EP2302312A1 - Assembly and method for monitoring at least one household appliance - Google Patents
Assembly and method for monitoring at least one household appliance Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP2302312A1 EP2302312A1 EP09382180A EP09382180A EP2302312A1 EP 2302312 A1 EP2302312 A1 EP 2302312A1 EP 09382180 A EP09382180 A EP 09382180A EP 09382180 A EP09382180 A EP 09382180A EP 2302312 A1 EP2302312 A1 EP 2302312A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- household appliance
- assembly according
- monitoring unit
- food
- control unit
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D29/00—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
- F25D29/008—Alarm devices
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G08—SIGNALLING
- G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
- G08B21/00—Alarms responsive to a single specified undesired or abnormal condition and not otherwise provided for
- G08B21/02—Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
- G08B21/04—Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons responsive to non-activity, e.g. of elderly persons
- G08B21/0407—Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons responsive to non-activity, e.g. of elderly persons based on behaviour analysis
- G08B21/0423—Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons responsive to non-activity, e.g. of elderly persons based on behaviour analysis detecting deviation from an expected pattern of behaviour or schedule
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G08—SIGNALLING
- G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
- G08B21/00—Alarms responsive to a single specified undesired or abnormal condition and not otherwise provided for
- G08B21/02—Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
- G08B21/04—Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons responsive to non-activity, e.g. of elderly persons
- G08B21/0438—Sensor means for detecting
- G08B21/0484—Arrangements monitoring consumption of a utility or use of an appliance which consumes a utility to detect unsafe condition, e.g. metering of water, gas or electricity, use of taps, toilet flush, gas stove or electric kettle
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
- F25B2600/00—Control issues
- F25B2600/07—Remote controls
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D2500/00—Problems to be solved
- F25D2500/06—Stock management
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D2700/00—Means for sensing or measuring; Sensors therefor
- F25D2700/02—Sensors detecting door opening
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D2700/00—Means for sensing or measuring; Sensors therefor
- F25D2700/08—Sensors using Radio Frequency Identification [RFID]
Definitions
- the invention concerns an assembly for monitoring at least one household appliance according to the preamble of claim 1 as well as a method according to claim 14.
- especially advanced household appliances can be equipped with additional functions which detect information about the operation of said household appliance as well as about products, like food or other goods, introduced into the household appliance. Such information can be indicated in a display unit of the household appliance.
- This appliance comprises a control unit which detects at least one operational parameter of the household appliance and/or a product parameter about products to be introduced into the household appliance.
- the refrigerator comprises a RFID reader which detects the tags attached to products to be tracked.
- a refrigerator for managing food is known.
- This refrigerator has RFID readers that detect RFID tags attached to said food stored in a freezing and refrigerating compartment.
- the system has a data processing unit, a data storage section and a data input/output section.
- the refrigerator manages the food stored in each compartment and informs to the user.
- From the KR 102007116335-A a refrigerator with an RFID system and a method for displaying information on contents in the refrigerator for an effective management of contents is known.
- a food control type refrigerator for radio frequency identification is known.
- This is a food control type refrigerator for radio frequency identification tags, has a hollow structure storage container used to store food and fixed inside the refrigerator and comprises a radio frequency identification unit fixed on one side of the container.
- a refrigerator system for recognizing food by using single radio frequency identification is known.
- This is a refrigerator system using RFID, provided to control a plurality of antennas by using a single RFID reader for simplifying arrangement of the RFID reader. It has a system for switching the antennas.
- the system has a control unit for checking and storing a set of functioning parameters of a food refrigerator.
- a RFID reader reads data stored in a set of RFID tags attached to cold products.
- a communication unit connects the system to an external device.
- a radio frequency identification and personal digital assistant managing food in refrigerator is known. This consist of a food managing using RFID wherein, a personal digital assistant is provided to effectively manage a refrigerator and readily obtain information of foods in the refrigerator.
- a refrigerator for managing food information is known. This is a refrigerator for managing food information and shelf life by using an RFID tag to prevent waste of food by displaying item, shelf life and cost of food on a display unit and alarming food approaching the expiration date to a user.
- a food managing refrigerator for obtaining food data from RFID tags and setting circulation time with control knob is known.
- This is a refrigerator for managing food information and shelf life by using an RFID tag to prevent waste of food by displaying item, shelf life and cost of food on a display unit and alarming food approaching the expiration date to a user.
- food information management systems for automatic cooking of processed food are known from EP 1 172 752 A , JP 2002022177-A , US 2002059175-A and US 7096221-B2 .
