KR20150039472A - Air Conditioner AND Controlling Method - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an air conditioner and a controlling method thereof. According to the present invention, data between a terminal and the air conditioner is transmitted and received by using NFC (Near Field Communication) and certification is performed by corresponding to data received from the terminal. Operational setting can be changed by unlocking the air conditioner body in which a locking mode is set. Also, the air conditioner is controlled by an authorized user through certification. Accordingly, reckless setting change can be prevented and the air conditioner can be effectively managed when it is needed to limit the operation of the air conditioner because of power consumption.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an air conditioner,

The present invention relates to an air conditioner and a control method thereof, and more particularly, to an air conditioner and a control method thereof that enable setting of an air conditioner through data transmission / reception with a terminal.

Typical air conditioners include air conditioners, washing machines, refrigerators, televisions, rice cookers, dryers, dehumidifiers and the like.

Among them, the air conditioner is installed to provide a comfortable indoor environment to humans by discharging cold air into the room to adjust a room temperature and to purify the room air to create a comfortable indoor environment.

Such an air conditioner is controlled separately by an indoor unit constituted by a heat exchanger, an outdoor unit constituted by a compressor, a heat exchanger and the like, and controlled by a power source supplied to a compressor or a heat exchanger. Also, at least one indoor unit may be connected to the outdoor unit of the air conditioner.

When the liquid refrigerant of high temperature and high pressure is supplied from the compressor of the outdoor unit to the indoor unit through the heat exchanger of the outdoor unit during the cooling operation, the refrigerant expands and vaporizes in the heat exchanger of the indoor unit, When the temperature of the air is lowered and the indoor fan is rotated, the cool air is discharged into the room. When the gas refrigerant of high temperature and high pressure is supplied from the compressor of the outdoor unit to the indoor unit during the heating operation, the gas refrigerant of high temperature and high pressure is liquefied in the heat exchanger of the indoor unit The air warmed by the released energy is discharged to the room according to the operation of the indoor fan.

The air conditioner includes a remote controller connected to the indoor unit and controlling the operation of the indoor unit, so that the operation of the air conditioner can be controlled without a user accessing the indoor unit within a predetermined distance.

However, there is a need to limit the setting change of the indoor unit using the buttons provided on the remote controller or the indoor unit according to circumstances. For example, in a case where the requested temperature can not be changed, for example, when the temperature difference between the indoor and the outdoor temperatures is below a certain temperature due to a surge in power consumption, or when the cooling can not be set below a certain temperature, a lock setting is required.

The present invention is directed to a setting that allows the lock to be safely and easily released.

An object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner that monitors and controls information of an air conditioner by using a terminal in contact with the air conditioner and controls the air conditioner by giving an unlocking right under the control of the air conditioner, And a control method thereof.

An air conditioner according to the present invention includes an input unit for inputting data; A display unit for outputting data, operation information, and an operation state input by the input unit; A tag unit for performing near field communication (NFC); And a controller configured to set an operation according to data input through the input unit and to control operation according to the input data, wherein the tag unit recognizes a terminal approaching or contacting within a predetermined distance through the short-range wireless communication, , And the controller stores the data to be transmitted and received and releases the lock when information on unlocking is received from the terminal through the tag unit in a state in which the lock mode for limiting the change of the operation setting through the input unit is set .

An air conditioner control method of the present invention includes: a step of setting a lock mode; Receiving data from the terminal according to a local area communication method by recognizing a terminal with which the tag section is in contact; An authentication step of, when the data received from the terminal is information on unlocking, determining whether the terminal is authorized to unlock in response to the information; And releasing the set lock mode if the terminal is an authorized terminal for unlocking; .

The air conditioner and its control method according to the present invention configured as described above are capable of transmitting data through transmission / reception of data to / from a terminal using Near Field Communication (NFC) The air conditioner is controlled by giving unlocking authority to the setting of the air conditioner by performing the authentication using the short range wireless communication and the air conditioner is controlled by the authorized user through authentication to prevent the unintentional setting from being changed In particular, it is possible to effectively manage the air conditioner when the operation of the air conditioner needs to be restricted due to problems such as power consumption.

