Electronic device and method for registering thereof

A method for registering an electronic device in one embodiment includes broadcasting access information of an electronic device to be registered, receiving a request for communication connection based on the broadcast access information of the electronic device from a user terminal, transmitting a request for confirmation of a device corresponding to the received request for communication connection to the user terminal, receiving device confirmation information from the user terminal as a result of manipulation of a user, generating device authentication information based on the confirmation information, receiving access point (AP) access information from the user terminal, performing communication connection with an electronic-device managing server based on the received AP access information while transmitting identification information of the electronic device, and requesting registration of the device in a user account stored in the electronic-device managing server based on the transmitted identification information of the electronic device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2020-0108801, filed on Aug. 27, 2020, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Disclosed herein are an electronic device and a method for registering an electronic device.

BACKGROUND

Internet of Things (IoT) technologies denote intelligence technologies and services that connect all things based on the Internet, i.e., a network and that enable mutual communication between a human and a thing and between a thing and a thing based on information.

The IoT technologies are further advanced than the wired communication-based Internet or mobile Internet. Electronic devices, to which the IoT technologies are applied, can be connected through a network and perform their own functions under users' remote control. The IoT technologies seem to be similar to existing intelligence communication between things, e.g., M2M (Machine to Machine) communication. However, the M2M communication is mainly intended for communication between communication equipment and a user. The IoT technologies allow electronic devices, connected through a network, to interact with all the information in the real world and virtual world as well as things.

In recent years, the IoT technologies have served as a platform for smart home appliances. The IoT technologies enable various types of electronic devices, such as a refrigerator, a washing machine, an air conditioner and the like in a house, to connect through a network and allow a user to remotely control each of the electronic devices or ascertain an operation state of each of the electronic devices in real time.

To control the electronic devices in a house using the IoT technologies, the electronic devices to be controlled need to be registered on a network through a terminal for control, e.g., a mobile terminal such as a smartphone. As a related art concerning the IoT technologies, an artificial intelligence home appliance network system and a method for operating the same are disclosed in Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2018-0016022.

FIG.1shows a configuration of a network between an electronic device, to which the IoT technologies of the related art are applied, and a user terminal.

As illustrated inFIG.1, a user can remotely control an electronic device102(e.g., an air conditioner or a washing machine) in a house, or can confirm an operation state of the electronic device102in real time using a user terminal104(e.g., a mobile terminal or a tablet).

Specifically, the user executes an application for managing an electronic device102, installed on the user terminal104, and inputs an instruction for controlling the electronic device102or requests an inquiry into information on an operation state of the electronic device102. The user terminal104transmits a control instruction to an electronic-device managing server108or requests transmission of information on the electronic device102at the request of the user.

The electronic-device managing server108communicates with the electronic device102through an access point (AP)106installed in a house. The electronic-device managing server108delivers the control instruction input by the user to the electronic device102through the AP106or requests the electronic device102to transmit the information on the operation state of the electronic device102. The electronic device102is controlled under the control instruction input by the user, or transmits the information on the operation state of the electronic device102to the electronic-device managing server108through the AP106.

The electronic-device managing server108transmits the received information on the operation state of the electronic device102to the user terminal104. Through the above process, the user can remotely control the electronic device102or confirm the information on the operation state of the electronic device102in real time using the user terminal104.

To carry out the above process of managing the electronic device102, the electronic device102needs to be registered in the electronic-device managing server108as a device to be managed by the user. For the user to manage the electronic device102through the application for managing an electronic device102, a procedure of registering the electronic device102in the electronic-device managing server108as a device to be managed needs to be performed first.

FIGS.2to9respectively show a screen on a display of a user terminal during a process of registering an electronic device in the related art. In the embodiment ofFIGS.2to9, a standing air conditioner is given as an example of an electronic device102to be registered by a user.

As a result of execution of the application for managing an electronic device102by the user, an initial screen, as illustrated inFIG.2, is displayed on the display of the user terminal104. The user presses a registration button202to register the electronic device102.