- the systems are used for automatically cooking processed food in electric cooking utensils such as microwave cookers, electric ovens, etc.
- Food ID information specifying the food stored in information storage medium, e.g. bar code, integrated circuit, is read and sent to a food information center.
- the food information center retrieves information about food specified by food ID from a food database, and sends the information to the output unit.
- KR 102006011275-A a washing machine and a method thereof is known which is capable of automatically identifying kind of laundry loaded into drum and performing optimal washing in spite of different kinds of laundry.
- the object of the invention is to provide an assembly and a method for monitoring or managing at least one household appliance such that especially elder people with or without disabilities are supported in order to maintain a housekeeping which is essentially independent.
- control unit of said household appliance is linked with a monitoring unit.
- Said monitoring unit generates a user profile on the base of operational and/or product parameters which are detected by said control unit.
- said parameters are stored over the time in tabular form.
- product refers to any kind of goods which may be introduced into the household appliance, e.g. food to be introduced into the refrigerator. Alternatively, it can also be referred to laundry to be introduced into a washing machine or to food to be cooked in a microwave oven.
- Such information may refer the inventory of the household appliance, the dwell time of the products introduced as well as food with lapsed expiry dates or a malfunction of said household appliance.
- a nutritional protocol for the user which may be defined by his/her supervisor can be monitored on the base of the user profile generated by the monitoring unit. This may take place by comparing said user profile with a preset profile defined by the supervisor. On the basis of this comparison, said monitoring unit may generate a warning signal which indicates an external carer that the user has deviated from his/her nutritional protocol.
- the monitoring unit may be disposed directly at the household appliance.
- the operational and display elements of the monitoring unit may be directly disposed at the control panel of the household appliance.
- the monitoring of the user profile has to be conducted directly at said household appliance.
- the monitoring unit is located remotely from said household appliance and may be in bi-directional wireless communication with said household appliance.
- the monitoring unit may comprise operational and display elements which may be independent from the operational and display elements of the control panel of the household appliance. Therefore, the remote monitoring unit, receiving operational and product parameters from said control unit, can directly intervene on the control unit of the household appliance, for example remotely modify the temperature settings of the refrigerator.
- control unit can be linked with at least one RFID reader intended to read tags which are attached to products to be tracked. Said products can be tracked at predetermined times. Alternatively or in addition, this periodical scan can occur under certain conditions, e.g. when the door of the household appliance is opened.
- the household appliance integrated within the inventive assembly can especially be a refrigerator, a washing machine and/or a cooking device. If the household appliance is a refrigerator said monitoring unit may generate a shopping list in which products are listed after consumption.
- the control unit may detect laundry introduced into said washing machine or removed from said washing machine.
- the control unit may check the compatibility of the laundry introduced with a selected washing program. In case of incompatibility said control unit may generate a warning signal.
- the control unit may suggest and/or configure a washing program on the base of the laundry introduced into the washing machine. In case the control unit detects a bad mixture of laundry (e.g. clothes with different colours) it may generate a warning signal for the user.
- the household appliance can be embodied as a cooking device, especially as a microwave oven whose control unit may detect food introduced into said microwave oven. On the base of said food introduced, the control unit may suggest a suitable cooking program to the user. While conducting the cooking program, the control unit may display the present operational status, e.g. the time to end.
- a refrigerator comprising a cooling compartment 1 is shown which is enclosed by an appliance body 3 as well as an appliance door 5.
- the hollow spaces of said body 3 and said door 5 are filled with a heat insulating foam 7.
- an evaporator 9 is disposed which is integrated in a refrigeration cycle 10 in order to cool the cooling compartment 1.
- the actual temperature of the cooling department is detected by a temperature sensor 8 and passed to the control unit 11.
- the control unit 11 compares said actual temperature of the cooling compartment 1 with a preset temperature which is set by the user. On the base of this comparison the control unit 11 switches a compressor 15 integrated within the refrigeration cycle 10 on or off.
- the control unit 11 is linked with a control panel 19 which carries operational and/or display elements 17, 18.
- the control unit 11 is in wireless communication 21 with a monitoring unit 23 which is located remotely from the refrigerator.
- a monitoring unit 23 which is located remotely from the refrigerator.
- a user profile 25 can be generated which is shown in figure 2 .
- an external carer can be provided with statistical information about the actual inventory inside the cooling compartment 1, about the dwell time of the food A and B inside the cooling compartment 1, about food with lapsed expiry dates as well as about a malfunction of the refrigerator.
- control unit 11 comprises RFID readers 27 or RFID antennae which are integrated in the heat insulating foam 7.
