 230b. Instead, the appliance 100 may be temporarily registered to either one of the user devices 230a, 230b at any given time. In embodiments, the appliance 100 is located in a communal environment that is accessible to both of the user devices 230a, 230b (and / or the users of the user devices 230a, 230b). For example, the appliance 100 may be located in a shared laundry room or kitchen of an apartment building. The appliance 100 has an established connection to a communications network (e.g. via a router) and this connection is maintained as each of the first user device 230a and second user device 230b is registered and unregistered in turn. Accordingly, temporary links may be created between the appliance and a plurality of user devices, to allow each user device in turn (while it is temporarily registered to the appliance 100) to remotely monitor and / or control operation of the appliance 100.

[0135] In some embodiments, the appliance 100 may be registered to more than one user device simultaneously. For example, the appliance 100 may be temporarily registered to multiple user devices belonging to a given user. The appliance 100 may then be unregistered from one, some or all of these user devices in response to the predetermined trigger event, e.g. to allow the user device(s) of a different user to then be registered to the appliance 100.

[0136] 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.

[0137] 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.

[0138] 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.

[0139] 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.

[0140] 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

Claims1. A system comprising: a household appliance comprising communications circuitry operable, when a connection to a communications network is established, to send and / or receive remote access data via the communications network; and one or more controllers configured to: obtain data useable to communicate with a user device; register the household appliance to the user device based on the obtained data; on the basis of the registration, allow a remote access session between the household appliance and the user device to be established, during which operation of the household appliance may be monitored and / or controlled via the user device based on the remote access data; and in response to a predetermined trigger event occurring while the household appliance remains connected to the communications network via the established connection, unregister the household appliance from the user device, thereby to prevent further operation of the household appliance from being monitored and / or controlled via the user device.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined trigger event comprises expiry of a predetermined time period.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined trigger event comprises completion of an operating program of the household appliance.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined trigger event comprises receipt of a request to register the household appliance to a further user device.

5. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the household appliance remains connected to the communications network via the established connection after the household appliance is unregistered from the user device.

6. A system according to any preceding claim,wherein the one or more controllers are configured to obtain an appliance identifier for identifying the household appliance, and wherein the registering the household appliance to the user device is further based on the obtained appliance identifier.

7. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the one or more controllers are configured to: end the remote access session prior to the predetermined trigger event, and prior to the predetermined trigger event and after ending the remote access session, allow a further remote access session between the household appliance and the user device to be established, during which operation of the household appliance may be further monitored and / or controlled via the user device based on the remote access data.

8. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the one or more controllers are configured to prevent, while the household appliance is registered to the user device, remote access sessions between the household appliance and a further user device from being established.

9. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the one or more controllers are configured to: determine, in response to obtaining the data useable to communicate with the user device, whether the household appliance is already registered to a further user device; and in response to a positive determination, unregister the household appliance from the further user device.

10. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the one or more controllers are configured to, in response to the predetermined trigger event, register the household appliance to a further user device, to allow a remote access session between the household appliance and the further user device to be established.

11. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the one or more controllers are configured to, after unregistering the household appliance from the user device, re-register thehousehold appliance to the user device, to allow a further remote access session between the household appliance and the user device to be established.

12. A system according to claim 11, wherein the one or more controllers are configured to re-register the household appliance to the user device on the basis of the data useable to communicate with the user device already obtained.

13. A system according to claim 11 or claim 12, wherein the one or more controllers are configured to re-register the household appliance to the user device in response to an absence of a request to register the household appliance to a further user device.

14. A system according to any of claims 11 to 13, wherein the one or more controllers are configured to re-register the household appliance to the user device in response to a predetermined user action performed by a user associated with the user device.

15. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the obtained data does not identify a user associated with the user device.

16. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein, during the remote access session, the one or more controllers are configured to control a user interface of the user device.

17. A system according to claim 16, wherein, during the remote access session, the one or more controllers are configured to cause the user interface of the user device to provide a predetermined output.

18. A system according to claim 17 , wherein the predetermined output indicates operational information of the household appliance.

19. A system according to claim 18, 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.

20. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the communications circuitry is operable to send the remote access data to, and / or receive the remote access data from, a server.

21. A system according to any preceding claim, the system comprising a server operable to facilitate the remote access session between the household appliance and the user device, wherein the server comprises at least one of the one or more controllers.