1 is a view showing the configuration of an air conditioner main body and a terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of an air conditioner main body according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a UE according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a view illustrating a data flow between the terminal and the main body of the air conditioner and a display screen of the main body of the air conditioner according to the embodiment of the present invention.
5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling an air conditioner using a terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The advantages and features of the present invention and the manner of achieving them will become apparent with reference to the embodiments described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. To fully disclose the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art, and the invention is only defined by the scope of the claims. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout the specification.

1 is a view showing the configuration of an air conditioner main body and a terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, an air conditioner main body 10 and a terminal 20 exchange data with each other using Near Field Communication (NFC).

The air conditioner 10 includes a tag unit (not shown) that stores data including information on a product, operation state, and failure information, and transmits and receives data by short-range wireless communication with the terminal 20. [ In some cases, the tag unit can be configured to be detachable from the air conditioner main body 10.

The tag unit transmits and receives data with the terminal when the terminal 20 contacts the tag unit or approaches within a predetermined distance. Hereinafter, it is specified that the terminal is referred to as being in contact with the tag portion or with respect to access within a predetermined distance.

In addition, the main body 10 of the air conditioner includes a case for forming an appearance, a discharge port for discharging air, and a regulating means for regulating the direction of the discharged wind to control the air discharged into the room. At this time, the main body of the air conditioner is an indoor unit.

The indoor unit is provided with an expansion valve (not shown) for expanding the refrigerant supplied from the outdoor unit (not shown) connected thereto, an indoor heat exchanger for exchanging the refrigerant, indoor air introduced into the indoor heat exchanger, (Not shown), a plurality of sensors (not shown), and control means (not shown) for controlling the operation of the indoor unit. The indoor unit controls the rotational speed of the indoor unit fan to control the air sucked and the air to be discharged, thereby regulating the air volume. The indoor unit may further include human body sensing means for sensing a human body present in the indoor space as the case may be.

The outdoor unit (not shown) operates in a cooling mode or a heating mode in response to a demand of the connected indoor unit or an external control command, and supplies the refrigerant to a plurality of indoor units. The outdoor unit includes at least one compressor (not shown) for compressing the refrigerant introduced therein to discharge high-pressure gas refrigerant, an accumulator (not shown) for separating the gas refrigerant and the liquid refrigerant from the refrigerant, An oil separator for recovering oil from the refrigerant discharged from the compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger (not shown) for condensing or evaporating the refrigerant by heat exchange with the outside air, an outdoor heat exchanger (Not shown) for introducing air into the heat exchanger and discharging the heat-exchanged air to the outside, a four-way valve (not shown) for changing the flow path of the refrigerant according to the operation mode of the outdoor unit, at least one pressure sensor Not shown), at least one temperature sensor (not shown) for measuring the temperature, a controller for controlling the operation of the outdoor unit and performing communication with other units Air includes compositions. The outdoor unit further includes a plurality of sensors, valves, supercooling units and the like, and a description thereof will be omitted below.

The terminal 20 is provided with a communication module for transmitting and receiving data to and from the tag unit provided in the air conditioner main body 10 by NFC and transmits the specific data to the air conditioner including the input unit and the display unit , The data of the air conditioner is displayed.

The terminal 20 contacts the tag unit provided in the main body of the air conditioner through the communication module and receives the data of the air conditioner and records and stores the data stored in the terminal in the tag unit. At this time, the terminal 20 can receive and transmit data by touching the tag portion of the air conditioner main body 10 once. Here, the contact includes not only the physical contact between the terminal and the tag, but also a case of recognizing the mutual device and transmitting / receiving data when the tag is near within a predetermined distance even if it is not physically contacted.

The terminal 20 is provided with an application for transmitting and receiving data to and controlling the main body 10 of the air conditioner. The terminal 20 executes an application, displays information of the air conditioner 10 received through contact with the tag unit, Control the harmonics, and diagnose the failure of the air conditioner.

The air conditioner may further include a server (not shown) for communicating with the air conditioner main body 10 and the terminal 20 as necessary, and for storing and managing data on the operation of the air conditioner.

At this time, the terminal 20 connects to the server at the time of executing the application, matches the information of the air conditioner main body 10 with the server connection ID, and registers the information with the server so as to monitor and control the air conditioner 10 through the network have. In addition, the server may store data on the fault diagnosis of the air conditioner. The terminal 20 can download and execute an application for controlling the air conditioner from a server, and can download an application through an external server for transmitting an application other than the server.

The main body of the air conditioner specifies that units such as a ventilation unit, an air cleaning unit, a humidifying unit, a dehumidifying unit, and a heater can be used as well as an outdoor unit and an indoor unit.

2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention. The indoor unit as the air conditioner main body 10 will be described as follows.

The air conditioner main body 10 includes a communication unit 170, a data unit 130, a driving control unit 180, a sensing unit 160, an input unit 140, a display unit 150, a tag unit 120, And a control unit 110 for controlling the first half.

The communication unit 170 connects / disconnects the indoor unit and the outdoor unit to / from each other and transmits / receives data to / from another indoor unit, a remote controller (not shown), or a server. Also, the communication unit 170 may be connected to an external Internet network. The communication unit 170 may be a wireless communication method as well as a wired network, and a plurality of communication modules may be provided according to the communication method.

The drive control unit 180 controls the operation of the indoor unit according to a control command of the control unit 110. [ The drive control unit 180 controls opening and closing of a valve (not shown) provided in the indoor unit, and controls the indoor unit fan (not shown) to rotate. At this time, the drive control unit 180 may be divided into a fan control unit and a valve control unit.

The sensing unit 160 includes a plurality of sensors that measure data such as temperature, pressure, rotation speed, voltage, current, and the like. The sensing unit 160 measures information of the inside and the outside of the indoor unit through a plurality of sensors and inputs the measured information to the control unit 110. In addition, the sensing unit 160 may further include sensing means for sensing the occupant according to the installed position.

The input unit 140 includes at least one predetermined input means, and inputs a predetermined signal to the control unit 110 as the input means is operated.

The input unit 140 may include a button, a dome switch, a touch pad (static / static), a jog wheel, a jog switch, a finger mouse, a rotary switch, a jog dial, The present invention is applicable to any apparatus that generates predetermined input data by an operation such as an operation.

The display unit 150 displays various information on the operation state and the operation setting of the air conditioner. The display unit 150 may display a connection state when a tag is contacted with the terminal 20 in response to a control command of the controller 110. When the air conditioner is connected to the network according to the set connection information, Can be displayed.

The display unit 150 may be a display device such as an LCD or an LED, and may be configured as a touch screen, but the present invention is not limited thereto. In addition, when the display unit 150 is configured as a touch screen, the touch screen functions as an input unit as well as a display unit.

In addition to the display unit 150, the air conditioner may include a speaker for outputting a predetermined sound, a lamp for lighting or flickering to output an operation state, a connection state with each device, or a warning.

The data unit 130 stores basic data for the indoor unit and the outdoor unit, control data for operation control, input / output data, and data received through the communication unit 170. In addition, data received from the terminal through the tag unit 120 may be stored in the data unit 130.

The data portion 130 may also include non-volatile memory such as one or more magnetic disk storage devices, flash memory devices, or other non-volatile solid state memory devices, but may include readable storage media . For example, it may include, but is not limited to, Electronically Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory (EEP-ROM). In the EEP-ROM, information can be written and erased by the control unit. The EEP-ROM may be a storage device in which information stored therein is not erased even if the power supply is turned off and the power supply is stopped.