- RFID readers 27 or RFID antennae which are integrated in the heat insulating foam 7.
- said food A, B inside the refrigerator needs a RFID tag with their respective information.
- the control unit 11 may detect various operational parameters of the refrigerator as well as product parameters of the food A, B introduced into the cooling compartment 1.
- product parameters S 1 to S 6 are, just as an example, listed in the user profile 25 shown in figure 2 .
- the product parameters S 1 to S 3 refer to food A
- the product parameters S 4 to S 6 refer to food B.
- the product parameters S 1 and S 4 of food A and B refer to information about whether the expiry date is exceeded or not.
- the product parameters S 2 and S 5 refer to information about whether the amount of food A or the amount of food B is more than a preset limit.
- the product parameters S 3 and S 6 refer to information about whether the actual dwell time of food A or food B inside the cooling compartment 1 of the refrigerator is more than a preset time.
- control unit 11 In addition to the product parameters S 1 to S 6 the control unit 11 also detects operational parameters S 7 and S 8 which refer to information about the operation of the refrigerator.
- the operational parameter S 7 refers to information about whether the door opening time is more than a preset time (in this case two minutes).
- the operational parameter S 8 refers to information about whether the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 8 inside the cooling compartment 1 is in a regular range between 2°C and 5°C.
- All of the product parameters and operational parameters S 1 to S 8 are analyzed in the control unit 11 which may generate an optical warning signal in the display element 18 of the control panel 19 in case of a malfunction or in case of a misoperation of the refrigerator.
- the monitoring unit 23 generates said user profile 25 already mentioned above on the base of the transmitted product and operational parameters S 1 to S 8 .
- the operational and product parameters S 1 to S 8 are listed over the time.
- an external carer can get an overview of the user habits and behaviors without intervening into the housekeeping of the user personally. For example, a nutritional protocol of the user can be monitored which may be preset by a supervisor of the user. If necessary, i.e. in case of any kind of deviation from the user profile 25, the external carer can personally intervene so as to support the user.
- control unit 25 also comprises operational and display elements 29, 30 by which the external carer can intervene remotely without actuating the operational elements 17 of said refrigerator. Moreover, the external carer can also get information about the actual state of operation of the refrigerator via the display element 30 of the monitoring unit 23.
- the monitoring unit 23 may also be in wireless communication 21 with a microwave oven 31 as is shown in the second embodiment of figure 3 .
- the control unit 11 of the microwave oven 31 is similarly to the first embodiment equipped with RFID readers 27 which detect food introduced. On the base of the detected food the control unit 11 may suggest a suitable cooking program to the user via the display element 18 of the microwave oven. Additionally, the control unit 11 can indicate the actual operation status while carrying out the cooking program, e.g. the time to end.
- control unit 25 is in wireless communication 21 with a washing machine 33.
- control unit 11 can detect laundry which is introduced into the washing machine 33 as well as removed therefrom.
- the control unit 11 may also check the compatibility of the laundry introduced with a selected washing program before the start of the washing program. In case of incompatibility the control unit 11 can generate a warning signal.
- control unit 11 may further suggest and/or configure a washing program on the base of the laundry introduced into the washing machine in order to avoid any maloperation of the user. If the control unit 11 detects laundry which is incompatible a warning signal may be generated.
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Emergency Management (AREA)
- Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
- Gerontology & Geriatric Medicine (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Thermal Sciences (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Psychiatry (AREA)
- Psychology (AREA)
- Social Psychology (AREA)
- Cold Air Circulating Systems And Constructional Details In Refrigerators (AREA)
Abstract
The invention refers to an assembly for monitoring at least one household appliance which comprises a control unit (11) which detects at least one product parameter (S1 to S6) with respect to goods (A, B), e.g. food or laundry, inserted into said household appliance, and/or an operational parameter (S7, S8) of said household appliance. Said control unit (11) is linked with a monitoring unit (23) which generates a user profile (25) on the base of the detected parameter (S1 to S8). In said user profile (25) said parameter (S1 to S8) is stored depending on the time (t), wherein a deviation of user activities relating to said household appliance from said user profile (25) is detectable by said monitoring unit (23).
Description
- The invention concerns an assembly for monitoring at least one household appliance according to the preamble of
claim 1 as well as a method according to claim 14. - Operating and managing household appliances in an easy way is of essence especially for elder people with or without disabilities in order to carry out a longer independent life. Therefore, especially advanced household appliances can be equipped with additional functions which detect information about the operation of said household appliance as well as about products, like food or other goods, introduced into the household appliance. Such information can be indicated in a display unit of the household appliance.
