DE102011007427A1 - Household appliance with a communication unit, system with such a household appliance and method for enabling communication between a household appliance and another device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a household appliance (30) with an internal communication unit (31), which is designed for communication with an external device (17, 30a, 30b). The communication unit (31) can provide data in accordance with the Internet protocol and transmit it to the external device (17, 30a, 30b) and receive data generated in accordance with the Internet protocol. The invention also relates to a system (35) with such a household appliance (30), as well as a method for enabling communication between a household appliance (30) and another device.

Description

The invention relates to a household appliance, which includes a communication unit, which is designed for communication with an external or further device. The invention also relates to a system comprising a household appliance and a further appliance, wherein the household appliance and the further appliance each contain a communication unit which is designed to communicate with one another. Finally, the invention relates to a method for facilitating communication between a household appliance and another electrical appliance.

It is state of the art to connect a variety of household appliances in a household with each other communication technology. The household appliances can then communicate with each other. Also known are smart meters, which can communicate with the energy provider. Such electricity meters may receive data from the energy provider that includes information about the future price of the electrical energy. The electricity meter can be connected to the local network to which the domestic appliances are also connected. Thus, the household appliances can communicate with the smart meter; For example, control signals from the electricity meter can be sent to the respective household appliances or the electricity meter can transmit to the appliances the information about the current energy price.

Such a known system is in 1 shown. In a household 1 There are a variety of household appliances, namely, for example, an air conditioner 2 , a thermostat 3 , a smart home appliance 4 (about a washing machine) and another smart home appliance 5 (about a tumble dryer). All these household appliances 2 . 3 . 4 . 5 are connected to a power network 6 connected, over which these household appliances 2 . 3 . 4 . 5 can communicate with each other. The energy network also has an intelligent electricity meter 7 connected, as well as an energy gateway 8th which optionally in the electricity meter 7 can be integrated. The electricity meter 7 communicates via the energy gateway 8th with a smart grid 9 and thus, for example, with the energy provider. This communication connection is with the arrow display 10 indicated. About this communication connection 10 can the electricity meter 7 For example, receive the above information regarding energy prices. The energy network 6 is via a gateway 11 coupled with a local computer network LAN, to which a laptop 12 as well as a PC 13 are connected. The computer 13 as well as the laptop 12 can via an internet router 14 on the internet 15 access, as with the arrow 16 indicated. To the Internet 15 is also a host server 17 connected to a device manufacturer. Also a mobile phone 18 can over a mobile network 19 on the internet 15 access.

So the home appliances can 2 . 3 . 4 . 5 over the internet 15 with the host server 17 communicate with the device manufacturer, as with a dashed line 20 is shown. This communication connection is made via the gateway 11 , which is the protocol language of the power network 6 in the protocol language of the local computer network LAN or the Internet 15 "translated". Such a solution is suboptimal: Due to the gateway is any communication of household appliances 2 . 3 . 4 . 5 with host server 17 not possible. Only data transmitted through the gateway can be transmitted 11 Can be translated. The gateway 11 is unable to transmit any messages to the gateway 11 are not known. The gateway 11 would have to with new functionalities of the household appliances 2 . 3 . 4 . 5 or constantly updated for new messages, so that these messages can be transmitted to the device manufacturer.

According to 1 can the household appliances 2 . 3 . 4 . 5 also with the intelligent power grid 9 - about the energy provider - communicate, via the energy gateway 8th , according to the dashed line 21 , Thus, the household appliances 2 . 3 . 4 . 5 also receive the information about the respective energy prices. Such a procedure is for example in the document WO 2007/060059 A1 described. Here can a washing machine over such a gateway information over the. Receive energy prices, this information being provided on an Internet accessible energy exchange.

Also the publication DE 10 2005 020 519 A1 describes a system in which a plurality of household appliances are connected to a supply network in a household. Each of the household appliances includes a communication interface, via which a bidirectional data transmission is enabled. The data signals can for example be modulated onto a supply line or power line (powerline communication). The data transmission is designed so that the household appliances communicate with the energy provider via an electricity meter with an energy gateway.

