KR20030006117A - Apparatus and method for automatically setting timer of electrical appliance using a mobile communication terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: An apparatus for automatically setting a time of an electric instrument by using a mobile communication terminal and a method therefor are provided to prevent the accumulation of a time error according to the long-time use of a timer by automatically setting a time of the timer of the electric instrument by using the mobile communication terminal. CONSTITUTION: A mobile communication terminal(120) has a transmitting and receiving unit(122) for transmitting an RF(Radio Frequency) signal according to a set method, and a time transmission control unit(121) for transmitting its time information through the transmitting and receiving unit(122) in case that a time information request is received in the transmitting and receiving unit(122). An electric instrument(110) has a time setup control unit(111) for transmitting the time information request to the mobile communication terminal(120) and extracting time information from the RF signal transmitted from the mobile communication terminal(120), and a time setup unit(112) for setting a time of a timer according to time information extracted in the time setup control unit(111). The electric instrument(110) has a transmitting and receiving unit(113) for receiving the time information request of the time setup control unit(111), transmitting the received time information request to the mobile communication terminal(120), receiving the RF signal from the mobile communication terminal(120), and transmitting the received RF signal to the time setup control unit(111).

Description

Apparatus and method for automatically setting timer of electrical appliance using a mobile communication terminal}

The present invention relates to automation of time setting of an electric appliance using a mobile communication terminal, and more particularly, to automatically set a timer time of an electric appliance using a mobile communication terminal, thereby accumulating time error due to long use of a timer. The present invention relates to an automatic time setting device for an electric apparatus using a mobile communication terminal and a method thereof.

In general, in a mobile communication system, a terminal receives its standard time for interworking with a base station while registering its location according to a home location registration (HLR). The base station periodically transmits the standard time to the terminal, and the current time of the base station and the terminal coincide with each other.

In some home appliances, a timer may be attached to set a start time or an operation time of the device according to a user's selection. Home appliances with a timer serve to increase convenience by providing a user with an opportunity to escape the immediate operation of the device.

The timer for a home appliance may incorrectly indicate the current time of shipment of the product. Thus, the timer has a reset function to allow the user to set the time.

Appliances must set the timer manually when initially used. Normally, timer setting items are date, day of the week, hour, minute, second, etc. and each item must be set by user. Some of the settings may be set automatically during the timer reset. For example, when a multi-year calendar is stored, the day of the week may be automatically set only by setting a date.

Conventionally, a method of manually setting a time by pressing a key external to the home appliance is adopted. For products with multiple keys, such as TVs, VCRs, and telephones, it is easier to enter the date, hour, minute, and day of the week.However, for kitchen appliances with few operation keys, several key manipulations are required when setting the time. There are disadvantages.

In addition, the time is reset when the power supply to the timer is interrupted due to a sudden power down or power plug drop. Therefore, the user must reset the time. There is a problem. As described above, the timer adopted for the purpose of increasing the convenience of the user may cause an adverse effect that causes inconvenience to the home appliance user.

Therefore, some home appliances store time information by embedding a backup battery in case of power failure. However, the method of operating the backup battery requires a separate battery, and may not function properly due to a functional defect of the battery or a poor contact between terminals.

In addition, since the timer embedded in the electric device does not have high precision, there is a problem in that an accumulative error occurs for a long time and inaccurately indicates the current time. If the current time is incorrect, the timer reservation function is not performed as the user intended. Therefore, the user must manually modify the timer time.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to automatically set a timer time of an electric appliance using a mobile communication terminal, thereby accumulating time error due to long time use of a timer. It is to provide a time setting automation device for an electric appliance using a mobile communication terminal to prevent.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a time setting automation device for an electric appliance using a mobile communication terminal to accurately set the timer time of the electric appliance by performing data exchange between the mobile communication terminal and the electric appliance having accurate time information through the power line To provide.

The third object of the present invention is to define a data communication procedure between a mobile communication terminal and an electric appliance, so that when the mobile communication terminal transmits time information, the timer time of the electric appliance is set according to the time information so that the timer time is set correctly. It is to provide a method for automating time setting of an electric appliance using a communication terminal.