- From the
JP 2008 24 29 11-A - From the
KR 100837050-B1 KR 102007116335-A - From the
CN 101071015-A a food control type refrigerator for radio frequency identification is known. This is a food control type refrigerator for radio frequency identification tags, has a hollow structure storage container used to store food and fixed inside the refrigerator and comprises a radio frequency identification unit fixed on one side of the container. - From the
KR 102007091390-A - From the
US 2007236357-A1 andWO 2007115794-A1 a food refrigerator controlling and monitoring system is known. The system has a control unit for checking and storing a set of functioning parameters of a food refrigerator. A RFID reader reads data stored in a set of RFID tags attached to cold products. A communication unit connects the system to an external device. - From the
KR 102007006641-A - From the
KR 102006119580-A - From the
KR 102006008784-A - According to further prior art documents a food managing refrigerator for obtaining food data from RFID tags and setting circulation time with control knob is known. This is a refrigerator for managing food information and shelf life by using an RFID tag to prevent waste of food by displaying item, shelf life and cost of food on a display unit and alarming food approaching the expiration date to a user.
- Further, food information management systems for automatic cooking of processed food are known from
EP 1 172 752 AJP 2002022177-A US 2002059175-A andUS 7096221-B2 . The systems are used for automatically cooking processed food in electric cooking utensils such as microwave cookers, electric ovens, etc. Food ID information specifying the food stored in information storage medium, e.g. bar code, integrated circuit, is read and sent to a food information center. The food information center retrieves information about food specified by food ID from a food database, and sends the information to the output unit. - From
KR 102006011275-A - The above mentioned systems of the prior art do not have as an objective to enable elder people to maintain an essentially independent housekeeping without needing any external carer.
- The object of the invention is to provide an assembly and a method for monitoring or managing at least one household appliance such that especially elder people with or without disabilities are supported in order to maintain a housekeeping which is essentially independent.
- The object is solved by the features of
claim 1 or claim 14. Preferred further developments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims. - According to the characterizing portion of
claim 1 the control unit of said household appliance is linked with a monitoring unit. Said monitoring unit generates a user profile on the base of operational and/or product parameters which are detected by said control unit. In said user profile, said parameters are stored over the time in tabular form. Thus, any deviation of user activities with respect to the household appliance from the user profile can be detected. In this way, user behavior and habits can be monitored by e.g. an external carer who can detect any deviation from the user profile which could make it necessary for the external carer to support the user in his/her household. - The term "product" according to the present invention refers to any kind of goods which may be introduced into the household appliance, e.g. food to be introduced into the refrigerator. Alternatively, it can also be referred to laundry to be introduced into a washing machine or to food to be cooked in a microwave oven.
- For an external monitoring of the user habits and behaviors by an external carer it is preferable if statistical information can be derived from the user profile generated by said monitoring unit. Such information may refer the inventory of the household appliance, the dwell time of the products introduced as well as food with lapsed expiry dates or a malfunction of said household appliance.
- Especially, a nutritional protocol for the user which may be defined by his/her supervisor can be monitored on the base of the user profile generated by the monitoring unit. This may take place by comparing said user profile with a preset profile defined by the supervisor. On the basis of this comparison, said monitoring unit may generate a warning signal which indicates an external carer that the user has deviated from his/her nutritional protocol.
- In an embodiment of the invention, the monitoring unit may be disposed directly at the household appliance. In this case the operational and display elements of the monitoring unit may be directly disposed at the control panel of the household appliance. Thus, the monitoring of the user profile has to be conducted directly at said household appliance. However, it may be preferred if the monitoring unit is located remotely from said household appliance and may be in bi-directional wireless communication with said household appliance.
- The monitoring unit may comprise operational and display elements which may be independent from the operational and display elements of the control panel of the household appliance. Therefore, the remote monitoring unit, receiving operational and product parameters from said control unit, can directly intervene on the control unit of the household appliance, for example remotely modify the temperature settings of the refrigerator.
- For detecting products, the control unit can be linked with at least one RFID reader intended to read tags which are attached to products to be tracked. Said products can be tracked at predetermined times. Alternatively or in addition, this periodical scan can occur under certain conditions, e.g. when the door of the household appliance is opened.
- The household appliance integrated within the inventive assembly can especially be a refrigerator, a washing machine and/or a cooking device. If the household appliance is a refrigerator said monitoring unit may generate a shopping list in which products are listed after consumption.