Furthermore, the document describes EP 1 367 685 A1 an electronic energy management system for household appliances in a household. This system also receives Information about energy prices, and household appliances are driven by these energy prices.

It is an object of the invention to provide a solution, as in a household appliance or a system of the type mentioned communication between the device-internal communication unit and the external (other) electrical device can be done very reliable, so that the messages between the device. Communication unit and the external device can be transmitted in particular without restrictions.

This object is achieved by a household appliance with the features according to claim 1, as well as by a system with the features according to. Claim 8 and solved by a method having the features according to claim 14. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are. Subject of the dependent claims, the description and the figures.

An inventive household appliance includes a communication unit, which is designed for communication with a further, separate from the household appliance device. According to the invention, the communication unit can provide data in accordance with the Internet Protocol (IP) and transmit it to the external device and can receive and process data generated according to the Internet protocol.

The household appliance can thus - unlike in the prior art - directly or directly connected to the Internet or connected, and the data no longer need to be transmitted through a gateway. While in the prior art message transmission between the household appliance and other devices connected to the Internet find their limits due to the gateway, the use of such a gateway with the associated disadvantages is unnecessary in the household appliance according to the invention. And indeed the transmission of messages can now take place without restriction; the data sent / received by the household appliance no longer needs to be "translated" by means of a gateway. It is also unnecessary the constant updating of the gateway or the communication unit due to new functionalities or new messages. Via the Internet, the household appliance can also communicate directly with the energy provider and, for example, receive the information on energy prices without having to use an additional intelligent electricity meter with a gateway. When using the household appliance according to the invention, for example, the following scenario makes sense: A washing machine and a tumble dryer are in the basement of a house. Both household appliances each have a communication unit, which is designed for communication according to the Internet protocol and is thus directly connected to the Internet, possibly also via an Internet router (for example, WLAN). The homeowner has logged his washing machine and tumble dryer on the Internet - such as the device manufacturer - and certain features configured. The homeowner has already started his washing machine and is now on the first floor, so he can not hear whether the washing process of the washing machine has been completed or not. Now the washing process is complete. The washing machine - and more specifically its communication unit - sends data via the Internet to an appliance management server (host server); this data contains information that the washing process has already been completed completely and properly. At the same time, the washing machine provides further data, with information about the weight of the laundry items, the completed washing program, the operating temperature, the spin speed and the residual moisture of the laundry items. The host server forwards this data to the tumble dryer, directly over the Internet. The tumble dryer responds to the host server that it is not currently in operation and the reported amount of laundry may be dried with a single drying process and how long this drying process is likely to take. The information supplied by the washing machine and / or the tumble dryer, the host server can also forward to a communication device of the homeowner, namely, for example, to a mobile phone, a PC or a laptop. With his communication device, the homeowner can forward messages to the tumble dryer - via host server - that, and if so when, the tumble dryer should adjust to the drying process. The homeowner can now go to the basement and put the laundry in the dryer, and he only needs to release the drying process.

In the present case, a household appliance is understood to be a device which is used for household management. This may for example be a large household appliance, such as a washing machine, a tumble dryer, a dishwasher, a cooking appliance, a cooker hood, a refrigerator, such. As a fridge-freezer or air conditioning unit. But this can also be a small household appliance, such as a coffee machine or a food processor. In particular, the household appliance is understood to be a program-controlled appliance whose Operating processes are carried out in accordance with stored operating programs. It proves to be particularly advantageous if the household appliance is a large household appliance, namely in particular a device for the care of laundry or a device for the preparation of food or a device for the refrigerated storage of food or a dishwasher.

In principle, the communication unit of the household appliance may have an interface via which the communication unit can be connected to a local computer network (LAN) and thereby to the Internet. This interface can be designed for the wired transmission and reception of the data generated according to the Internet protocol. In a preferred embodiment, however, an interface is used which is designed for wireless transmission and reception of the data (for example WiFi). It is therefore unnecessary to use a cable, and the home appliance can be positioned in principle anywhere in the household.