1 is a block diagram of a time setting automation apparatus for an electric appliance using a mobile communication terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is an operation example of the time setting automation apparatus according to Figure 1;

3 is a flow chart of a method for automating time setting of an electric appliance using a mobile communication terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

110: electrical appliance 111: time setting control unit

112: time setting unit 113: transceiver

120: mobile communication terminal 121: time transmission control unit

122: transceiver

An apparatus for automatic time setting of an electric appliance using a mobile communication terminal of the present invention for achieving the above object includes a mobile communication terminal and an electric appliance, wherein the mobile communication terminal includes a transceiver for transmitting a radio signal according to a set method; ; When the time information request is received by the transceiver unit, and comprises a time transmission control unit for transmitting the time information of the terminal through the transceiver unit, the electrical apparatus includes a timer for counting time; A time setting controller for issuing a time information request to the mobile communication terminal and extracting time information from a wireless signal transmitted from the mobile communication terminal; A time setting unit for setting the timer time according to the time information extracted by the time setting controller; And receiving and transmitting the time information request of the time setting controller to the mobile communication terminal, and receiving and transmitting a radio signal from the mobile communication terminal to the time setting controller.

In the present invention according to this configuration, the mobile communication terminal has accurate standard time information for data exchange with the base station. Therefore, when the timer time of the electric appliance is set using the mobile communication terminal, the current time of the timer can be made highly accurate. Data exchange through wireless communication is performed between the mobile communication terminal and the electric appliance. Wireless communication is performed through a transceiver provided on both sides.

Here, the electric appliance indicates an electric appliance with a built-in timer. The electrical apparatus includes a transceiver for performing a radio signal exchange with a mobile communication terminal by using a radio frequency (RF) signal, and includes a time setting controller for performing a wireless communication procedure and a timer time setting procedure with the mobile communication terminal. It is made to include. The electrical apparatus further includes a time setting unit for operating in accordance with a control signal of the time setting controller to apply an electrical signal to the timer.

A mobile communication terminal wirelessly communicating with such an electric appliance includes a transceiver for processing an RF signal as in a conventional mobile communication terminal. In addition, the mobile communication terminal further includes a time transmission control unit. The time transmission control unit performs a function of wirelessly modulating the time information held in the terminal into a radio signal when the request for time information transmitted by the wireless device is received from the electronic device. Preferably, the time information is to be the current time of the terminal.

In addition, the time setting automation device of the electric appliance using the mobile communication terminal of the present invention for achieving the above object, in the mobile communication terminal and the electric appliance, the mobile communication terminal is a data transmission port for data exchange with external equipment Wow; When the time information request is input through the data transmission port, and comprises a time transmission control unit for transmitting the time information of the terminal through the data transmission port, the electrical apparatus comprises a timer for time counting; A time setting controller which issues a time information request when time setting of the timer is necessary and receives time information transmitted from the mobile communication terminal; A time setting unit for setting the timer time according to the time information received by the time setting controller; And a data transmission port for transmitting the time information request of the time setting controller to the mobile communication terminal and receiving time information of the mobile communication terminal, and a data transmission cable between the mobile communication terminal and the electric device. It is another feature that the data exchange is performed.

According to the present invention, the data communication between the mobile communication terminal and the electric apparatus is performed by using a data communication cable rather than a wireless communication method. The data communication cable may be implemented using a specific cable, but it is preferable to use a commercial power line that is easily accessible at home.

In order to transmit a signal through a data communication cable, a data communication port must be provided between a mobile communication terminal and an electric apparatus. Typically, the mobile communication terminal has a data communication port.

In the case of using a power line as a data communication cable, a power line transceiver for data conversion between a power line and a mobile communication terminal or an electric appliance should be provided. Power line transceivers are well known.

In addition, the time setting automation method of the electric appliance using the mobile communication terminal of the present invention for achieving the above object, if the time setting of the electric appliance is required, the time transmission control unit of the mobile communication terminal to the time information held in the terminal; Transmitting to an electric appliance, the electric appliance determining whether the time information is received from the mobile communication terminal; And when the time information is received from the mobile communication terminal, controlling the time setting unit of the electric appliance to set a timer time of the corresponding terminal according to the received time information. .

The present invention according to this configuration performs a transmission procedure for the exchange of time information between the mobile communication terminal and the electric appliance. Whether or not time setting is required is determined by the time sending control unit of the mobile communication terminal or the time setting control unit of the electric apparatus. In some cases, the user may input a specific key to determine whether to set the time.