The tag unit 120 may include a tag storage unit (not shown) in which data is stored, and includes a transmission / reception unit (not shown) for transmitting data between the terminal and the control unit. The tag storage unit stores data to be transmitted to the terminal or data received from the terminal. After the data is confirmed by the controller 110 or transmitted to the terminal, data is deleted.

The transceiver unit can operate as a simple contact (tag) with the terminal 20 according to a near field communication (NFC) scheme, and transmit and receive data as desired.

In this case, the short-range wireless communication is compatible with various devices, and data synchronization can be possible by matching the data standard among all terminals including the short-range wireless communication module. The short-range wireless communication is generally capable of performing communication within a communication distance of less than 10 cm. The short-distance wireless communication has a short communication distance, and there is little fear of leakage of personal information. The tag unit 120 can read or write data from the tagged device when the short range wireless communication function is activated.

The tag unit 120 indicates that it is in contact with the terminal when the terminal 20 is in contact, and sets a flag according to the new data to indicate the data state. The control unit 110 may determine whether there is new data or communication with the terminal according to the set flag.

The tag unit 120 can operate independently of whether the air conditioner is operated even when the air conditioner is not powered on and is operated. When the air conditioner is operated with respect to data transmitted / , And transmits it to the control unit 110 immediately.

In addition, when the terminal 20 contacts the tag unit 120, the controller 120 applies the data received from the terminal to the control unit 110 so that authentication is performed on the terminal. The tag unit 120 can transmit error data to an unregistered terminal or an authentication failure terminal.

The control unit 110 processes input and output data through the input unit 140 and the display unit 150 and enables the air conditioner and the terminal to communicate with each other through the communication unit 170. The controller 110 controls the air conditioner to perform predetermined operations . The control unit 110 controls the indoor unit and the outdoor unit according to data measured or sensed through the sensing unit 150, and determines whether the indoor unit and the outdoor unit are operating normally.

The control unit 110 detects the state of the tag unit 120 and receives new data in the tag unit 120 to change or control the operation setting of the air conditioner. Transmits the requested data, and transmits the data collected during operation of the air conditioner to the tag unit 120 to be stored.

In addition, the controller 110 controls the operation of the indoor unit and the outdoor unit according to the data received from the remote controller, the remote controller, and the like when the operation is controlled according to the input operation setting.

The controller 110 locks the temperature, the wind direction, the wind amount, and the operation mode so that they can not be changed, and keeps the lock state until the lock is released through the tag unit 120.

The control unit 110 sets the operation mode by the input unit 140 or the remote controller when the lock mode is set by the remote controller or the remote controller.

At this time, the control unit 110 can set the lock / unlock of the operation setting through the contact of the tag unit 120 of the terminal 20. The information about the terminal 20 can be registered and managed in advance, and the registered terminal 20 can be authenticated to release the lock setting.

The controller 110 can set and release the lock mode by using the terminal that has received the information of the terminal and has completed the user authentication in the lock mode setting and cancellation using the terminal. That is, the control unit 110 performs authentication for the terminal registered in advance and restricts the operation setting.

At this time, the control unit 110 temporarily releases the lock in response to the connection of the tag unit 120 of the terminal 20 in the state where the lock mode is set, and switches to the lock mode when the set time passes.

The control unit 110 may store information on the terminal directly registered in the air conditioner in the data unit 130 and may also receive and store information on terminals registered from the server. In some cases, the controller 110 may authenticate the terminal by comparing the pre-stored data with data received from the terminal through the tag unit, and authenticate the terminal with the server by communicating with the server.

The control unit 110 outputs the status information through the display unit 150 in a state where the lock is set or the state where the lock is released through the contact of the tag unit 120 of the terminal 20. [

The display unit 150 may display an image, an icon, a special character, a character, or a number indicating a locked state.

3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a UE according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3, the terminal 10 includes a communication unit 240, a speaker 230, a display unit 260, an input unit 250, a memory 220, and a terminal control unit 210 for controlling overall operations of the terminal . In addition, the terminal includes sensors such as a position information sensor and an acceleration sensor according to the type thereof, but the description of other configurations is omitted.