As a result of the pressing of the registration button202on the initial screen inFIG.2by the user, a product selection screen, as illustrated inFIG.3, is displayed on the display of the user terminal104. A product group (e.g., an air conditioner/air care, an IoT hub) is displayed on the product selection screen. As a result of selection of any one (e.g., an air conditioner/air care) in the product group by the user, a product family (e.g., a wall-mounted air conditioner, a standing air conditioner, a split system air conditioner, an air cleaner, and a dehumidifier) included in the selected product group is displayed. In the embodiment ofFIG.3, the user selects the product group of air conditioner/air care204, to which the electronic device102to be registered belongs, and then selects the product family of standing air conditioner205, to which the electronic device102belongs.

As a result of the selection of the product family of the electronic device102to be registered by the user, a screen for requesting confirmation of product features of the electronic device102is displayed on the display of the user terminal104to confirm a product model of the electronic device102to be registered, as illustrated inFIG.4. In the related art, products that belong to the same product family but belong to different product models have different features. For example, a standing air conditioner that belongs to the product family of standing air conditioner and a product model A is provided with a Wi-Fi button on a control panel of a front surface thereof while a standing air conditioner that belongs to the product family of standing air conditioner and a product model B is not provided with a Wi-Fi button on a control panel of a front surface thereof. The user checks whether the Wi-Fi button is disposed on the control panel of the front surface of the electronic device102, and if so, the user presses a Yes button207, and if not, presses a No button208.

In the embodiment ofFIG.4, when the Wi-Fi button is confirmed on the control panel of the front surface of the electronic device102and the Yes button207is pressed by the user, the display of the user terminal104displays a guide message saying “Press the Wi-Fi button for three seconds”. When the No button208is pressed by the user, the display of the user terminal104displays another guide message as inFIG.5.

The user presses a specific button of a remote controller according to the guide message inFIG.5, and then checks whether the “Wi-Fi” icon flickers. The user presses a Yes button209or a No button210depending of results of the check.

As a result of activation of a Wi-Fi function of the electronic device102by the user according to the above guide message, the electronic device102operates as a soft AP for communication connection with the user terminal104. Accordingly, the electronic device102broadcasts its service set identifier (SSID) for communication connection.

The user activates the Wi-Fi function of the user terminal104according to the guide message on the screen illustrated inFIG.6, and inputs the SSID and a password of the electronic device102. Accordingly, the user terminal104performs communication connection with the electronic device102, and as a result, the user terminal104and the electronic device102can communicate mutually.

Then the user inputs an SSID212and a password214of the AP106in a house respectively according to the guide message on the screen inFIG.7. As a result of pressing of a connection button216by the user, the SSID212and password214of the AP106, input by the user, is transmitted to the electronic device102, and the electronic device102performs communication connection with the AP106based on the received SSID212and password214of the AP106.

As a result of completion of the electronic device102's communication connection with the AP106, the electronic device102performs communication connection with the electronic-device managing server108through the AP106, and requests the electronic-device managing server108to register the electronic device102as an electronic device to be managed. While the electronic device102performs a communication connection with the electronic-device managing server108and a registration request, a registration progress rate is displayed on the screen of the use terminal104, as illustrated inFIG.8.

Having received the request for registration from the electronic device102, the electronic-device managing server108registers the electronic device102in the user's account as an electronic device to be managed with reference to information (e.g., a product model, specifications and the like) on the electronic device102, transmitted by the electronic device102.

After completion of the registration, the initial screen is displayed again on the display of the user terminal104, as illustrated inFIG.9. In this case, an inquiry tab218for inquiring into information on the electronic device registered or controlling the electronic device registered is displayed on the initial screen. The inquiry tab218displays a power button220for powering on or off the electronic device102and an operation state of the electronic device102respectively.