If time setting is required, the time transmission control unit of the mobile communication terminal modulates the time information held in the terminal into a radio signal for wireless transmission or outputs it through a data transmission port. This procedure may be referred to as time information transmission.

The transmitted time information is received by the time setting controller of the electric appliance. The time setting controller outputs a control signal for setting the time of the timer based on the time information, and the time setting unit is controlled by this control signal to set the timer time.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

1 is a block diagram of a time setting automation device for an electric appliance using a mobile communication terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 is an operation example of the time setting automation device according to Figure 1, Figure 3 is a view of the present invention A flowchart of a method for automating time setting of an electric appliance using a mobile communication terminal according to an embodiment.

According to FIG. 1, an apparatus for automating time setting of an electric appliance includes an electric appliance 110 and a mobile communication terminal 120.

The electric appliance 110 has a built-in timer, general home appliances can be applied. In order for the time setting using the mobile communication terminal to be made, the electric appliance must be able to perform data exchange. In addition, the exchanged data must be interpreted to perform specific actions according to the data.

Thus, the electric appliance 110 includes a time setting controller 111 for controlling the time setting unit 112 by receiving time information, and a transceiver 113 for performing wireless communication according to a predetermined communication method, And a time setting unit 112 for setting a timer time under the control of the time setting control unit 111.

The mobile communication terminal 120 includes a transceiver 122, and includes a time transmission controller 121 for controlling a series of processes for receiving time requests and transmitting time information according to a specific procedure.

According to FIG. 2, wireless communication may be performed through the RF transceiver 220 and 320 between the mobile communication terminal 210 and the electric appliance 310. The RF transceivers 220 and 320 should be matched with each other, the function is achieved to the extent that the radio signal transmission between the mobile communication terminal 210 and the electrical appliance 310 is made. Therefore, the RF transceivers 220 and 320 extend the functions of the transceivers 113 and 122 included in the mobile communication terminal and the electric appliance. Here, the mounting form of the transceiver 113, 122 or the RF transceiver 220, 320 is not limited. Possible mounting forms are internal / external, integral / separable, and the like.

Meanwhile, data communication between the mobile communication terminal 210 and the electric appliance 310 may be performed by wire communication through a data transmission cable in addition to wireless communication.

That is, as shown in FIG. 2, a commercial power line may be adopted as the data transmission cable to perform data communication. Power line transceivers 230 and 330 are installed between the mobile communication terminal 210 and the power line 240 and between the electric appliance 310 and the power line 340 for data transmission through the power line.

In order to exchange data with the power line transceivers 230 and 330, the mobile communication terminal 210 and the electric appliance 310 should be provided with data transmission ports (not shown), respectively. Such a data transmission port may be implemented as a connection port suitable for data exchange through a wire.

The order in which data communication is performed between the mobile communication terminal 210 and the electric appliance 310 is the same regardless of the case of the wireless communication method or the power line communication.

Hereinafter, the time information transmission and time setting procedure between the mobile communication terminal and the electric appliance will be described.

Referring to FIG. 3, first, the time setting controller of the electric appliance determines whether time setting is necessary (S310).

In this embodiment, it is determined whether the time is set in the electric appliance.

If the time setting procedure is initiated according to a user's selection, the procedure may be started by pressing a specific button mounted on an electric apparatus or a specific key of the mobile communication terminal.

If it is determined that time setting is necessary, the time setting control unit of the electric apparatus transmits the time information request to the mobile communication terminal through a wireless or data cable (S320).

The time transmission controller determines whether a time information request is received in the mobile communication terminal (S330).

When the time information request is received, the time sending control unit transmits time information to the electric appliance that has made the request. At this time, the transmitted time information may be the current time of the terminal, the current time may include the year, month, date, day of the week, hours, minutes, seconds, and the like. The method of modulating and demodulating time information is not limited here.

The time information transmitted from the mobile communication terminal is transmitted to the time setting controller of the electric appliance. The time setting controller controls the time setting unit based on the received time information so that the timer time is set. Then, the current time of the timer corresponds to the current time of the mobile communication terminal (S340).

On the other hand, the procedure of steps S310 to S330 may be omitted. For example, the mobile communication terminal may automatically transmit time information at regular intervals regardless of the request of the electric appliance. Then, the timer time is automatically set in the electric appliances belonging to the range in which the time information of the mobile communication terminal is reached.

In another embodiment, the procedure of steps S310 to S330 may be omitted, and the time transmission controller may transmit time information only when the user selects a specific key or menu item on the mobile communication terminal. The other procedure for setting the timer by receiving the transmitted time information is as described above.

The embodiments described above are within the scope of changes, modifications, and equivalents of the present invention. Therefore, the claims of the present invention are not limited to the description of the present embodiment.

According to the apparatus for automatic time setting of an electric appliance using the mobile communication terminal of the present invention and the method thereof, by automatically setting the timer of the electric appliance, eliminating the trouble of manually setting the time during the initial use of the electric appliance and with high accuracy. It has the effect of setting the time.

In addition, when the present invention is applied, even if time information is reset due to unplanned power down or power failure, time setting is automatically performed within a considerable time, thereby minimizing time error of an electric appliance.

In addition, the present invention has the advantage that it is possible to prevent the accumulation of time error due to the long time use of the timer because it sets the timer time of the electric appliance periodically or according to the user's selection.

Claims (7)

In the mobile communication terminal and the electric appliance, The mobile communication terminal, A transceiver for transmitting a radio signal according to a set method; When the time information request is received by the transceiver, and comprises a time transmission control unit for transmitting the time information of the terminal through the transceiver, The electric appliance, A timer for counting time; A time setting controller for issuing a time information request to the mobile communication terminal and extracting time information from a wireless signal transmitted from the mobile communication terminal; A time setting unit for setting the timer time according to the time information extracted by the time setting controller; And a transmission and reception unit for receiving the time information request of the time setting controller and transmitting the received time information to the mobile communication terminal and receiving a wireless signal from the mobile communication terminal and transmitting the received radio signal to the time setting controller. Automated time setting device for electric appliances. In the mobile communication terminal and the electric appliance, The mobile communication terminal, A data transmission port for exchanging data with external equipment; When the time information request is input through the data transmission port, and comprises a time transmission control unit for transmitting the time information of the terminal through the data transmission port, The electric appliance, A timer for counting time; A time setting controller which issues a time information request when time setting of the timer is necessary and receives time information transmitted from the mobile communication terminal; A time setting unit for setting the timer time according to the time information received by the time setting controller; And a data transmission port for transmitting the time information request of the time setting controller to the mobile communication terminal and receiving time information of the mobile communication terminal. Automated time setting apparatus for an electric appliance using a mobile communication terminal, characterized in that the exchange of data through the data transmission cable between the mobile communication terminal and the electric appliance. The method of claim 2, And a power line transceiver for connecting data to the data transmission port of the mobile communication terminal and the data transmission port of the electric device, respectively, to perform data exchange through a power line. The data transmission cable is a time setting automation device for an electric appliance using a mobile communication terminal, characterized in that the power line. When the time setting of the electric appliance is necessary, the time sending control unit of the mobile communication terminal transmits the time information held in the terminal to the electric appliance, and the electric appliance determines whether the time information is received from the mobile communication terminal. (A) performing; If time information is received from the mobile communication terminal, the time setting controller of the electric appliance includes a step of controlling a time setting unit to set a timer time of the corresponding terminal according to the received time information. Method for automating time setting of an electric appliance using a mobile communication terminal. The method of claim 4, wherein in the step (a), the time transmission control unit, And determining that the time setting is required for each period previously set by the user of the mobile communication terminal, and transmitting time information to the electric device. The method of claim 4, wherein in the step (a), the time transmission control unit, When the user of the mobile communication terminal presses a specific key of the terminal, it is determined that the time setting is required to send the time information to the electric appliance, characterized in that the automatic time setting of the electric appliance using the mobile communication terminal . The method of claim 4, wherein Whether or not time setting is required in step (a) is determined by the time setting control unit of the electric appliance. When time setting of the electric appliance is required, the time setting control unit issues a time information request and transmits the request through the transceiver. And transmitting the time information held in the terminal to the electric apparatus when the time information request transmitted from the electric apparatus is received, when the time information request transmitted from the electric apparatus is received. Method for automating time setting of an electric appliance using a mobile communication terminal.