Particularly preferably, the communication unit is adapted to communicate according to the Internet protocol with another household appliance and / or with a host server - in particular a device manufacturer. This means that the communication unit can transmit data directly to another home appliance and / or the host server directly via the Internet, on the one hand, and can also receive data from another home appliance and / or the host server on the other hand. Thus, the home appliance can "talk" to other household appliances with regard to the performance of the respective operating processes, and the scenario described above is made possible. It can also be provided that - as already explained above - the communication unit initially transmits the data to the host server and this data is then forwarded by the host server to another household appliance. Thus, the host server of the equipment manufacturer can coordinate the communication between two household appliances and possibly also communicate with a communication device of the user. This embodiment also allows the transmission of device-specific data to the device manufacturer or a customer service. For example, the household appliance can transmit data directly via the Internet to the host server, which contains information about the respective states of the electrical consumers or various components of the household appliance. The household appliance can also receive new software programs via the Internet, so that the available operating programs of the household appliance can be updated directly via the Internet.

As already stated, the household appliance can agree with other household appliances with regard to the operating processes to be carried out. Thus, the communication unit to the external device (such as another household appliance) directly via the Internet - possibly also through the host server - transfer data containing information about an operating process of the household appliance, namely in particular information related to an already completed operating process and / or with respect to a future operating process of the household appliance. Thus, the household appliance can inform the other device about its completed and / or future operating process, and the other device can adjust its operation accordingly depending on this information or make certain settings different operating parameters for a subsequent operating process. For example, the communication unit may inform the other domestic appliance (tumble dryer) that a washing process has been completed and the tumble dryer is to prepare for a drying process. For example, here the information about the weight of the laundry items and a moisture content of the laundry items can be transmitted to the tumble dryer, so that the tumble dryer can estimate the duration of the future drying process and, if appropriate, inform the user - for example via the host server.

• – eine Information über das Gewischt der gewaschenen Wäschestücke und/oder
• – eine Information über das abgeschlossene Waschprogramm – zum Beispiel „Koch/Bunt” oder „Intensiv” oder „Hemden” oder „Pflegeleicht” – und/oder
• – eine Information über eine Betriebstemperatur, also die Temperatur, bei welcher die Wäschestücke gewaschen wurden, und/oder
• – eine Information über die Schleuderdrehzahl und/oder
• – eine Information über eine Restfeuchte der Wäschestücke, das heißt den Feuchtigkeitsgrad der Wäschestücke nach dem Waschprozess.

So the home appliance can be a washing machine. Then, after completion of a washing process, the communication unit may transmit to the external device (for example a tumble dryer) data via the Internet, which contain at least one of the following information:

• Information about the wiping of the washed items of laundry and / or
• - Information about the completed wash program - for example "Chef / Colorful" or "Intensive" or "Shirts" or "Easy Care" - and / or
• - Information about an operating temperature, ie the temperature at which the laundry items have been washed, and / or
• - Information about the spin speed and / or
• - An information about a residual moisture of the laundry items, that is the moisture content of the laundry items after the washing process.

In this way, the other device - especially the tumble dryer - informed about the completed washing process of the washing machine and can make certain settings for a future operating process - especially drying process - before the user Remove laundry items from the laundry drum of the washing machine and place them in the tumble dryer.

The communication unit may also transmit data via the Internet to the other device, which includes information about the possibility of starting a future operating process and / or over a probable period of the future operating process. In this embodiment, it proves to be advantageous if the household appliance is a tumble dryer, while the other or external device is a host server. Namely, depending on the residual moisture of the items of laundry, the tumble dryer can determine the duration of the future operating process and notify the host server, which can then forward this information to the user. The tumble dryer may also communicate to the host server information that the tumble dryer is ready to perform a drying process and thus start the drying process. If the host server now transmits this readiness information to the user, the user can go into the cellar and put the laundry items in the tumble dryer and release the drying process.