In the related art described with reference toFIGS.2to9, complex and various procedures are required to register the electronic device102in the electronic-device managing server108, causing inconvenience to the user. In the related art, the user needs to directly confirm features of the electronic device102and directly input various types of information through the user terminal104during the confirmation of product features (FIGS.3to5), the communication connection (FIGS.6and7), and the like. Due to the complex and various procedures, the registration of the electronic device102causes inconvenience and difficulty to the user. Additionally, some users (e.g., the elderly) can have difficulty in manipulating the user terminal104.

Further, in the related art, for the user terminal104to perform communication connection with the electronic device102, access information (e.g., an SSID and a password) of the electronic device102needs to be broadcast as a result of additional manipulation of the user. Specifically, during the additional manipulation for broadcasting the access information of the electronic device102, the user needs to directly confirm features of the electronic device102such as a product name or a product version and the like of the electronic device102.

Thus, the user can find it difficult and inconvenient to confirm the features of the electronic device102. Furthermore, when the user checks the features of the electronic device102incorrectly, the registration of the electronic device102fails.

SUMMARY

Technical Problem

The objective of the present disclosure is to allow a user to register an electronic device in an account of the user as an electronic device to be managed only with a simple manipulation and small number of manipulations by broadcasting access information of the electronic device constantly.

The objective of the present disclosure is to automatically detect a service set identifier (SSID) of a device to be registered without an additional manipulation of a user and enable communication connection readily between an electronic device and a user terminal despite a user's lack of knowledge about features of an electronic device.

Aspects according to the present disclosure are not limited to the above ones, and other aspects and advantages that are not mentioned above can be clearly understood from the following description and can be more clearly understood from the embodiments set forth herein. Additionally, the aspects and advantages in the present disclosure can be realized via means and combinations thereof that are described in the appended claims.

Technical Solution

A method for registering an electronic device in one embodiment may include broadcasting access information of an electronic device to be registered including device information of the electronic device to be registered, receiving a request for communication connection based on the broadcast access information of the electronic device from a user terminal, transmitting a request for confirmation a device corresponding to the received request for communication connection to the user terminal, receiving device confirmation information from the user terminal as a result of manipulation of a user, generating device authentication information based on the confirmation information, receiving access point (AP) access information from the user terminal, performing communication connection with an electronic-device managing server based on the received AP access information while transmitting identification information of the electronic device, and requesting registration of the device in a user account stored in the electronic-device managing server based on the transmitted identification information of the electronic device.

The device information of an electronic device to be registered in one embodiment may include information on an operation mode, product family, model name and identification number of an electronic device to be registered, and the identification number may be differently set for each device to be registered.

The operation mode in one embodiment may include an AT mode and an AD mode, and broadcasting access information of an electronic device may include operating in the AT mode and then when preset conditions are satisfied, operating in the AD mode for a predetermined period of time.

Transmitting a request for confirmation of a device corresponding to the received request for communication connection to the user terminal in one embodiment may further include generating a confirmation signal while transmitting a request for confirmation of a device to the user terminal.

Receiving device confirmation information as a result of manipulation of the user in one embodiment may include receiving device confirmation information based on the user's button input of the generated confirmation signal.

An electronic device in one embodiment may include a wireless communicator configured to broadcast access information of an electronic device to be registered including device information of the electronic device to be registered, and to receive a request for communication connection based on the broadcast access information of the electronic device from a user terminal, a device authenticator configured to transmit a request for confirmation of a device corresponding to the received request for communication connection to the user terminal, to receive device confirmation information from the user terminal as a result of manipulation of a user, and to generate device authentication information based on the confirmation information, and a data manager configured to receive AP access information from the user terminal, to transmit identification information of the electronic device through the wireless communicator based on the received AP access information, to perform communication connection with an electronic-device managing server, and to request registration of the device in a user account stored in the electronic-device managing server based on the transmitted identification information of the electronic device.

The device information of an electronic device to be registered in one embodiment may include information on an operation mode, product family, model name and identification number of an electronic device to be registered, and the identification number may be differently set for each device to be registered.

The operation mode in one embodiment may include an AT mode and an AD mode, and the wireless communicator may operate in the AT mode and then when preset conditions are satisfied, operate in the AD mode for a predetermined period of time.

