KR100360443B1 - System and the method for program download of internet refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a program change system and method for an internet refrigerator,

According to the user's choice, the built-in external memory and the external memory control unit connected to the internal memory used for program download are built in the Internet refrigerator to change and add a program related to the function control of the refrigerator to a new program according to the user's selection Will give you the effect of performing new functions.

Description

System and the method for program download of internet refrigerator}

The present invention relates to a program change system and method for an internet refrigerator, and in particular, a program change system for an internet refrigerator capable of performing a new function by changing and adding a program related to the function control of the refrigerator to a new program according to a user's selection. And to a method thereof.

The refrigerator is a food storage case provided with a space for storing food inside, and is insulated from the outside by using an insulator and lowers the internal temperature with electricity, gas, ice, etc. to prevent food or prolonged corruption.

In general, at home, a refrigerator that handles food is installed closest to the kitchen or the kitchen, making it convenient to use the refrigerator when cooking food or storing already cooked food.

However, in the conventional case, during the cooking time for food cooking or food management, there is a problem that it is almost impossible to use communication means such as watching TV, internet access, and telephone, and when using communication means, the refrigerator occupies the largest area in the kitchen. The position of is also arranged irrespective of the place where the television or various communication means are installed, so that the user must stop working during the housework and move to the place where the various communication means are installed.

In addition, since a conventional refrigerator is used only with a set function after being installed in a home, there is a problem in that it cannot change a freezing / refrigerating function required according to a change in the surrounding environment and cannot perform a new function.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems of the prior art, the object of the present invention is to connect the internal memory in the Internet refrigerator according to the user's selection by using an external memory used for program download purposes, and the external memory control unit In addition, the present invention provides a program change system and method for an internet refrigerator capable of performing a new function in a refrigerator by changing and adding a program related to a function control of the refrigerator to a new program according to a user's selection.

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a program change system of the Internet refrigerator according to the present invention;

2 is a flowchart illustrating a program download process centering on a service provider in a program change method of an Internet refrigerator according to the present invention;

3 is a flowchart illustrating a program download process centering on the Internet refrigerator in the program change method of the Internet refrigerator according to the present invention;

<Explanation of symbols on main parts of the drawings>

100: Internet refrigerator 110: communication module

120: protocol processing unit 130: microcomputer

131: timer 132: internal memory

133: CPU 140: drive unit

150: display unit 160: key input unit

161: selection key 162: reset key

170: external memory 175: external memory control unit

According to a feature of the program change system of the Internet refrigerator according to the present invention for solving the above problems, the information on the refrigeration / freezing operation and the function control by the external remote control information transmitted through the Internet and the information Internet refrigerator which operates according to the operation information and calculates and transmits the information on the operation contents to the outside, and is connected to at least one or more Internet refrigerators on the Internet to determine whether to permit the use of the refrigerator and to change the function, and the operation contents information of the Internet refrigerator. A service providing unit which performs various control functions for use check, failure diagnosis and function change by receiving a signal, a communication module unit transmitting mutual information between the service providing unit and a refrigerator, and each information transmitted and received through the communication module unit A protocol processor for performing protocol control functions for connection of A microcomputer that is connected to a protocol processing unit and extracts information on a load while performing various control functions of the operation of the refrigerator, a driving unit that performs a function of the refrigerator according to the instructions of the microcomputer, and operation contents and information of the driving unit. A display unit for displaying, a key input unit for performing a function of inputting or changing a function by a user's operation, and a recording / reading function of a data connected to a microcomputer and transmitted to a service provider according to a user's selection An external memory installed for download, and an external memory control unit for performing the overall control function for address designation of the external memory and data processing in each address.