22. A system according to claim 21 , wherein the obtaining the data useable to communicate with the user device comprises receiving, at the server, from the user device, the data useable to communicate with the user device.

23. A system according to claim 21 or claim 22, wherein the server is configured to receive, from the user device, an appliance identifier for identifying the household appliance, and wherein the one or more controllers are configured to register the household appliance to the user device based on the appliance identifier.

24. A method of facilitating operation of a household appliance, the household appliance comprising communications circuitry operable, when a connection to a communications network is established, to send and / or receive remote access data via the communications network, the method comprising: obtaining data useable to communicate with a user device; registering the household appliance to the user device based on the obtained data; on the basis of the registration, allowing a remote access session between the household appliance and the user device to be established, during which operation of the household appliance may be monitored and / or controlled via the user device based on the remote access data; and in response to a predetermined trigger event occurring while the household appliance remains connected to the communications network via the established connection, unregistering the household appliance from the user device, thereby to prevent further operation of the household appliance from being monitored and / or controlled via the user device.

25. 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 communications circuitry operable, when a connection to a communications network is established, to send and / or receive remote access data via the communications network, the method comprising: obtaining data useable to communicate with a user device; registering the household appliance to the user device based on the obtained data; on the basis of the registration, allowing a remote access session between the household appliance and the user device to be established, during which operation of the household appliance may be monitored and / or controlled via the user device based on the remote access data; and in response to a predetermined trigger event occurring while the household appliance remains connected to the communications network via the established connection, unregistering the household appliance from the user device, thereby to prevent further operation of the household appliance from being monitored and / or controlled via the user device.

26. A user device comprising: communications circuity; a user interface, wherein the user device is operable to remotely monitor and / or control operation of a household appliance via the user interface based on remote access data sent and / or received by the household appliance via a communications network; and one or more controllers configured to: send, via the communications circuitry, a request to register, on a temporary basis, the household appliance to the user device; and receive, via the communications circuitry, an indication that the household appliance has been registered to the user device in response to the request, the registration being based on data useable to communicate with the user device, wherein, on the basis of the registration, a remote access session between the household appliance and the user device is allowed to be established, during which operation of the household appliance may be monitored and / or controlled via the user interface of the user device based on the remote access data, andwherein, in response to a predetermined trigger event occurring while the household appliance remains connected to the communications network, the household appliance is unregistered from the user device, thereby to prevent further operation of the household appliance from being monitored and / or controlled via the user device.

27. A user device according to claim 26, wherein the request is sent to a server, and wherein the one or more controllers are configured to: obtain an appliance identifier for identifying the household appliance; and send the appliance identifier to the server, wherein the household appliance is registered to the user device based on the appliance identifier.

28. A method of operating a user device, the user device comprising communications circuitry and a user interface, wherein the user device is operable to remotely monitor and / or control operation of a household appliance via the user interface based on remote access data sent and / or received by the household appliance via a communications network, the method comprising: sending, via the communications circuitry, a request to register, on a temporary basis, the household appliance to the user device; and receiving, via the communications circuitry, an indication that the household appliance has been registered to the user device in response to the request, the registration being based on data useable to communicate with the user device, wherein, on the basis of the registration, a remote access session between the household appliance and the user device is allowed to be established, during which operation of the household appliance may be monitored and / or controlled via the user interface of the user device based on the remote access data, and wherein, in response to a predetermined trigger event occurring while the household appliance remains connected to the communications network, the household appliance is unregistered from the user device, thereby to prevent further operation of the household appliance from being monitored and / or controlled via the user device.

29. A computer program comprising a set of instructions which, when executed by a computerised device, cause the computerised device to perform a method of operating a userdevice, the user device comprising communications circuitry and a user interface, wherein the user device is operable to remotely monitor and / or control operation of a household appliance via the user interface based on remote access data sent and / or received by the household appliance via a communications network, the method comprising: causing to send, via the communications circuitry, a request to register, on a temporary basis, the household appliance to the user device; and receiving, from the communications circuitry, an indication that the household appliance has been registered to the user device in response to the request, the registration being based on data useable to communicate with the user device, wherein, on the basis of the registration, a remote access session between the household appliance and the user device is allowed to be established, during which operation of the household appliance may be monitored and / or controlled via the user interface of the user device based on the remote access data, and wherein, in response to a predetermined trigger event occurring while the household appliance remains connected to the communications network, the household appliance is unregistered from the user device, thereby to prevent further operation of the household appliance from being monitored and / or controlled via the user device.

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