The electronic device in one embodiment may further include a display configured to generate a confirmation signal when the request for confirmation of a device is transmitted to the user terminal.

Receiving device confirmation information from the user terminal as a result of manipulation of the user in one embodiment may include receiving device confirmation information based on the user's input of the generated confirmation signal using a button on the display.

According to the present disclosure, a user may register an electronic device in an account of the user as an electronic device to be managed only with a simple manipulation and small number of manipulations by broadcasting access information of the electronic device constantly.

According to the present disclosure, an SSID of a device to be registered may be automatically detected without an additional manipulation of a user, and communication connection may be readily performed between an electronic device and a user terminal despite a user's lack of knowledge about features of an electronic device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The above-described aspects, features and advantages are specifically described hereunder with reference to the accompanying drawings such that one having ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure pertains can easily implement the technical spirit of the disclosure. In the disclosure, detailed description of known technologies in relation to the disclosure is omitted if it is deemed to make the gist of the disclosure unnecessarily vague. Below, preferred embodiments according to the disclosure are specifically described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, identical reference numerals can denote identical or similar components.

FIG.10shows a configuration of a network among a server, an electronic device, and a user terminal in one embodiment.

Referring to the drawing, a user may register an electronic device302in places such as a house or an office in the user's account, using an application installed on a user terminal304. The application installed on the user terminal304may be used to inquire into information on an operation of the electronic device302or control an operation of the electronic device302. The application installed on the user terminal304may be distributed by an electronic-device managing server308.

The user terminal304may be any terminal including a processor for processing an instruction or for calculation, a display for displaying various types of information, a voice input device (e.g., a microphone) capable of receiving a voice input by a user, a voice output device (e.g., a speaker) capable of outputting a voice, and a communication module capable of communicating with other devices. The user terminal304may include a mobile terminal such as a smartphone, a tablet, a desktop, a laptop and the like, for example, but not be limited. Hereunder, a smartphone may be given an as example of the user terminal304during description of the embodiment.

An access point (AP)306may connect to a communication line installed in places such as a house or an office and transmit wireless signals. The user terminal304and the electronic device302may be disposed in a range where the user terminal304and the electronic device302receive the wireless signals of the AP306. The AP306may receive the wireless signals transmitted by a device such as the user terminal304or the electronic device302that is connected to the AP306in a communicable manner to transmit the wireless signals outward through the communication line, or may convert signals input from the outside through the communication line into wireless signals to transmit the wireless signals. Accordingly, the electronic device302connected to the AP306may communicate with the electronic-device managing server308.

The electronic-device managing server308may communicate with the electronic device302through an AP306installed in a house. The electronic-device managing server308may deliver the control instruction input by the user to the electronic device302through the AP306or request the electronic device302to transmit the information on the operation state of the electronic device302. The electronic device302may be controlled under the control instruction input by the user, or may transmit the information on the operation state of the electronic device302to the electronic-device managing server308through the AP306.

The electronic-device managing server308may transmit the received information on the operation state of the electronic device302to the user terminal304. Through the above process, the user may remotely control the electronic device302or confirm the information on the operation state of the electronic device302in real time using the user terminal304.

To perform the above process of managing the electronic device302, the electronic device302needs to be registered in the electronic-device managing server308as a device to be managed by the user. Accordingly, in order for the user to manage the electronic device302through the application for managing an electronic device302, a procedure for registering the electronic device302in the electronic-device managing server308as a device to be managed needs to be performed first.

Referring back to the drawing, the electronic device302in one embodiment may include a wireless communicator32, a device authenticator34, a data manager36, and a display38.

The wireless communicator32may perform wireless communication with the user terminal304or the electronic-device managing server308through a wireless communication module. The wireless communication module may be a Wi-Fi module but not limited, and may be another module enabling wireless communication with an external device. The wireless communicator may also include a wireless communication antenna module such as a Bluetooth module, a NFC-based antenna module or IEEE, ZigBee, 3G (3RD generation), 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project), LTE (Long Term Evolution) and the like that performs communication based on a variety of communication standards, for example. Hereunder, a Wi-Fi module may be given as an example of the wireless communicator in this embodiment.