The communication unit can also receive control data via the Internet and deliver control signals to a component of the household appliance in dependence on the control data. This can be done, for example, such that the user with the aid of his communication device sends control data to the host server and the host server then forwards this control data to the household appliance. In this way it is possible to control the household appliance from a remote location; the user does not need to go to the basement and can control the household appliance, for example, from the first floor, for example using his mobile phone.

In addition, a system is provided according to the invention, which comprises a household appliance and another device, wherein the household appliance and the further device each include a communication unit, which are designed to communicate with each other. The communication units can communicate with each other according to the Internet Protocol.

The preferred embodiments presented with reference to the household appliance according to the invention and their advantages apply correspondingly to the system according to the invention and vice versa.

In the system, the other device may be a home appliance or a host server.

From the communication unit of the household appliance data can be transmitted to the communication unit of the further device via the Internet, which includes information relating to an operating process of the household appliance, in particular with respect to a completed operating process and / or with respect to a future operating process.

The household appliance may be a washing machine in which, after completion of a washing process, data is transferred from the communication unit of the washing machine to the communication unit of the further appliance containing information about a weight of items of laundry and / or about a washing program and / or about an operating temperature and / or involve a spin speed and / or a residual moisture of the laundry items.

In the system can be provided that are transmitted from the communication unit of the household appliance to the communication unit of the other device data via the Internet, which include information about the possibility of starting the future operating process and / or an estimated time duration of the future operating process. Here the further device can be a host server.

Control data can be transmitted via the Internet to the communication unit of the household appliance by the communication unit of the further appliance, and the communication unit can output control signals to a component of the household appliance as a function of the control data.

An inventive method is used to enable communication between a household appliance, which includes a communication unit, and another device. By means of the communication unit data are provided in accordance with the Internet Protocol and transmitted to the other device and receive data generated according to the Internet Protocol.

The preferred embodiments presented with reference to the domestic appliance according to the invention and the system according to the invention and their advantages apply correspondingly to the method according to the invention.

Further features of the invention will become apparent from the claims, the figures and the description of the figures. All the features and feature combinations mentioned above in the description as well as the features and feature combinations mentioned below in the description of the figures and / or shown alone in the figures are not only in the specified combination, but also in other combinations or used alone.

The invention will now be explained with reference to a preferred embodiment, as well as with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Show it:

1 a schematic representation of a system according to the prior art;

2 a schematic representation of a household appliance according to an embodiment of the invention; and

3 a schematic representation of a system according to an embodiment of the invention.

An in 2 illustrated household appliance 30 For example, it may be a large household appliance such as a laundry care appliance or a food preparation appliance or a dishwasher. The household appliance 30 includes a communication unit 31 , which is designed for communication with other household appliances and with a host server. The communication unit 31 It communicates according to the Internet Protocol (IP) and can thus generate data in accordance with the Internet Protocol and receive and process data provided in accordance with this Internet Protocol. This means that the household appliance 30 can be connected directly to the Internet, possibly also via an Internet router. Thus, no gateway is required which has to be used in the prior art to translate the communication protocols of two different networks. The communication unit 31 know an interface 32 on, over which the communication unit 31 can be connected to the Internet. This interface 32 may for example be a wireless interface (for example, WiFi or WiFi) or a wired interface (for example, coaxial cable, powerline or CAT cable). The communication unit 31 is inside the household appliance 30 also with a control device 33 of the household appliance 30 electrically coupled and can communicate with this. The control device 33 For example, it may include a microcontroller, a digital signal processor, and a memory. The control device 33 can be a central control unit of the household appliance 30 be, which the operating processes of the household appliance 30 controls, namely according to stored operating programs. So it is the controller 33 which is via the communication unit 31 with other household appliances 30 or the host server communicates.

The control device 33 represents a component of the household appliance 30 and may also be other components of the household appliance 30 drive, such as an electrical consumer 34 , In the electrical consumer 34 it may, for example, be an electric drive motor, in particular for driving a laundry drum, and / or a pump and / or a heating element.