The input unit 250 includes at least one button or touch input means, and may include both a button and a touch input means as the case may be. The input unit applies a user command to the terminal control unit 210 according to the operation of the input means.

The display unit 260 may be an LCD or LED as a predetermined display means for outputting numbers, characters, special characters or images, and may be configured as a touch screen in which a touch pad is layered.

The display unit 260 outputs a user command input through the input unit 250 to the screen or outputs a predetermined screen corresponding to the input user command, Status, and whether or not an abnormality has occurred.

At this time, the display unit 260 executes the program for controlling the air conditioner, displays the air conditioner control menu and its operation information on the screen as the data is transmitted and received through the communication unit 240, to provide.

The speaker 230 outputs a predetermined sound effect or a warning sound. The speaker outputs a predetermined sound effect or a warning sound in a specific situation, such as when the operation starts, when the operation is terminated, when an abnormality occurs, or when there is an input by the user.

In the memory 220, setting data input through the input unit 250, control data for controlling the operation of the terminal, and data of the air conditioner received through the communication unit 240 are stored.

Also, in the memory 230, a program for controlling the air conditioner is stored as an application (API). At this time, the program for controlling the air conditioner may be downloaded from the server or downloaded from another application dedicated server.

The communication unit 240 includes a plurality of communication modules for transmitting and receiving data according to a wired or wireless communication system. For example, the communication unit 240 includes a tag communication module 241, an internet module 242, a mobile communication module 243, and a short-range communication module 244.

The terminal 20 communicates with a server, a remote controller, and other air conditioners through a network using the Internet module 242. [ In addition, the terminal 20 can access the mobile communication network through the mobile communication module 243 according to its form, and can use services such as voice as well as data transmission and reception. The short-range communication module 223 includes a communication method such as Bluetooth, ZigBee, and infrared communication, and transmits / receives data within a predetermined distance. The tag communication module 241 is also an NFC communication module and transmits / receives mutual data when the terminal 20 contacts the tag portion of the air conditioner.

The terminal control unit 210 stores data transmitted and received through the communication unit 240 in the memory 230 and controls input and output of data. The terminal control unit 210 controls the operation of the terminal according to the data input through the communication unit 240 and the input unit 250 or controls the operation setting of the unit to be changed through the application.

The terminal control unit 210 displays a menu screen for inputting a user command on the display unit 250 and transmits data to the server or unit via the communication unit 240 according to the input setting to the input unit 240, And receives data.

The terminal control unit 210 executes an application stored in the memory 230 and communicates with the air conditioner through the tag communication module 241 of the communication unit 240. The application control unit 210 controls the application Or to receive data from the air conditioner.

When the application is executed, the terminal control unit 210 causes the control menu displayed through the display unit 260 to be displayed differently corresponding to the data input through the input unit 250, and transmits the control menu via the tag communication module 241 Analyzes the received data, diagnoses the condition of the air conditioner, and outputs the result.

The terminal control unit 210 can unlock the operation setting of the air conditioner main body 10 in controlling the air conditioner through the application. When the unlock menu for the air conditioner is selected from the control menu of the terminal control unit 210 application, the tag communication method is guided through the display unit, and when the contact is made with the tag unit 120 of the air conditioner, And controls the communication unit 240 to transmit data for unlocking.

The communication unit 240 activates the tag communication module 241 in accordance with the control command of the terminal control unit 210. When the terminal 20 contacts the tag unit 120 of the air conditioner main body 10, Module 241 to transmit information for releasing the lock mode.

Accordingly, the operation setting is unlocked in accordance with the information of the terminal 20 received through the tag unit 120 of the air conditioner main body 10.

4 is a view illustrating a data flow between the terminal and the main body of the air conditioner and a display screen of the main body of the air conditioner according to the embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 4A, the terminal 20 executes an application and displays a control menu for the air conditioner.