The wireless communicator32may broadcast access information of an electronic device302to be registered, when power is supplied to the electronic device302. The access information of an electronic device302to be registered may include device information of the electronic device302to be registered. The user terminal304may perform communication connection with the electronic device302based on the access information of the electronic device302, received from the wireless communicator32.

The access information of the electronic device302may be a service set identifier (SSID) of the electronic device302. In one embodiment, the access information of the electronic device302may include a password corresponding to the SSID.

The device information of an electronic device302to be registered may include at least one of the operation mode, type, model name and identification number of an electronic device to be registered.

The operation mode refers to a method of broadcasting the s SSID of an electronic device when the electronic device operates as a soft access point (Soft AP) using a wireless communicator. The operation mode may include an AT mode and an AD mode.

The AT mode may be a mode in which the electronic device302operates in a default mode when the user does not manipulate the electronic device302. In the AT mode of an SSID broadcast by the electronic device, the user terminal may detect the SSID only when an application provided by the electronic-device managing server308is executed, and may inform the user that there is a product to be registered. Thus, when the application is not executed, the user terminal may not inform the user that there is a product to be registered.

The AD mode may be a mode in which the electronic device302operates when preset conditions are satisfied. In the AD mode, the wireless communicator may transmit a push message to the user terminal304although an application is not executed on the user terminal. The specific conditions preset may differ depending on electronic devices. For example, when specific conditions, such as a condition in which the door of a refrigerator as the electronic device302is opened or a condition in which a dishwasher as the electronic device302is supplied with power, and the like, are satisfied as a result of an act of the user, the wireless communicator may operate in the AD mode. In this case, the wireless communicator32may transmit a push message, indicating that there is an electronic device to be registered, to the user terminal304although the user does not use the application.

Specific conditions and operation time for the AD-mode operation of electronic devices may be set in advance depending on each product family. Specifically, the electronic devices may operate in the AT mode constantly, and when the specific conditions preset are satisfied as a result of an act of the user, may operate in the AD mode for a predetermined period of time.

Suppose that the electronic device is a refrigerator. The refrigerator operates in the AT mode, and then when the user opens the door of the refrigerator, the refrigerator may operate in the AD mode for 15 minutes. In this case, although the application on the user terminal is not executed, the wireless communicator may transmit a push message, indicating there is an electric device to be registered, to the user terminal. Accordingly, the user may recognize the electronic device to be registered and may be encouraged to register the electronic device to be registered. After the predetermined period of time, the mode of the electronic device may change from the AD mode to the AT mode again.

Each electronic device may provide its SSID in a different operation mode depending on a product family of the electronic device or depending on whether specific conditions are satisfied even in the same product family. That is, when the electronic device operates in the AT mode, an SSID broadcast by the electronic device (e.g., an air conditioner) may be “AT_AIRCON”, and when the electronic device operates in the AD mode, an SSID broadcast by the electronic device (e.g., an air conditioner) may be “‘AD_AIRCON”. When the electronic device operates in the AD mode during the process of registering the electronic device, the user terminal may inform the user that there is an electronic device to be registered using a push message.

A product family of an electronic device to be registered may include all types of home appliances such as a washing machine, a vacuum cleaner, a refrigerator, an air conditioner, a dishwasher and the like that are used at home or all types of electronic devices that are provided therein with an electronic circuit, operate under the electronic control and are registered in the electronic-device managing server308.

In one embodiment, the SSID of the electronic device302may set differently for each product family of the electronic device302. For example, when the electronic devices302belong to the product family of air conditioner and operate in the AT mode, the air conditioners may be given the same SSID, e.g., “‘AT_AIRCON’”, regardless of the types (a standing air conditioner or a wall-mounted air conditioner) or the product models of the air conditioners. In another example, a standard version of refrigerators or a high-end version of refrigerators may all be given the same SSID, e.g., “AT_REFRIG”.