- Alternatively, if the household appliance is embodied as a washing machine, the control unit may detect laundry introduced into said washing machine or removed from said washing machine. The control unit may check the compatibility of the laundry introduced with a selected washing program. In case of incompatibility said control unit may generate a warning signal. Furthermore, the control unit may suggest and/or configure a washing program on the base of the laundry introduced into the washing machine. In case the control unit detects a bad mixture of laundry (e.g. clothes with different colours) it may generate a warning signal for the user.
- Alternatively, the household appliance can be embodied as a cooking device, especially as a microwave oven whose control unit may detect food introduced into said microwave oven. On the base of said food introduced, the control unit may suggest a suitable cooking program to the user. While conducting the cooking program, the control unit may display the present operational status, e.g. the time to end.
- In the following, three embodiments of the invention are described with respect to the figures, in which
- figure 1
- shows in a diagram block the assembly according to the first embodiment comprising a refrigerator;
- figure 2
- shows a user profile in tabular form generated by said monitoring unit;
- figure 3
- shows the assembly according to the second embodiment comprising a washing machine; and
- figure 4
- shows the assembly according to the third embodiment comprising a microwave oven.
- In
figure 1 a refrigerator comprising acooling compartment 1 is shown which is enclosed by an appliance body 3 as well as anappliance door 5. The hollow spaces of said body 3 and saiddoor 5 are filled with a heat insulating foam 7. At the rear wall of the body 3 anevaporator 9 is disposed which is integrated in arefrigeration cycle 10 in order to cool thecooling compartment 1. The actual temperature of the cooling department is detected by a temperature sensor 8 and passed to thecontrol unit 11. Thecontrol unit 11 compares said actual temperature of thecooling compartment 1 with a preset temperature which is set by the user. On the base of this comparison thecontrol unit 11 switches acompressor 15 integrated within therefrigeration cycle 10 on or off. In order to predefine a temperature inside thecooling compartment 1 thecontrol unit 11 is linked with acontrol panel 19 which carries operational and/or displayelements - As may also be gathered from
figure 1 , thecontrol unit 11 is inwireless communication 21 with amonitoring unit 23 which is located remotely from the refrigerator. By means of the monitoring unit 23 auser profile 25 can be generated which is shown infigure 2 . On the base of theuser profile 25 an external carer can be provided with statistical information about the actual inventory inside thecooling compartment 1, about the dwell time of the food A and B inside thecooling compartment 1, about food with lapsed expiry dates as well as about a malfunction of the refrigerator. - In order to detect such kind of information the
control unit 11 comprisesRFID readers 27 or RFID antennae which are integrated in the heat insulating foam 7. In order to be detected said food A, B inside the refrigerator needs a RFID tag with their respective information. - In this way, the
control unit 11 may detect various operational parameters of the refrigerator as well as product parameters of the food A, B introduced into thecooling compartment 1. Such product parameters S1 to S6 are, just as an example, listed in theuser profile 25 shown infigure 2 . The product parameters S1 to S3 refer to food A, whereas the product parameters S4 to S6 refer to food B. In detail, the product parameters S1 and S4 of food A and B refer to information about whether the expiry date is exceeded or not. The product parameters S2 and S5 refer to information about whether the amount of food A or the amount of food B is more than a preset limit. Furthermore, the product parameters S3 and S6 refer to information about whether the actual dwell time of food A or food B inside thecooling compartment 1 of the refrigerator is more than a preset time. - In addition to the product parameters S1 to S6 the
control unit 11 also detects operational parameters S7 and S8 which refer to information about the operation of the refrigerator. For example, in this embodiment the operational parameter S7 refers to information about whether the door opening time is more than a preset time (in this case two minutes). The operational parameter S8 refers to information about whether the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 8 inside thecooling compartment 1 is in a regular range between 2°C and 5°C. - All of the product parameters and operational parameters S1 to S8 are analyzed in the
control unit 11 which may generate an optical warning signal in thedisplay element 18 of thecontrol panel 19 in case of a malfunction or in case of a misoperation of the refrigerator. - Moreover, the
monitoring unit 23 generates saiduser profile 25 already mentioned above on the base of the transmitted product and operational parameters S1 to S8. In theuser profile 25 the operational and product parameters S1 to S8 are listed over the time. - On the basis of said
user profile 25 statistical information about the actual inventory inside the refrigerator, about the dwell time of food A and food B as well as about lapsed expiry dates can be gathered. Thus, an external carer can get an overview of the user habits and behaviors without intervening into the housekeeping of the user personally. For example, a nutritional protocol of the user can be monitored which may be preset by a supervisor of the user. If necessary, i.e. in case of any kind of deviation from theuser profile 25, the external carer can personally intervene so as to support the user. - As can be further gathered from