The household appliance 30 as it is in 2 can now be connected to a local computer network in a household, and thus to the Internet. In 3 is a system 35 shown which two smart appliances 30a . 30b which now - in contrast to the prior art according to 1 - Are connected to the local computer network LAN. The others in 3 shown components correspond essentially to those according to 1 , The difference from the prior art according to 1 So it is that the household appliances 30a . 30b are connected to the local computer network LAN, not to the power network 6 ,

The household appliances 30a . 30b each contain a communication unit 31a . 31b as they are already referring to 2 has been described. The household appliances 30a . 30b So you can communicate according to the Internet Protocol, with the host server 17 of the device manufacturer. In the embodiment, it is provided that via the host server 17 the household appliances 30a . 30b communicate with each other. This means that the communication between the household appliances 30a . 30b under the mediation of the host server 17 he follows; the host server 17 receives data from one of the household appliances 30a . 30b and forwards this data to the other household appliance 30a . 30b , Optionally, the household appliance 30a . 30b over the gateway 11 with the power network 6 and thus with the smart meter 7 and / or with the power grid 9 communicate.

Is the first household appliance 30a a washing machine and the second household appliance 30b a tumble dryer, so the following communication history between the two household appliances 30a . 30b to be implemented:
The two household appliances 30a . 30b stand in the basement of a house, the user being the two household appliances 30a . 30b registered on the Internet, namely the device manufacturer. Each of the household appliances 30a . 30b Here, a device-specific IP address can be assigned to the host server 17 is known. At the host server 17 are thus information about the two household appliances 30a . 30b stored, in particular the respective IP addresses. To the respective IP address are with the host server 17 also stored further device-specific information, such as the type of household appliance and the like.

Now the user starts the washing machine 30a so a washing process of the washing machine 30a is carried out. For example, the user is on the first floor of the house and can not judge whether the washing process has been completed or not.

Now the washing machine 30a finished. The washing process is completed. The washing machine 30a sends data over the internet 15 to the host server 17 so that he is informed about the completion of the washing process. At the same time sends the washing machine 30a Data to the host server 17 , which contain information about the following parameters: the laundry weight, the completed washing program, the temperature, the spin speed and the residual moisture of the laundry items. The host server 17 passes all this data to the tumble dryer 30b further. The laundry dryer 30b now calculates, depending on the received data, the expected duration of a drying process in which the laundry items can be completely dried. The laundry dryer 30b now sends data to the host server 17 , on the one hand the readiness of the tumble dryer 30b for performing the drying process and on the other hand, information about the expected duration of the future. Include drying process.

The host server 17 transmitted now over the Internet 15 and the mobile network 19 Data to the mobile phone 18 of the user and thus informs the user that the washing process has been completed and the drying process can be started. With the help of the mobile phone 18 the user can - over the mobile network 19 , the host server 17 and the internet 15 - the tumble dryer 30b tell them to make certain presets with regard to the drying process to be performed. And indeed the user can with the help of his mobile phone 18 Change the duration of the drying process by changing the operating temperature of the tumble dryer 30b established.

The user can now go into the basement and the laundry items in the laundry drum of the tumble dryer 30b lay. The user only needs to start the drying process without having to adjust the parameters of the drying process.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

household

2

air conditioning

3

thermostat

4, 5

intelligent home appliances

6

Energy Network

7

electric meter

8th

Energy Gateway

9

power grid

10

arrow display

11

gateway

12

Laptop

13

PC

14

Internet router

15

Internet

16

arrow display

17

Host server

18

mobile phone

19

Mobile network

20

dashed line

30, 30a, 30b

domestic appliances

31, 31a, 31b

communication units

32

interface

33

control device

34

consumer

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• WO 2007/060059 A1 [0005]
• DE 102005020519 A1 [0006]
• EP 1367685 A1 [0007]

Claims (14)