The model name may be a combination of numbers or characters assigned in advance to identify each of the product family and types of electronic devices. In the case of an air conditioner, a standing air conditioner having a model name of “A82” and operating in the AT mode may be given an SSID of “AT_AIRCON_A82”, and a wall-mounted air conditioner having a model name of “B24” and operating in the AT mode may be given an SSID of “AT_AIRCON_B24” that is different from the SSID of “AT_AIRCON_A82”. Additionally, the same type of standing air conditioners may have a different model name depending on their release dates and their product grades.

The identification number may be a combination of numbers or characters, which is unique to each electronic device and may be used to distinguish the electronic device from another electronic device. Accordingly, the same type of electronic devices, and electronic devices having the same model name may have different identification numbers. The identification number may be a MAC address or a serial number, and may be a different value for each device to be registered. For example, standing air conditioners having the same model name (A82) may have different identification numbers. Accordingly, each of the standing air conditioners operating in the AT mode may respectively have an SSID of “AT_AIRCON_A82_E015”, “AT_AIRCON_A82_E583”, “AT_AIRCON_A82_E599” and the like that are different from one another.

The wireless communicator32, as described above, may broadcast an SSID of an electronic device302to be registered, including information on the operation mode, product family, model name and identification number of the electronic device302. Accordingly, the user may recognize the type of the electronic device only with the SSID of the electronic device302and readily register the electronic device.

Additionally, the wireless communicator32may broadcast the SSID of the electronic device302constantly without the user's additional manipulation. Accordingly, the user may register the electronic device as an electronic device to be managed in a user account based on a simple manipulation and a small number of manipulations.

The device authenticator34may ascertain whether the electronic device302connected to the user terminal304in a communicable manner is a device the user wants to register, and may generate device authentication information. Specifically, when the user terminal304connects to the electronic device302in a communicable manner using the SSID, the device authenticator34may request the user terminal to confirm the device and request a display38to generate a confirmation signal. When receiving the confirmation information in relation to the request for confirmation of the device from the display, the device authenticator34may generate device authentication information.

The display38may display a variety of operation states of the electronic device302. The display38may be provided with a liquid crystal display (LCD), a plasma display panel (PDP), a Light emitting diode (LED), an organic light emitting diode (OLED) and the like, and may include a means of input such as a button, a keypad or a touch pad.

The display38may allow a lamp of the display to flicker or output a notification sound periodically to generate a confirmation signal in response to the request for generation of a confirmation signal. Further, when the display generates a confirmation signal in response to the request for confirmation of the device, transmitted to the user terminal, the user may manipulate the device through the means of input of the display38. Under the assumption that a flicker of the lamp of the display denotes a request for generation of a confirmation signal, the user may confirm the flicker of the lamp in response to the request for confirmation of the device, and then press the button on the display38of the electronic device302to respond to the request for confirmation of the device.

Even when the electronic device302directly broadcasts the SSID, an electronic device in a neighbor's house, or an electronic device unintended may connect to the user terminal304due to the structure in a house, disposition of the electronic device302, interference with an SSID of another electronic device, or the user's mistake and the like. Accordingly, the user may ascertain whether a device that is to be registered and that the user wants to connect connects to the user terminal correctly based on the request for confirmation of the device, the user's response to the request for confirmation of the device, and the generation of the device authentication information.

The data manager36may transmit identification information of the electronic device to the electronic-device managing server308at the same time as the wireless communicator32requests registration of the device in the user account stored in the electronic-device managing server308. The identification information of the electronic device302may include information such as its model name, its model number, and its serial number. The electronic device302may be registered in the user account stored in the electronic-device managing server when the access information of the device does not correspond to an exceptional case in the electronic-device managing server308. One or more electronic devices may belong to a single user account.