figure 1 , thecontrol unit 25 also comprises operational anddisplay elements operational elements 17 of said refrigerator. Moreover, the external carer can also get information about the actual state of operation of the refrigerator via thedisplay element 30 of themonitoring unit 23. - In addition and/or alternatively the
monitoring unit 23 may also be inwireless communication 21 with amicrowave oven 31 as is shown in the second embodiment offigure 3 . Thecontrol unit 11 of themicrowave oven 31 is similarly to the first embodiment equipped withRFID readers 27 which detect food introduced. On the base of the detected food thecontrol unit 11 may suggest a suitable cooking program to the user via thedisplay element 18 of the microwave oven. Additionally, thecontrol unit 11 can indicate the actual operation status while carrying out the cooking program, e.g. the time to end. - In addition and/or alternatively, according to the third embodiment of
figure 4 thecontrol unit 25 is inwireless communication 21 with awashing machine 33. In this case thecontrol unit 11 can detect laundry which is introduced into thewashing machine 33 as well as removed therefrom. Thecontrol unit 11 may also check the compatibility of the laundry introduced with a selected washing program before the start of the washing program. In case of incompatibility thecontrol unit 11 can generate a warning signal. - Alternatively, the
control unit 11 may further suggest and/or configure a washing program on the base of the laundry introduced into the washing machine in order to avoid any maloperation of the user. If thecontrol unit 11 detects laundry which is incompatible a warning signal may be generated. -
- 1
- cooling compartment
- 3
- body
- 5
- door
- 7
- heat insulating foam
- 8
- temperature sensor
- 9
- evaporator
- 10
- refrigeration cycle
- 11
- control unit
- 15
- compressor
- 17, 18
- operational and display elements
- 19
- control panel
- 21
- wireless communication
- 23
- monitoring unit
- 25
- user profile
- 27
- RFID reader
- 29, 30
- operational and display elements
- 31
- cooking device
- 33
- washing machine
- S1 to S6
- product parameters
- S7, S8
- operational parameters
Claims (14)
- Assembly for monitoring at least one household appliance which comprises a control unit (11) which detects at least one product parameter (S1 to S6) with respect to goods (A, B), e.g. food or laundry, inserted into said household appliance, and/or an operational parameter (S7, S8) of said household appliance, characterized in that said control unit (11) is linked with a monitoring unit (23) which generates a user profile (25) on the base of the detected parameter (S1 to S8), and in which user profile (25) said parameter (S1 to S8) is stored depending on the time (t), wherein a deviation of user activities relating to said household appliance from said user profile (25) is detectable by said monitoring unit (23).
- Assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that on the base of said user profile (25) generated by said monitoring unit (23) a nutritional protocol of the user is monitored.
- Assembly according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that on the base of said user profile (25) generated by said monitoring unit (23) statistical information about the inventory of the household appliance, products with lapsed expiry dates, a malfunction of the household appliance or the like is detectable.
- Assembly according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that in said monitoring unit (23) a comparison of said generated user profile (25) with a, e.g. medically predefined user profile takes place, and in that said monitoring unit (23) indicates, if necessary, a warning signal on the base of said comparison.
- Assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that by means of said monitoring unit (23) said user operating said household appliance is monitored by an external carer.
- Assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said monitoring unit (23) is located separately from said household appliance, and especially linked with said household appliance by wireless connection (21).
- Assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the signal transmission (21) between the monitoring unit (23) and said household appliance takes place in a bi-directional way, and in that said monitoring unit (23) comprises operating and/or display elements (29, 30) by which said household appliance can be operated without using operating elements (17) of said household appliance.
- Assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said control unit (11) of said household appliance is linked with at least one RFID reader (27) intended to read different tags attached to products (A, B) to be tracked.
- Assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said detection of said goods or products (A, B) takes place at predetermined time intervals (t1, t2...) and/or takes place when the door (5) of the said household appliance is opened.
- Assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in case the household appliance is a refrigerator said monitoring unit (23) generates a shopping list of food after consumption.
- Assembly according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that in case the household appliance is a washing machine (33) said control unit (11) suggests and/or configures a washing program on the base of said laundry introduced into said washing machine (33) and generates a warning signal in case there is detected a bad mixture of laundry within said washing machine.
- Assembly according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that in case said household appliance is a cooking device (31), especially a microwave oven, said control unit (11) detects the food introduced into said cooking device (31) and suggests a cooking program adapted to said food introduced into said cooking device (31).
- Assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said control unit (11) indicates the present status of operation while an operational program of said household appliance is conducted, e.g. the time to end.
- Method for monitoring at least one household appliance especially carried out by an assembly according to one of the preceding claims.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP09382180A EP2302312A1 (en) | 2009-09-24 | 2009-09-24 | Assembly and method for monitoring at least one household appliance |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP09382180A EP2302312A1 (en) | 2009-09-24 | 2009-09-24 | Assembly and method for monitoring at least one household appliance |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP2302312A1 true EP2302312A1 (en) | 2011-03-30 |
Family
ID=41226170
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP09382180A Withdrawn EP2302312A1 (en) | 2009-09-24 | 2009-09-24 | Assembly and method for monitoring at least one household appliance |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP2302312A1 (en) |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE102013107369A1 (en) * | 2013-07-11 | 2015-01-15 | Rational Aktiengesellschaft | Method for creating and using a user profile of a cooking appliance and a cooking appliance |
CN109767611A (en) * | 2018-12-29 | 2019-05-17 | 珠海优特智厨科技有限公司 | Determination method, apparatus, storage medium and the electronic device of abnormality |
Citations (15)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP1172752A2 (en) | 2000-07-12 | 2002-01-16 | Dai Nippon Insatsu Kabushiki Kaisha | Food information management system |
WO2003044755A1 (en) * | 2001-11-08 | 2003-05-30 | Behavioral Informatics, Inc. | Monitoring a daily living activity and analyzing data related thereto |
US20050091996A1 (en) * | 2000-02-28 | 2005-05-05 | Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd. | Automatic refrigerator system, refrigerator, automatic cooking system, and microwave oven |
US20050137465A1 (en) * | 2003-12-23 | 2005-06-23 | General Electric Company | System and method for remote monitoring in home activity of persons living independently |
WO2005109303A2 (en) * | 2004-04-29 | 2005-11-17 | S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc. | Inventory management system using rfid |
KR20060008784A (en) | 2004-07-24 | 2006-01-27 | 주식회사 대우일렉트로닉스 | Refrigerator for management food information and circulation period using radio frequency identification |
US20060033625A1 (en) * | 2004-08-11 | 2006-02-16 | General Electric Company | Digital assurance method and system to extend in-home living |
KR20060119580A (en) | 2005-05-20 | 2006-11-24 | 손광범 | Food control system refrigerator |
KR20070006641A (en) | 2006-12-15 | 2007-01-11 | 장진석 | Marketing with rfid and pda |
US7196625B1 (en) * | 2003-10-27 | 2007-03-27 | Nguyen Thu H | Advanced food and/or drink organization and/or handling system |
US20070236357A1 (en) | 2006-04-05 | 2007-10-11 | Smartfreeze S.R.I. | System for the real time inventory and localization of refrigerating containers and related method |
CN101071015A (en) | 2006-05-12 | 2007-11-14 | 泰州乐金电子冷机有限公司 | Food management type electric refrigerator utilizing RFID |
KR20070116335A (en) | 2006-06-05 | 2007-12-10 | 주식회사 대우일렉트로닉스 | Refrigerator with rfid system and method for displaying an information of the contents in refrigerator |
KR100837050B1 (en) | 2007-04-02 | 2008-06-12 | 주식회사 대우일렉트로닉스 | Refrigerator with in rfid system |
JP2008242911A (en) | 2007-03-28 | 2008-10-09 | Hitachi Software Eng Co Ltd | Food purchase management support system |
-
2009
- 2009-09-24 EP EP09382180A patent/EP2302312A1/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (19)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20050091996A1 (en) * | 2000-02-28 | 2005-05-05 | Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd. | Automatic refrigerator system, refrigerator, automatic cooking system, and microwave oven |
US7096221B2 (en) | 2000-07-12 | 2006-08-22 | Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd. | Food information management system |
JP2002022177A (en) | 2000-07-12 | 2002-01-23 | Dainippon Printing Co Ltd | System for distribution and control of cooking information and food information |
US20020059175A1 (en) | 2000-07-12 | 2002-05-16 | Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd. | Food information management system |
EP1172752A2 (en) | 2000-07-12 | 2002-01-16 | Dai Nippon Insatsu Kabushiki Kaisha | Food information management system |
WO2003044755A1 (en) * | 2001-11-08 | 2003-05-30 | Behavioral Informatics, Inc. | Monitoring a daily living activity and analyzing data related thereto |