Household appliance ( 30 . 30a . 30b ) with a device-internal communication unit ( 31 . 31a . 31b ), which communicate with an external device ( 17 . 30 . 30a . 30b ), characterized in that the communication unit ( 31 . 31a . 31b ) is adapted to provide data in accordance with the Internet Protocol and to the external device ( 17 . 30 . 30a . 30b ) and to receive data generated according to the Internet protocol. Household appliance ( 30 . 30a . 30b ) according to claim 1, characterized in that the communication unit ( 31 . 31a . 31b ) an interface ( 32 ) adapted to wirelessly transmit and receive the data generated according to the Internet Protocol. Household appliance ( 30 . 30a . 30b ) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the communication unit ( 31 . 31a . 31b ) is designed, in accordance with the Internet Protocol, with another household appliance ( 30 . 30a . 30b ) and / or with a host server ( 17 ) to communicate. Household appliance ( 30 . 30a . 30b ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the communication unit ( 31 . 31a . 31b ) is adapted to the external device ( 17 . 30a . 30b ) Data over the Internet ( 15 ), which information relating to an operating process, in particular with regard to a completed operating process and / or with respect to a future operating process, of the domestic appliance ( 30 . 30a . 30b ). Household appliance ( 30 . 30a . 30b ) according to claim 4, characterized in that the household appliance ( 30 . 30a . 30b ) a washing machine ( 30a ) and the communication unit ( 31a ) is designed after completion of a washing process to the external device ( 17 . 30b ) Data over the Internet ( 15 ), which contain information about a weight of items of laundry and / or about a washing program and / or about an operating temperature and / or about a spin speed and / or a residual moisture of the laundry items. Household appliance ( 30 . 30a . 30b ) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the communication unit ( 31 . 31a . 31b ) is designed via the Internet ( 15 ) Data to the external device ( 17 . 30a . 30b ), which contain information about the possibility of starting the future operating process and / or about a probable time duration of the future operating process. Household appliance ( 30 . 30a . 30b ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the communication unit ( 31 . 31a . 31b ) is designed via the Internet ( 15 ) Receive control data and, depending on the control data, control signals to a component ( 33 . 34 ) of the household appliance ( 30 . 30a . 30b ). System ( 35 ) with a household appliance ( 30a ) and with another device ( 17 . 30b ), the domestic appliance ( 30a ) and the other device ( 17 . 30b ) each have a communication unit ( 31a . 31b ), which are designed to communicate with each other, characterized in that the communication units ( 31a . 31b ) are adapted to communicate with each other in accordance with the Internet Protocol. System ( 35 ) according to claim 8, characterized in that the further device ( 17 . 30b ) a household appliance ( 30b ) or a host server ( 17 ). System ( 35 ) according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the communication unit ( 31a ) of the household appliance ( 30a ) to the communication unit ( 31b ) of the further device ( 17 . 30b ) Data over the Internet ( 15 ), the information relating to a completed operating process and / or with respect to a future operating process of the household appliance ( 30a ). System ( 35 ) according to claim 10, characterized in that the domestic appliance ( 30a ) is a washing machine, in which after completion of a washing process by the communication unit ( 31 ) of the washing machine to the communication unit ( 31 ) of the further device ( 17 . 30b ) Data are transmitted which contain information about a weight of items of laundry and / or about a washing program and / or about an operating temperature and / or about a spin speed and / or a residual moisture content of the laundry items. System ( 35 ) according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the communication unit ( 31a ) of the household appliance ( 30a ) to the communication unit ( 31b ) of the further device ( 17 . 30b ) Data over the Internet ( 15 ) containing information about the possibility of starting the future operating process and / or about a probable time duration of the future operating process. System ( 35 ) according to one of claims 8 to 12, characterized in that the communication unit ( 31b ) of the further device ( 17 . 30b ) to the communication unit ( 31 ) of the household appliance ( 30a ) Control data via the Internet ( 15 ), and the communication unit ( 31a ) Control signals in dependence on the control data to a component ( 33 . 34 ) of the household appliance ( 30 ). Method for facilitating communication between a household appliance ( 30a ), which is a communication unit ( 31a ) and another device ( 17 . 30b ), characterized in that by means of the communication unit ( 31a ) Provided data according to the Internet Protocol and to the further device ( 17 . 30b ) and data generated according to the Internet protocol are received.

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