The exceptional case may include all cases related to disruption in wireless communication such as a case where AP access information is input incorrectly, a case where standby time for registration of the electronic device exceeds predetermined time since the user does not make any response to the request for confirmation of the device, a case where a communication error occurs in the electronic-device managing server308, and the like. If the exceptional case occurs, the electronic device302may not be registered and undo communication connection with the user terminal. During the AD-mode operation in the exceptional case, the mode of the electronic device302may change to the AT mode while the electronic device302undoes communication connection with the user terminal.

According to the present disclosure, electronic devices belonging to the same product family may respectively have a different SSID. In the related art, electronic devices belonging to the same product family (e.g. an air conditioner, a washing machine, a clothes dryer, a refrigerator and the like) have the same SSID. When the user confirms the specific features or the product model of an electronic device incorrectly, the electronic device may not communicate, and registration of the electronic device may fail. According to the present disclosure, the user may readily distinguish different SSIDs of electronic devices, and without the user's manipulation, the SSID of an electronic device to be registered may be automatically detected and the electronic device may be easily registered. Thus, the registration of the electronic device is less likely to fail.

FIGS.11to18respectively show a screen on a display of a user terminal during a process of registering an electronic device in one embodiment.FIG.19is a flow chart showing a method for registering an electronic device in one embodiment. Hereinafter, a method for registering an electronic device in the embodiment is described with reference toFIGS.11to19.

The user may execute an application for managing an electronic device installed on the user terminal304. Though not illustrated, the user may input user account information of the user when executing the application for the first time.

As a result of execution of the application for managing an electronic device by the user, an initial screen inFIG.11may be displayed on the screen of the user terminal304. When there is no product registered after the execution of the application for managing an electronic device, a message indicating that no product is registered may be displayed as inFIG.11.

The user terminal304may detect SSIDs of the electronic device302, broadcast by the wireless communicator32of the electronic device302(502), and display a list of the detected SSIDs of the electronic device on the display screen of the user terminal304to provide the list to the user (504).

As illustrated inFIG.12, there may be a plurality of detected SSIDs of the electronic device, and the plurality of SSIDs may all be displayed on the screen of the user terminal.

In this case, as long as the user executes the application provided by the electronic-device managing server308, the SSIDs of the electronic device may be broadcast without any manipulation, and the user terminal304may detect the SSIDs of the electronic device in real time. Accordingly, the electronic device may readily connect although the user is not aware about the model name or the product number of the electronic device.

Referring to an SSID popup window403inFIG.12, an SSID (“AT_AIRCON_A82_E015”) of an air conditioner, and an SSID (“AT_DISHWASER_K531_Q593”) of a dishwasher may be displayed on the display of the user terminal. The user may press “AT_AIRCON_A82_E015” to register the air conditioner when the user wants to register the air conditioner. Even though the user is not aware about the model name or the product number of the air conditioner, the user may recognize “AT_AIRCON_A82_E015” as the SSID of the electronic device the user wants to register.

In one embodiment, access information of the electronic device302may include a password corresponding to the SSID.FIG.13shows a screen displayed on the screen of the user terminal when the user presses “AT_AIRCON_A82_E015” inFIG.12.

Referring to a password popup window404inFIG.13, the user may input the password based on a guide on the screen. For example, the password of the SSID ‘AT_AIRCON_A82_E015’ is ‘E015E015’, which is a character in which the last four digits and letters of the SSID are repeated twice. Accordingly, the user may input “E015E015” as the password (506).

Then when the wireless communicator32receives information on a selection of the SSID of the electronic device and a request for communication with the electronic device from the user terminal304(508), the device authenticator34may request the user terminal304to confirm the device (510) and may request the display38to generate a confirmation signal (512).

The display38may allow the lamp of the display to flicker, or output a notification sound on a regular basis to generate the confirmation signal in response to the request for generation of a confirmation signal (513). Further, the user may manipulate the device using a means of input of the display38after the display generates the confirmation signal according to an instruction in response to the request for confirmation of the device, transmitted to the user terminal (514).