At this time, when the unlock menu is selected, the terminal 20 displays a guide 21 on unlocking on the display unit screen in the form of an image, letter, number, icon, special character or the like on the screen of the display unit. Further, a guide for contact between the terminal and the tag unit may be separately output.

When the terminal 20 comes into contact with the tag 120 provided in the main body 10 of the air conditioner, the terminal control unit 210 transmits information on unlocking through the tag communication module 241.

At this time, the tag communication module causes the tag unit 120 of the air conditioner main body 10 to operate to transmit / receive data to / from the transmitting / receiving unit. The transmitting and receiving unit of the tag unit receives and stores information about unlocking from the terminal 20, and the control unit 110 receives the unlocking information stored in the tag unit.

The control unit 110 performs authentication of the terminal or the terminal 20 by comparing the previously stored data with the received data as the information about unlocking is received from the terminal.

At this time, the controller 110 determines whether the terminal 20 is a terminal that has been previously registered, and can also determine whether or not the terminal is authorized to unlock the terminal. In some cases, the controller 110 can request authentication of the terminal by transmitting data to the outside, for example, an authentication server or a predetermined server having the authority to manage the air conditioner.

Upon completion of the authentication, the control unit 110 releases the lock and enables the operation setting change through the input unit 140 and the remote control.

As shown in FIG. 4B, the display unit 150 of the air conditioner displays information about the currently set temperature, room temperature, or air volume.

At this time, when the lock mode is set and there is a key input according to the operation stop or the temperature setting through the input unit 140, as shown in FIG. 4C, the screen of the display unit 150 displays a guide . At this time, the guidance according to the lock state may be an image or an icon, and a character or a special character may be displayed.

Also, in a state where the lock mode is set, an icon indicating the lock mode may be displayed in one area of the screen of the display unit 150. [

A control menu for unlocking the air conditioner is selected in the terminal 20 and when the terminal 20 and the tag unit 120 of the air conditioner main body 10 come into contact with each other, the controller 110 controls the tag unit 120 And releases the predetermined lock mode based on the information about the unlock received via the unlock mode.

At this time, the controller 110 receives the information of the terminal 20 through the tag unit 120 and performs a predetermined authentication procedure on the terminal, and can release the lock if the terminal is a registered terminal. However, the control unit 110 can release the lock even when the lock mode is connected by an authorized remote controller or an authorized ID.

When the lock mode is released by the terminal 20, the control unit 110 releases the lock for a set time, and when the set time has elapsed, the control unit 110 switches to the lock mode again to disable the operation setting through the input unit 140 . When the lock mode is set, a lock icon is displayed in one area of the display unit as shown in FIG. 4C.

5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling an air conditioner using a terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, when an application for controlling the air conditioner is executed in the terminal 20 and a lock mode is set (S310), a guidance on the lock mode is output to the display unit of the terminal 20. According to the guide, the user touches the terminal 20 to the tag unit 120.

When the terminal 20 contacts the tag unit 120 at step S320, the tag communication module 241 transmits information about the lock mode setting to the tag unit 120 according to the local area communication method (NFC).

At this time, the control unit 110 performs user authentication to determine whether the terminal 20 in contact with the tag unit 120 is a registered terminal (S330). The control unit 110 receives the information of the terminal 20 through the tag unit 120 and compares the received information with previously stored data to perform authentication. In some cases, the control unit 110 can authenticate the server through the server connection.

If the terminal is not a registered terminal, the control unit 110 outputs a warning through the display unit or the speaker (S335). In addition, the controller 110 may transmit a warning message to the terminal 20 through the tag unit 120. The terminal control unit 110 may also output a warning to the display unit.

When the authentication is completed, the control unit 110 cancels the lock setting (S340). In addition, the controller 110 counts time from the time when the lock is released (S350).

When a command such as an operation setting is inputted through the input unit 140 in a state in which the lock is released (S360), the control unit 110 changes the operation setting corresponding to the data input through the input unit 140, (S370).

The control unit 110 permits the input of data through the input unit 140 while the set time does not elapse with respect to the counted time, and changes the operation setting accordingly and performs a predetermined operation as described above.