In addition, the feature of the program change method of the Internet refrigerator according to the present invention, by allowing the information on the refrigeration / freezing operation and the function control by the external remote control information transmitted through the Internet, and operates according to the information Internet refrigerator which calculates and transmits the information and transmits it to the outside, and decides whether to permit the use of the refrigerator and the function change connected to the Internet, and receives the operation information of the Internet refrigerator to check the usage, trouble diagnosis and function change. A first step of performing an initialization process of a service provider which performs various control functions; and upon request of downloading a new program for a specific function of the Internet refrigerator, the service provider generates a data sending ready signal for a new program to the refrigerator; The second step of outputting, and the ready to send signal of the second step is refrigerated In the refrigerator, the microcomputer of the refrigerator generates a data reception ready signal for a new program and outputs it to the service provider, and the service provider receives the data reception ready signal of the third step. And a fourth step of transmitting new program related data to the refrigerator and connecting the microcomputer and the program download memory to perform a program change function.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a program change system of the Internet refrigerator according to the present invention. Referring to this, the present invention provides information on refrigeration / freezing and function control by external remote control information transmitted through a communication network. Allows and operates according to the information, and determines whether to permit the use of the refrigerator and the function change while transmitting and receiving with the Internet refrigerator 100 that calculates and transmits information on the operation contents to the outside and at least one or more Internet refrigerators 100. And a service providing unit 200 which receives the operation content information of the Internet refrigerator 100 and performs various control functions for use check, fault diagnosis, and function change.

Here, the Internet refrigerator 100 receives the remote control information of the service provider 200 through a communication network and at the same time transmits information on the operation of the refrigerator 100 and the communication module unit 110, The protocol processing unit 120 performs a protocol control function so that each information transmitted and received through the communication module unit 110 is connected between the service providing unit 200 and the refrigerator 100, and is connected to the protocol processing unit 120. The microcomputer 130 extracts information on the load while performing various control functions for the operation of the refrigerator 100, the driving unit 140 performing a function according to the instructions of the microcomputer 130, and the current operation of the driving unit. The display unit 150 displays contents, and a key input unit 160 performs a key input function for refrigerating / freezing, selecting a function, and changing the function by a user's manipulation.

In particular, the microcomputer 130 of the Internet refrigerator 100 includes a timer 131 to measure the refrigerating / freezing time or the current time, an internal memory 132 including RAM and ROM for recording / reading various kinds of information, and the entire system. A central processing unit (CPU) 133 for controlling and managing data to perform arithmetic and logical operations of data.

In addition, the Internet refrigerator 100 and the external memory 170 that can be connected to the internal memory 132 for downloading and storing the program when upgrading, changing, or adding a program related to the function control of the refrigerator from the service provider 200; The external memory controller 175 is provided to perform a control function for address designation in the external memory 160 or writing / reading information in the external memory 170. The external memory 160 is configured as a flash ram in which information is stored even when power supply is interrupted.

The drive unit performs a refrigeration / freezing cycle control, a fridge / freezer temperature control, an ice making function according to the instruction of the micom, and performs a function according to a program changed / added in the micom.

In addition, the key input unit 160 is a selection key 161 for selecting whether to connect the internal memory 132 and the external memory 170 to upgrade, change, or add a program, and forcibly designates an initial address of the memory. A reset key 162 is further included. The reset key 162 is unnecessary when the initial address of the external memory 170 is found in the internal memory 132.

The operation of the present invention configured as described above will be described with reference to a flowchart of a program changing method of the Internet refrigerator according to the present invention shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

First, referring to FIG. 2, a process of downloading a new program centering on the operation of the service provider 200 will be described. In the first step, a program related to a specific function of the current Internet refrigerator 100 from the service provider 200 will be described. It is monitored whether a download request for a new program is input for the upgrade (see S11).

Then, in the second step, if the monitoring result of the first step (S11) is 'Yes' generates a signal to prepare for sending a new program to the communication module unit 110 and the protocol processing unit 120 through the refrigerator ( 100 to the microcomputer 130 (see S12).

In the third step, it is determined whether the sending ready signal of the second step S12 is received from the refrigerator 100 and the receiving ready signal is transmitted (see S13). If the determination result is YES, the new program-related data is transmitted to the refrigerator 100 (see S14).

After the fourth step S14 is completed, in step 15, after checking whether another program is required to be downloaded, if the check result is YES, the first to fourth steps S12, S13, and S14 are performed again. If the result of the check is no, the program download process is terminated (see S15).

At this time, even if the determination result of the first step S11 or the third step S13 is no, the program download process is terminated.

Next, referring to FIG. 3, the operation of the Internet refrigerator 100 will be described, and in the first step, it is determined whether a dispatch preparation signal for a new program is received from the service provider 200. )

In the second step, when the determination result of the first step S21 is YES, the microcomputer 130 generates a reception ready signal and passes the protocol processing unit 120 and the communication module unit 110 to provide the service providing unit. In operation S22, the service providing unit 200 determines whether to allow the reception of the data about the new program download or not (see S23).