US7196625B1 (en) * | 2003-10-27 | 2007-03-27 | Nguyen Thu H | Advanced food and/or drink organization and/or handling system |
US20050137465A1 (en) * | 2003-12-23 | 2005-06-23 | General Electric Company | System and method for remote monitoring in home activity of persons living independently |
WO2005109303A2 (en) * | 2004-04-29 | 2005-11-17 | S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc. | Inventory management system using rfid |
KR20060008784A (en) | 2004-07-24 | 2006-01-27 | 주식회사 대우일렉트로닉스 | Refrigerator for management food information and circulation period using radio frequency identification |
US20060033625A1 (en) * | 2004-08-11 | 2006-02-16 | General Electric Company | Digital assurance method and system to extend in-home living |
KR20060119580A (en) | 2005-05-20 | 2006-11-24 | 손광범 | Food control system refrigerator |
US20070236357A1 (en) | 2006-04-05 | 2007-10-11 | Smartfreeze S.R.I. | System for the real time inventory and localization of refrigerating containers and related method |
WO2007115794A1 (en) | 2006-04-05 | 2007-10-18 | Smartfreeze S.R.L. | A system for remotely controlling and monitoring a food refrigerator and its content |
CN101071015A (en) | 2006-05-12 | 2007-11-14 | 泰州乐金电子冷机有限公司 | Food management type electric refrigerator utilizing RFID |
KR20070116335A (en) | 2006-06-05 | 2007-12-10 | 주식회사 대우일렉트로닉스 | Refrigerator with rfid system and method for displaying an information of the contents in refrigerator |
KR20070006641A (en) | 2006-12-15 | 2007-01-11 | 장진석 | Marketing with rfid and pda |
JP2008242911A (en) | 2007-03-28 | 2008-10-09 | Hitachi Software Eng Co Ltd | Food purchase management support system |
KR100837050B1 (en) | 2007-04-02 | 2008-06-12 | 주식회사 대우일렉트로닉스 | Refrigerator with in rfid system |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE102013107369A1 (en) * | 2013-07-11 | 2015-01-15 | Rational Aktiengesellschaft | Method for creating and using a user profile of a cooking appliance and a cooking appliance |
CN109767611A (en) * | 2018-12-29 | 2019-05-17 | 珠海优特智厨科技有限公司 | Determination method, apparatus, storage medium and the electronic device of abnormality |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US7861542B2 (en) | Refrigerator including food product management system | |
US7844509B2 (en) | Method and apparatus for monitoring depletion of an item | |
CN102564053B (en) | Refrigerator and method for controlling same | |
EP1615470B1 (en) | Cooking apparatus and method using barcode | |
US8226414B2 (en) | Generating policy driven meal plans | |
US20080047282A1 (en) | Method and apparatus for temperature based placement of an item within a storage unit | |
JP6576560B2 (en) | Refrigerator, network system including the same, living situation notification method, and living situation notification program | |
EP2176630A1 (en) | Oven with wireless temperature sensor for use in monitoring food temperature | |
CN106052242B (en) | The food control method and food management system of intelligent refrigerator | |
MX2007014401A (en) | Food temperature setting using wireless technology. | |
EP2306129A1 (en) | Refrigerator and method for operating a refrigerator | |
US10724757B2 (en) | Refrigeration system and device | |
US20190264975A1 (en) | Temperature-context-aware-refrigerator and method for controlling same | |
KR100557436B1 (en) | Refrigerator and method for managing stores therein | |
EP2302312A1 (en) | Assembly and method for monitoring at least one household appliance | |
KR100635990B1 (en) | Goods information management system of refrigerator using rfid technique | |
EP3742053B1 (en) | Cooking device | |
CN100569033C (en) | Cooking equipment and method | |
JP4591554B2 (en) | Refrigerator with inventory management function | |
AU2022340640A1 (en) | Cost efficient method for communicating from an appliance to an external device | |
DE102008041394A1 (en) | Contact less readable identification tag e.g. radio frequency identification tag, for use in e.g. baking oven, has distribution information stored in un-coded manner and product information stored in encoded manner | |
JP7467897B2 (en) | Food Management System | |
KR100870947B1 (en) | Temperature control refrigerator each an alone drawer | |
KR100660699B1 (en) | Refrigerator with user liking-pattern recognition function | |
KR101988827B1 (en) | Refrigerator integrated with label printer |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
PUAI | Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012 |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO SE SI SK SM TR |
|
AX | Request for extension of the european patent |
Extension state: AL BA RS |
|
STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN |
|
18D | Application deemed to be withdrawn |
Effective date: 20111001 |