Patent ID: 9372010
Filing Date: 2016-06-21
CPC Classification: F24F

Claim Text:
1. An apparatus in communication with and configured to control one or more outdoor devices, wherein the apparatus comprises: a first communication module connected to an external weather information providing server and configured to receive a weather information of an area in which the one or more outdoor devices are installed; a comparison module configured to compare the weather information with pre-set weather conditions and generate a signal for activating or deactivating the freeze prevention function of the one or more outdoor devices based on comparing the weather information with the pre-set weather condition; and a second communication module configured to transmit the signal to the one or more outdoor devices, wherein the apparatus activates or deactivates a freeze prevention function of the one or more outdoor devices on the basis of the signal for activating or deactivating the freeze prevention function, wherein when the freeze prevention function of the one or more outdoor devices is activated, the apparatus compares state information and operation information of the corresponding one or more outdoor devices with pre-set operation conditions in order to start or terminate the freeze prevention function of the corresponding one or more outdoor devices, and starts or terminates the freeze prevention function of the corresponding outdoor device based on the comparing of the state information and the operation information with the pre-set operation conditions, wherein the state information and the operation information are received from each of the one or more outdoor devices, wherein the one or more outdoor devices, for which the freeze prevention function is started, drive a fan of the corresponding one or more outdoor devices at a predetermined speed for a predetermined period of time, and wherein the weather information includes information related to temperature, humidity, rainfall probability, an amount of rainfall, a probability of precipitation, and/or an amount of precipitation.