Referring toFIG.14, a flicker of the lamp of the display of the electronic device may denote the request for generation of a confirmation signal, and “Press the Wi-Fi button on the front surface of the product.” may denote the request for confirmation of the device, transmitted to the user terminal. Accordingly, the user may ascertain the flicker of the LED in response to the request for confirmation of the device, and then may press the Wi-Fi button of the display38of the electronic device302to respond to the request for confirmation of the device (516).

When receiving the response to the request of confirmation of the device, the display38may deliver confirmation information to the device authenticator34(518), and the device authenticator34may generate device authentication information on the electronic device based on the confirmation information (520).

The user may ascertain whether the device that is to be registered and that the user wants to connect connects to the user terminal correctly based on the request for confirmation of the device, the user's response, and the generation of device authentication information.

The device authenticator34may deliver the generated device authentication information to the data manager36(522), and the data manager36, as illustrated inFIG.15, may make a request for AP access information to the user terminal304(524).

The user may respectively input a SSID412and a password414of an access point (528) in response to the user terminal304's request for input of AP access information (526). As a result of input of the access information of the AP306and pressing of a connection button416by the user, the user terminal304may deliver the access information of the AP306to the data manager36(530).

Then the data manager36may make a request for communication connection to the electronic-device managing server308while transmitting the AP access information and the identification information of the electronic device to the wireless communicator32(532), and the wireless communicator32may attempt to communicate with the electronic-device managing server308based on the AP access information of the data manager36(533). In this case, as a result of communication with the electronic-device managing server308, the wireless communicator32may make a request for registration of the electronic device to be registered in the user account (534).

The identification information of the electronic device may include information on the model name, the model number, and the serial number of the electronic device. When the identification information of the electronic device302does not correspond to an exceptional case in the electronic-device managing server308, the electronic device302may be registered in the user account stored in the electronic-device managing server308after standby time for registration, as inFIG.16(536). When the electronic device is registered in the user account of the electronic-device managing server, the electronic-device managing server308, as illustrated inFIG.17, may inform the user that the electronic device is registered, through the user terminal304(538).

The exceptional case may include a case where AP access information is input incorrectly, a case where standby time for registration of the electronic device exceeds predetermined time since the user does not make any response to the request for confirmation of the device, a case where a version of the electronic device does not match a version used by the electronic-device managing server, a case where a communication error occurs in the electronic-device managing server308, and the like. In the exceptional case, the electronic device302may not be registered and undo communication connection with the user terminal. During the AD-mode operation in the exceptional case, the mode of the electronic device302may change to the AT mode while the electronic device302undoes communication connection with the user terminal.

FIG.18shows an initial screen displayed on the use terminal304after completion of registration of the electronic device302. An inquiry tab418for inquiring into information on the electronic device302registered or controlling the electronic device302registered may be displayed on the initial screen. A power button420for powering on or off the electronic device302and information (cooling, 29° C.) on an operation of the electronic device302may be respectively displayed on the inquiry tab418. The user may press a registration button402on the initial screen to register another electronic device additionally, and when an SSID of another electronic device is detected, the use terminal may detect the SSID and provide a list of devices to be registered to the user.

In the above-described embodiment, since the wireless communicator32of the electronic device may broadcast the SSID of the electronic device without the user's additional manipulation, the user may register the electronic device only by selecting the detected SSID. Thus, from the user's perspective, the electronic device302may be registered with a simple manipulation and a small number of manipulations, thereby reducing time spent on registering the electronic device302.

In the embodiment, the electronic device may broadcast the identification information of the electronic device, including various types of information. Thus, communication connection may be readily performed between the electronic device and the user terminal despite the user's lack of knowledge about features of the electronic device302, and the registration of the electronic device302may be less likely to fail.

The embodiments are described above with reference to a number of illustrative embodiments thereof. However, the present disclosure is not intended to limit the embodiments and drawings set forth herein, and numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by one skilled in the art without departing from the technical spirit of the disclosure. Further, the effects and predictable effects based on the configurations in the disclosure are to be included within the range of the disclosure though not explicitly described in the description of the embodiments.