In the fourth step, data is received from the service provider 200, and according to an instruction of the microcomputer 130, the external memory controller 175 to store the data designates a address in the external memory 170 and stores the data. In operation S24, when the data of the service providing unit 200 is completely stored at a specific address in the external memory 170, a data reception completion signal is generated to generate a service providing unit (see FIG. 24). 200) (see S25).

Here, the Internet refrigerator 100 upgrades a program by reading data stored at a specific address of the external memory 170 by connecting the internal memory 132 to the external memory 170 by pressing a selection key 161. Or change and add function.

In addition, when the data reception completion signal for the new program is transmitted from the refrigerator 100, the service provider 200 performs an operation for downloading the next program, but if the data reception completion signal is not transmitted, Resend the data a fixed number of times. However, the service provider 200 notifies the communication failure or other error occurrence when the data reception completion signal is not transmitted from the refrigerator 100 after performing data retransmission for a predetermined number of times and terminates the program download process.

Program change system and method of the Internet refrigerator of the present invention configured as described above is connected to the internal memory in the Internet refrigerator according to the user's selection function of the refrigerator by embedding the external memory and its external memory controller used for program download purposes By changing and adding a program related to control to a new program according to a user's selection, it is possible to perform a new function in the refrigerator.

Claims (5)

An internet refrigerator that accepts information on refrigeration / freezing operation and function control by external remote control information transmitted through an internet network, operates according to the information, calculates operation content information, and transmits it to the outside; Connected to at least one Internet refrigerator and connected to the Internet to determine whether to permit the use of the refrigerator and to change the functions, and to receive information on the operation contents of the Internet refrigerator to perform general control functions for checking the use, troubleshooting and changing functions A service provider; A communication module unit transmitting mutual information between the service providing unit and the refrigerator; A protocol processing unit which performs a protocol control function to connect each piece of information transmitted and received through the communication module unit; A microcomputer connected to the protocol processor to extract information on a load while performing a general control function of an operation of a refrigerator; A driving unit performing a function of a refrigerator according to the instruction of the microcomputer; A display unit which displays operation contents and information of the driving unit; A key input unit which performs a key input function for function selection and change by a user's operation; An external memory connected to the microcomputer according to a user's selection and performing a recording / reading function of data transmitted to the service providing unit and installed for program download; And an external memory controller configured to perform general control functions for address designation of the external memory and data processing in each address. The method of claim 1, The key input unit may further include a selection key for selecting whether to connect a microcomputer and an external memory for upgrading, changing, or adding a program, and a reset key forcibly designating an initial address of the microcomputer or the external memory. Program change system of the refrigerator. According to claim 1, The drive unit performs a refrigeration / freezing cycle control, a refrigerating compartment / freezer temperature control, an ice making function according to the instruction of the microcomputer, and performs a function according to a program changed / added in the microcomputer. Program change system. Internet refrigerator that allows information on refrigeration / freezing operation and function control by external remote control information transmitted through the Internet and operates according to the information and calculates and transmits information on the operation contents to the outside, and at least one The service providing unit which is connected to the Internet refrigerator and connected to the Internet to determine whether to permit the use of the refrigerator and to change the function, and receives the operation contents information of the Internet refrigerator to perform various control functions for checking the use, diagnosing the function and changing the function. A first step of performing an initialization process; A second step of generating, by the service providing unit, a request for downloading a new program for a specific function of the Internet refrigerator and generating a data sending ready signal for the new program and outputting it to the refrigerator; A third step of generating, by the microcomputer of the refrigerator, a data reception preparation signal for a new program and outputting it to a service providing unit when the shipment preparation signal of the second stage is received in the refrigerator; The service provider receiving the data reception preparation signal of the third step transmits new program related data to a program download memory of the refrigerator, and in the refrigerator, a program change function is performed by connecting a microcomputer and a program download memory. Program change method of the Internet refrigerator characterized in that it comprises a step. The method of claim 4, wherein In the fourth step, when a new program-related data transmission is completed in the Internet refrigerator, the data transmission completion signal to the service provider, characterized in that for changing the program.