Laundry machine and online system including the same
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional laundry machines and home appliances face challenges in extending their functions without modifying the existing control panel or hardware, due to space and cost constraints, and users often struggle to access and control these appliances remotely, especially when they are not in the same location.
Innovation Solution
The integration of a WiFi communication module and a separate display controller in the laundry machine allows for remote management services through an external terminal, enabling communication with a server for extended functions and convenient operation without requiring additional hardware changes or user access to the appliance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If additional functions are added to the laundry machine by modifying the control panel or hardware, then the functionality and versatility are improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a server as an intermediary between the laundry machine and the user's external terminal (smartphone, tablet, or PC). The server handles complex processing, storage, and control logic remotely, allowing the laundry machine itself to remain simple while still providing advanced functionalities such as remote monitoring, control, and extended features through communication networks
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts complex control panel functions and additional features from the physical laundry machine and relocates them to a remote server. This extraction allows the laundry machine to maintain its original simple hardware configuration while gaining access to extended functionalities through network communication, effectively separating the intelligence from the appliance
2Adaptability or versatility
If additional hardware components are added to the laundry machine to enable remote communication, then the adaptability is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes existing universal communication infrastructure (WiFi modules, mobile communication networks, and standard network protocols) that are already present in modern laundry machines for basic operations. By leveraging these existing communication capabilities, the system can establish remote connections without adding specialized expensive hardware, as the same communication interfaces serve multiple purposes
Solution Approach 2:
The system leverages the user's existing personal terminal devices (smartphones, tablets, PCs) which already possess communication capabilities, processing power, and user interface functions. These personal devices perform many of the communication and control tasks that would otherwise require dedicated expensive hardware in the laundry machine itself
3Adaptability or versatility
If the control panel is made more complex to provide extended functions, then the versatility is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to excessive concentration and knowledge required
Solution Approach 1:
The server acts as an intelligent intermediary that handles complex control logic, processing, and decision-making remotely. The user interacts with a simplified interface on their personal terminal, while the server manages the complexity of extended functions, thereby maintaining ease of operation while providing versatile capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of placing complex controls and interfaces on the laundry machine's control panel, the patent inverts the approach by providing the interface on the user's personal terminal device. This reversal allows the laundry machine to receive simple commands while the complex functionality is accessed and managed remotely through the user's familiar device
Data Source
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AI summary
A home appliance provided to enable communication with a server comprising: a WiFi communication module mounted or connected to the home appliance for supporting a setting mode for making communication connection and a use mode for enabling communication; and wherein the home appliance is configured to be changed to the use mode and registered to the server upon reception of (i) SSID, Service Set Identifier; a name of a wireless LAN, information of an access point AP through an external terminal provided separate from the home appliance, and (ii) user information required for registration of the home appliance to the server through the external terminal after access to the setting mode through the external terminal, and wherein the use mode is a state in which the home appliance can communicate with the server through the AP and is registered to the server.