If the set time has elapsed after releasing the lock (S380), the controller 110 sets the lock again (S390). At this time, an icon or an image indicating the locked state may be displayed in one area of the display screen. The control unit 110 remains locked until the lock is released.

If the lock is set, the input unit 140 ignores the operation even if the input unit 140 is operated, or outputs a guidance indicating the locked state through the display unit 150.

Accordingly, the air conditioner transmits and receives data to and from the terminal through short-distance communication between the air conditioner and the terminal, and performs authentication for the terminal, thereby temporarily releasing the set lock mode. The user can selectively change the operation setting by releasing the lock, and the operation setting can not be changed for the unauthorized user.

Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the operation setting of the air conditioner from being changed, and to effectively manage the air conditioner in particular when operation restriction is required due to an increase in power consumption.

While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the invention.

10: air conditioner main body 20: terminal
110: control unit 120: tag unit
130: data part 140: input part
150:
210: terminal control unit 240:
241: Tag communication module

Claims (14)

An input unit for inputting data;
A display unit for outputting data, operation information, and an operation state input by the input unit;
A tag unit for performing near field communication (NFC); And
And a controller configured to set an operation according to data input through the input unit and to control the operation according to the operation,
The tag unit recognizes a terminal approaching or touching within a predetermined distance through the short-range wireless communication, transmits and receives data, stores data to be transmitted and received,
Wherein the controller releases the lock when information on unlocking is received from the terminal through the tag unit in a state where a lock mode for limiting the change of the operation setting through the input unit is set. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the control unit performs authentication for the terminal in response to information about unlocking the terminal received through the tag unit. 3. The method of claim 2,
The control unit stores information on at least one terminal and compares information received from the terminal received through the tag unit with pre-stored information to determine whether the terminal is authorized to unlock . 3. The method of claim 2,
Wherein the control unit transmits the information of the terminal received through the tag unit to an external authentication server to request authentication of the terminal and determines whether the terminal is authorized to unlock the terminal. group. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the control unit releases the lock mode temporarily during the set time when the lock mode is canceled in response to the information received from the terminal, and then sets the lock mode again. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the control unit outputs a warning through the display unit when the input unit is operated with the lock mode being set,
Wherein when the lock mode is released by the terminal, the operation setting is changed in accordance with the operation of the input unit. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the control unit displays any one of an icon, an image, a special character, and a character indicating a locked state in one area of the display unit in a state where the lock mode is set. The method according to claim 1,
The terminal includes: a display unit for outputting operation information;
A tag communication module that transmits and receives data to and from the tag unit through the short-range wireless communication; And
And a terminal control unit for transmitting data to the air conditioner through the tag communication module, analyzing data received from the air conditioner, and outputting the analyzed data through the display unit,
Wherein the terminal control unit executes an application for controlling an air conditioner and transmits information on unlocking through the tag communication module when a control menu for unlocking is selected. The method of claim 8, wherein
Wherein the terminal control unit outputs the guidance on the tag method through the display unit when the control menu for unlocking is selected. Setting a lock mode;
Receiving data from the terminal according to a local area communication method by recognizing a terminal with which the tag section is in contact;
An authentication step of, when the data received from the terminal is information on unlocking, determining whether the terminal is authorized to unlock in response to the information; And
Releasing the established lock mode if the terminal is authorized to unlock the terminal; And controlling the operation of the air conditioner. The method of claim 10, wherein
Further comprising the step of setting the lock mode again when the set time has elapsed after releasing the lock mode. The method of claim 10, wherein
Comparing the information received from the terminal with a plurality of pre-stored terminal data, and determining that the terminal is an already registered terminal having authority if the terminal data match. 11. The method of claim 10,
And transmitting the information received from the terminal to an external authentication server to perform authentication for the terminal. 11. The method of claim 10,
Further comprising the step of outputting a warning indicating that the lock mode is set when the operation of the input unit or the operation setting is changed in the lock mode.

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