Methods of remote control of appliances

Abstract

A system and methods for remote control of one or more appliances are provided. An external computing device, such as a mobile device, may be registered and associated with an appliance to be remotely controlled and monitored. The external computing device and the appliance to be remotely controlled by the external computing device may each be in communication with an external server via a network. When a remote control mode of the appliance is enabled, a selected operation of the appliance may be carried out in response to a remote control command generated by the external computing device.

1 . A method of controlling an appliance in a network, the method including:
 enabling communication between a communication device of the appliance and an external device via the network and a server external to the network;   enabling a remote control mode of the appliance;   receiving, by the appliance, a first input including a selection of an operation to be executed by the appliance;   receiving, by the appliance, a second input, from the external device via the server; and   executing the selected operation in response to the second input, wherein receiving a first input includes:
 receiving the first input through a control panel of the appliance, or receiving the first input by the communication device of the appliance from the external device via the external server and the network; 
 wherein, when the first input is received through the control panel of the appliance, the remote control mode is enabled after receiving the first input; and 
 wherein when the first input is received by the communication device via the external server and the network, the remote control mode is enabled before receiving the first input. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving a first input includes:
 receiving, through the control panel of the appliance, the selection of the operation including at least one operating parameter associated with the operation; and   thereafter enabling the remote control mode of the appliance, including receiving, through the control panel of the appliance, a pause command and pausing execution of the selected operation in response to the pause command.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 receiving a first input at the control panel of the appliance comprises selecting the operation to be executed and executing the operation; and   receiving a second input from the external device comprises receiving an input from the external device changing at least one operating parameter of the operation being executed.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 detecting one of a plurality of disabling events while operating the appliance in the remote control mode, the plurality of disabling events including an opening of a door of the appliance detected by a door sensor of the appliance, a period of time elapsed between receiving the first input and receiving the second input exceeding a preset threshold, a period of inactivity of the appliance exceeding a preset threshold, or receiving of a cancel command through the control panel of the appliance or from the external device via the external server and the network.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 disabling the remote control mode and terminating operation of the appliance in response to detection of the one of the plurality of disabling events.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 detecting at least one of:
 a set motion external to the appliance captured by a motion sensor of the appliance; 
 a set image external to the appliance captured by an image sensor of the appliance; or 
 the external device within a set proximity of the appliance; and 
 maintaining operation of the appliance based on the detection of at least one of the set motion, the set image, or the external device within the set proximity. 
   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein maintaining operation of the appliance based on the detection of at least one of the set motion, the set image, or the external device within the set proximity includes:
 sending, by the appliance via the network, a verification request to the external device, the verification request including information related to the detected disabling event and the detected at least one of the set motion or the set image;   receiving, by the appliance, from the external device via the network, a verification command in response to the verification request; and   maintaining operation of the appliance in response to the verification command.