Method of a robotic cleaning device

Abstract

A robotic cleaning device configured to control operation of a cleaning program in progress is provided. The robotic cleaning device has a propulsion system configured to move the device, at least one battery configured to power the device, and a controller configured to receive an instruction to pause the cleaning program in progress, control, in response to the instruction to pause, the propulsion system to cause the device to travel to a charging station to recharge the device battery, receive a further instruction to resume the cleaning program that was in progress upon receiving the instruction to pause, and resume, in response to the further instruction, the cleaning program that was in progress upon receiving the instruction to pause.

1 . A method of controlling operation of a robotic cleaning device during a cleaning program in progress, the method comprising:
 receiving an instruction to pause the cleaning program in progress;   travelling, in response to the instruction to pause, to a charging station to recharge a robotic cleaning device battery;   receiving a further instruction to resume the cleaning program that was in progress upon receiving the instruction to pause; and   resuming, in response to the further instruction, the cleaning program that was in progress upon receiving the instruction to pause.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the instruction to pause is received from the battery indicating low power. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the instruction to pause is received from a user. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 recording, in response to the instruction to pause, a current robotic cleaning device position; and   wherein the resuming of the cleaning program comprises:
 travelling to the recorded robotic cleaning device position for resuming the cleaning program that was in progress upon receiving the instruction to pause. 
   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 recording, in response to the instruction to pause, a next robotic cleaning device position as stipulated by the cleaning program; and   wherein the resuming of the cleaning program comprises:
 travelling to the recorded next robotic cleaning device position for resuming the cleaning program that was in progress upon receiving the instruction to pause. 
   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the further instruction is configured to cause the robotic cleaning device to immediately resume the paused cleaning program upon being received, or to resume the paused cleaning program after a set time period has elapsed as indicated by the further instruction. 
     
     
         7 . A robotic cleaning device configured to control operation of a cleaning program in progress, the robotic cleaning device comprising:
 a propulsion system configured to move the robotic cleaning device;   at least one battery configured to power the robotic cleaning device; and   a controller configured to:
 receive an instruction to pause the cleaning program in progress; 
 control, in response to the instruction to pause, the propulsion system to cause the robotic cleaning device to travel to a charging station to recharge the robotic cleaning device battery; 
 receive a further instruction to resume the cleaning program that was in progress upon receiving the instruction to pause; and 
 resume, in response to the further instruction, the cleaning program that was in progress upon receiving the instruction to pause. 
   
     
     
         8 . The robotic cleaning device of  claim 7 , wherein the instruction to pause is received from the battery indicating low power. 
     
     
         9 . The robotic cleaning device of  claim 7 , wherein the instruction to pause is received from a user via a robotic cleaning device user interface. 
     
     
         10 . The robotic cleaning device of  claim 7 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 record, in response to the instruction to pause, a current robotic cleaning device position; and   upon resuming the cleaning program, control the propulsion system to cause the robotic cleaning device to travel to the recorded robotic cleaning device position for resuming the cleaning program that was in progress upon receiving the instruction to pause.   
     
     
         11 . The robotic cleaning device of  claim 7 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 record, in response to the instruction to pause, a next robotic cleaning device position as stipulated by the cleaning program; and   upon resuming the cleaning program, control the propulsion system to cause the robotic cleaning device to travel to the recorded next robotic cleaning device position for resuming the cleaning program that was in progress upon receiving the instruction to pause.   
     
     
         12 . The robotic cleaning device of  claim 7 , wherein the further instruction is configured to cause the robotic cleaning device to immediately resume the paused cleaning program upon being received, or to resume the paused cleaning program after a set time period has elapsed as indicated by the further instruction. 
     
     
         13 . A computer program comprising computer-executable instructions stored in a non-transitory storage medium, the instructions being configured to cause a robotic cleaning device to perform the steps recited in  claim 1  when the computer-executable instructions are executed on a controller included in the robotic cleaning device. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled)