ELECTRONIC DEVICE, SYSTEM AND OPERATION METHOD OF THEREOF

An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a communication module, a position sensor, and a processor. The processor is configured to obtain information of an external electronic device including status information of the external electronic device, position information of the external electronic device, and network information related to the external electronic device from a server through the communication module, check whether the external electronic device is in an offline state, based on the information, check whether the electronic device enters within a designated area at a position of the external electronic device, based on the position information of the electronic device obtained from the position sensor, in response to the external electronic device being in the offline state, scan a network through the communication module to check the network information in response to the electronic device being positioned in the designated area, and transmit the network information to the external electronic device in response to the network being different from the network information related to the external electronic device.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosure relates to an electronic device, a system, and an operation method thereof. More particularly, the disclosure relates to an electronic device, a system, and an operation method thereof, such that when a network is changed, an external electronic device is reconnected to a server.

BACKGROUND ART

Internet of things (IoT) refer to devices having functions for transmitting/receiving information through networks such that information can be transmitted/received through the networks. IoT has recently been also applied to home appliances (for example, refrigerators, washing machines, dishwashers) such that smart refrigerators, smart washing machines, and smart dishwashers are widely used.

In general, such IoT devices may be connected to a server (for example, SmartThings cloud) and controlled in an IoT environment in which a user identifies the status of the devices through a terminal application (for example, SmartThings app) and deliver commands to the IoT devices.

Specifically, IoT devices may be connected to a server (or cloud) by being hub-connected through a network (for example, ZigBee, Zwave, local area network (LAN)), direct-connected through a network (for example, wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi)), or a device registered in a third-party could may be cloud-connected in a cloud-to-cloud type.

IoT devices direct-connected to a server through Wi-Fi, among the same, may be disconnected from the server if the wireless network router is powered off, if the service set Identifier (SSID) is changed due to a Wi-Fi change, or if the Wi-Fi password is changed.

If an IoT device is disconnected due to such a Wi-Fi connection problem, the user may be provided with no separate guide. In addition, the user may have to reperform, from the beginning, the processes of deleting the disconnected IoT device from the application and registering the device on the server.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Technical Problem

Aspects of the disclosure are to address at least the above-mentioned problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantages described below. Accordingly, an aspect of the disclosure is to provide an electronic device, a system, and an operation method thereof, such that when a network is changed, an external electronic device is reconnected to a server. Various embodiments disclosed herein may implement a technology where, in response to a change of a network to which an IoT device is connected in an IoT environment, the IoT device can be connected to a server through the changed network.

Another aspect of the disclosure is to provide an electronic device according to various embodiments, if an IoT device is direct-connected to a server through a network, and if the connected network is changed, the user may be provided with an alarm regarding the changed network, and the IoT device may be connected to the server through the changed network.

Another aspect of the disclosure is to provide an electronic device connecting an IoT device that provides an IoT (internet of things) function to a network (for example, Wi-Fi) and may register the same on a server (for example, smartThings cloud) together with network information. The electronic device may acquire the list of devices registered on the server through an application (for example, smartThings App), and may identify the status of the network to which each device is connected. In response to a device turned offline due to a network change, the electronic device may provide an alarm regarding the network changed through the application. In response to receiving a network update request input following the alarm, the electronic device may provide information regarding the changed network to the IoT device, thereby controlling the IoT device so as to connect to the changed network and to re-access the server.

Solution to Problem

In accordance with an aspect of the disclosure, an electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a communication module, a position sensor, and a processor. The processor is configured to obtain information of an external electronic device including status information of the external electronic device, position information of the external electronic device, and network information related to the external electronic device from a server through the communication module, check whether the external electronic device is in an offline state, based on the information, check whether the electronic device enters within a designated area at a position of the external electronic device, based on the position information of the electronic device obtained from the position sensor, in response to the external electronic device being in the offline state, scan a network through the communication module to check the network information in response to the electronic device being positioned in the designated area, and transmit the network information to the external electronic device in response to the network being different from the network information related to the external electronic device.

In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a system is provided. The system includes an external electronic device, an electronic device, a network, and a server. The electronic device is configured to receive a notification from the server that the external electronic device is in an offline state, scan the network to obtain information related to the network, obtain information related to the external electronic device by scanning the external electronic device, and transmit the information related to the network to the external electronic device. The external electronic device is connected to the network, based on the information related to the network, and connected to the server through the network.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

For example, when registering an IoT device on a server, an electronic device may provide information regarding the network to which the IoT device is connected such that a problem regarding the connectivity of the IoT device can be recognized.

For example, in response to an IoT device being taken off line due to a network-related problem, an electronic device may provide an alarm indicating that the network has a problem.

For example, in response to a network change in an IoT environment, an electronic device may provide the user with an alarm regarding the network change.

For example, in response to an IoT device being taken off line due to a network-related problem, an electronic device may provide the IoT device with information regarding a connectable network.

For example, an electronic device may update, to an IoT device, information regarding a changed network in an IoT environment.

For example, a technology may be provided such that an electronic device transmits changed network information to an IoT device, which then access a server through the changed network without a separate registration process.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

FIG. 1is a block diagram illustrating an electronic device101in a network environment100according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2is a block diagram illustrating an electronic device according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring toFIG. 2, the electronic device200(e.g., the electronic device101ofFIG. 1) may include a processor220(e.g., the processor120ofFIG. 1), a memory230(e.g., the memory130ofFIG. 1), a display (e.g., the display160ofFIG. 1), a position sensor276(e.g., the sensor module176ofFIG. 1), and/or a communication module290(e.g., the communication module190ofFIG. 1). The components included inFIG. 2are for some of the components included in the electronic device200, and the electronic device200may include various other components as shown inFIG. 1.

The communication module290(e.g., the communication module190ofFIG. 1) according to various embodiments may communicate with an external electronic device (e.g., an external electronic device310ofFIG. 3) and/or a server (e.g., a server330ofFIG. 3) to receive and/or transmit various information through a network (e.g., the first network198and/or the second network199ofFIG. 1). For example, the communication module290may communicate with the server330through a network (e.g., Wi-Fi, a legacy cellular network, a 5G network, a next-generation communication network, and/or the Internet) to receive and/or transmit various information. For example, the communication module290may communicate with the external electronic device310through a short-range wireless communication network (e.g., Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), Near-Field Communication (NFC)) and/or SoftAP (or Wi-Fi Direct) to receive and/or transmit various information.

According to an embodiment, the communication module290may receive information related to the external electronic device310(e.g., identification information, model information, position information, and/or network information) from the external electronic device310. For example, the communication module290may transmit network-related information (e.g., network identification information and/or password) to the external electronic device310.

The processor220according to an embodiment may be connected to the communication module290to process various information received by the communication module290from an external electronic device and/or a server. In addition, the processor220may control the communication module290to transmit various information to an external electronic device and/or a server.

The position sensor276according to various embodiments may measure a geographic position of the electronic device200. For example, the position sensor276may include a GNSS (e.g., a global positioning system (GPS) and/or a global navigation satellite system (GLONASS)) and/or a Wi-Fi positioning system (WPS). For example, the GNSS may be a system for measuring a current position based on radio waves emitted from a plurality of satellites using a GPS sensor and/or a GLONASS sensor. The WPS may be a system for measuring an indoor location using wireless access point (AP) information recognized as Wi-Fi. The processor220according to an embodiment may be connected to the position sensor276to request to measure the position of the electronic device200, and the position sensor276may provide the measured position information of the electronic device200to the processor220.

The memory230according to various embodiments may temporarily and/or non-temporarily store various types of information. The memory230according to an embodiment may temporarily and/or non-temporarily store information related to the external electronic device310and/or information related to a network. For example, the memory230may store information related to the external electronic device310including identification information, model information of the external electronic device310, and/or information (e.g., service set identifier (SSID), basic service set identifier (BSSID), received signal strength identification (RSSI)) related to a network to which the external electronic device310is connectable. For example, the memory230may store network-related information including service set identifier (SSID), basic service set identifier (BSSID), and network passwords (password, passphrase).

The processor220according to an embodiment may store various information in the memory230and/or obtain it from the memory230.

FIG. 3is a diagram illustrating a system according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

The system according to various embodiments may be a network environment supporting the Internet of Things (IoT). Each component may be one entity or a set of multiple entities.

Referring toFIG. 3, the system may include an electronic device200, an external electronic device310, a network320, and/or a server330.

The electronic device200according to various embodiments may be the electronic device described with reference toFIG. 2.

The external electronic device310according to various embodiments may be an Internet of things (IoT) device.

According to an embodiment, the external electronic device310may be an electronic device that communicates through a network (e.g., Wi-Fi, legacy cellular networks, 5G networks, next-generation communication networks, the Internet, Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), Near-Field Communication (NFC)) and/or SoftAP (or Wi-Fi Direct). For example, the external electronic device310may include a home appliance (e.g., a smart air conditioner, a smart refrigerator, a smart dishwasher, and/or a smart speaker) that performs a communication function through a network.

According to an embodiment, the external electronic device310may include a communication module. For example, the external electronic device310may receive and/or transmit various information by communicating with the electronic device200and/or the server330through the communication module.

According to an embodiment, the external electronic device310may communicate with the server330using a network (e.g., Wi-Fi, a legacy cellular network, a 5G network, a next-generation communication network, and/or the Internet) through a communication module. For example, the external electronic device310may be connected to the server330through the network320.

According to an embodiment, the external electronic device310may communicate with the electronic device200through a communication module using a wireless local area network (e.g., Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), Near-Field Communication (NFC) and/or SoftAP (or Wi-Fi Direct)).

The network320according to various embodiments may be a wireless network (WLAN, e.g., Wi-Fi network) provided by a wireless access point (e.g., Wi-Fi access point (AP)). The network320according to an embodiment may provide an environment in which the external electronic device310can communicate with the server330.

The server330according to various embodiments may include a cloud server, an account server, a service server, and/or a web server. For example, the server330may be a cloud server (e.g., an IoT cloud server) related to an IoT device. For example, the server330may be a cloud server related to an application controlling the external electronic device310. For example, the plurality of external electronic devices310may be respectively connected to the server330. For example, all processing processes (or data flows) related to the control operation of the external electronic devices310may be operated as a centralized control system controlled by the server330.

The server330according to an embodiment may store information related to the external electronic device310. For example, the server330may store identification information (e.g., serial code) of the external electronic device310, model information (e.g., model code), position information, and network information (e.g., service set identifier (SSID), basic service set identifier (BSSID), received signal strength identification (RSSI), Information related to encryption such as capability authentication method (e.g., WPA/WPA2-PSK/AES)) related to the external electronic device310.

For example, the identification information (serial code) of the external electronic device310may be information uniquely assigned to each external electronic device310. For example, the model information (model code) of the external electronic device310may be information related to a model type according to the type and version of the external electronic device310. For example, the network information related to the external electronic device310may be information related to a network (e.g., Wi-Fi) to which the external electronic device310is connected, in a method in which the external electronic device310is directly connected to the server330.

FIG. 4is a flowchart illustrating a method in which a processor (e.g., the processor220ofFIG. 2) controls an electronic device (e.g., the electronic device200ofFIG. 2) to update the changed network (e.g., the network320ofFIG. 3) information to an external electronic device (e.g., the external electronic device310ofFIG. 3) according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring toFIG. 4, according to various embodiments, the processor220may check the offline state of the external electronic device310in operation410.

According to an embodiment, the processor220may obtain information indicating that the external electronic device310is in an off-line state from a server (e.g., the server330ofFIG. 3). For example, the offline state of the external electronic device310may be a state in which the connection between the external electronic device310and the server330is released, so that transmission and reception of information between the external electronic device310and the server330is impossible.

For example, the processor220may obtain information that the external electronic device310is in an offline state from the server330through an application related to the control of the external electronic device310. For example, the server330may obtain information related to the external electronic device310registered in the application. For example, the information related to the external electronic device310may include a network connection state with the external electronic device310. For example, the server330may transmit information that the external electronic device310is offline to the processor220through the application in response to no network connection with the external electronic device310. For example, the server330may transmit information indicating that the external electronic device310is offline to the processor220through an application in response to the failure to obtain a signal from the external electronic device310.

According to various embodiments, in operation420, the processor220may check that the electronic device200enters the area in which the external electronic device310is located.

According to an embodiment, the processor220may obtain position information of the electronic device200through the position sensor276. For example, the position sensor276may include GNSS (e.g., global positioning system (GPS) and/or global navigation satellite system (GLONASS)) and/or Wi-Fi positioning system (WPS). For example, the GNSS may be a system for measuring a current position based on radio waves emitted from a plurality of satellites using a GPS sensor and/or a GLONASS sensor. The WPS may be a system for measuring an indoor position using wireless access point (AP) information recognized as Wi-Fi. The processor220according to an embodiment may be connected to the position sensor276to request to measure the position of the electronic device200, and the position sensor276may provide the measured position information of the electronic device200to the processor220.

According to an embodiment, the processor220may obtain position information of the external electronic device310from the server330. For example, the server330may store the information related to the external electronic device310including position information of the external electronic device310.

According to an embodiment, the processor220may obtain position information of the external electronic device310stored in the memory230. For example, the memory230may store information related to the external electronic device310including position information of the external electronic device310.

According to an embodiment, the processor220may check that the electronic device200is located within a designated area from the position of the external electronic device310, based on the position information of the external electronic device310obtained from the server330and/or the memory230and the position information of the electronic device200obtained from the position sensor276.

According to various embodiments of the disclosure, in operation430, the processor220may scan a network to check network information.

According to an embodiment, the processor220may scan the network320through the communication module290, in response to confirming that the electronic device200is located within a designated area from the position of the external electronic device310. For example, the processor220may check a connectable network320in a designated area.

According to an embodiment, the processor220may check network information. For example, the processor220may check network information including service set identification information (e.g., service set identifier (SSID), basic service set identifier (BSSID)) and/or a network password (password, passphrase) of the connectable network320.

According to an embodiment, the network information may be information stored in the memory230. For example, the network information may be information related to the network320to which the electronic device200has a connection history, and the processor220may store network information including a network SSID and/or password having a connection history in the memory230.

According to an embodiment, the processor220may check network information related to the external electronic device310obtained from the server330and/or the memory230. For example, the network information related to the external electronic device310may be information related to the network320used when the external electronic device310is connected to the server330.

According to an embodiment, the processor220may check whether network information related to the external electronic device310exists among the network information of the networks320scanned through the communication module290. For example, the processor220may check whether identification information of a network related to the external electronic device310exists among the identification information of the networks320scanned through the communication module290.

According to an embodiment, the processor220may output an alarm indicating that a problem has occurred in the external electronic device310, in response to the presence of network information related to the external electronic device310among the network information of the scanned networks320.

According to various embodiments, the processor220may output an alarm related to the changed network in operation440.

According to an embodiment, the processor220may determine that the network320has changed, in response to the absence of network information related to the external electronic device310among the network information of the scanned networks320.

According to an embodiment, in response to determining that the network320has changed, the processor220may output a user interface (UI) according to an alarm related to the changed network320. For example, in response to determining that the network has been changed, the processor220may output an alarm from an application related to the control of the external electronic device310. A specific example related to operation440will be described later in the description related toFIGS. 8A and 8B.

According to various embodiments, in operation450, the processor220may update information related to the changed network320to the external electronic device310.

According to an embodiment, in response to obtaining a user's network information update request input through a UI (user interface) according to an alarm related to a changed network, the processor220may update information related to the changed network320to the external electronic device310.

According to another embodiment, in response to determining that the network320has changed, the processor220may update information related to the changed network320to the external electronic device310.

According to various embodiments, the processor220may control the external electronic device310so that the external electronic device310can be connected to the server330through the changed network320. According to an embodiment, the processor220may determine whether to perform an operation for controlling the external electronic device310to be registered with the server330through the changed network320or perform an operation for controlling the external electronic device310to connect to the changed network320, according to the range of functions that the external electronic device310can perform, based on information related to the external electronic device310(e.g., model information).

According to an embodiment, the processor220may control the external electronic device310to register the external electronic device310with the server330through the changed network320. For example, the processor220may obtain information related to the external electronic device310including information for registering the external electronic device310from the server330, based on the information of the external electronic device310(e.g., the model code of the external electronic device). For example, the processor220may output a registration screen of the external electronic device310on the display, based on information for registering the external electronic device310. In response to obtaining a request related to registration of the external electronic device310, the processor220may obtain information on the external electronic device310by connecting to the external electronic device310via a wireless local area network (e.g., Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), Near-Field Communication (NFC) and/or SoftAP (or Wi-Fi Direct)). For example, in response to the information related to the external electronic device obtained from the server330and the information of the connected external electronic device310match, the processor220may transmit information related to the network320(e.g., Wi-Fi SSID and password) to the external electronic device310. For example, the processor220may output an alarm requesting device confirmation to the user in response to a discrepancy between the information related to the external electronic device obtained from the server330and the information of the connected external electronic device310. According to an embodiment, the external electronic device310may connect to the network320and register it with the server330based on the received network information. A detailed description related to the operation of the external electronic device310registering with the server330will be described later in the description related toFIG. 7.

According to another embodiment, the processor220may control the external electronic device310so that the external electronic device310is connected to the changed network320. For example, the processor220may obtain information related to the external electronic device310including information for establishing a connection network of the external electronic device310from the server330, based on the information of the external electronic device310(e.g., the model code of the external electronic device). The processor220may switch to the external electronic device310setting screen based on information for setting the connection network of the external electronic device310. In response to obtaining a request related to registration of the external electronic device310, the processor220may be connected to the external electronic device310via a short-range wireless communication network (e.g., Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), Near-Field Communication (NFC) and/or SoftAP (or Wi-Fi Direct)). In response to the information related to the external electronic device obtained from the server330and the information of the connected external electronic device310match, the processor220may transmit network information (e.g., Wi-Fi SSID and/or password) to the external electronic device310. The external electronic device310may connect to the network320based on the received network information. According to an embodiment, the external electronic device310may access the server330through the network320. For example, the external electronic device310may be connected to the server330to obtain various information including a control command from the server330.

FIG. 5is a flowchart illustrating a method in which a system registers an external electronic device with a server through a changed network according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring toFIG. 5, according to various embodiments, in operation510, the server330may transmit information notifying that the external electronic device310is in an offline state to the electronic device200. For example, the offline state of the external electronic device310may be a state in which the connection between the external electronic device310and the server330is released, so that transmission and reception of information between the external electronic device310and the server330is impossible.

According to an embodiment, the server330may store information related to the external electronic device310registered in an application related to the control of the external electronic device310. For example, the server330may store information related to the external electronic device310including a network connection state with the external electronic device310.

According to an embodiment, in response to the failure to establish a network connection with the external electronic device310, the server330may transmit information that the external electronic device310is offline to the electronic device200through the application. For example, in response to failure to obtain a signal from the external electronic device310, the server330may transmit information indicating that the external electronic device310is offline to the processor220through an application.

According to various embodiments, the electronic device200may scan the network320in operation520.

According to various embodiments, it may be confirmed that the electronic device200is located within a designated area from the position of the external electronic device310. According to an embodiment, the electronic device200may acquire position information of the electronic device200through the position sensor276. For example, the position sensor276may include a GNSS (e.g., a global positioning system (GPS) and/or a global navigation satellite system (GLONASS)) and/or a Wi-Fi positioning system (WPS). For example, the GNSS may be a system for measuring a current position based on radio waves emitted from a plurality of satellites using a GPS sensor and/or a GLONASS sensor. The WPS may be a system for measuring an indoor position using wireless access point (AP) information recognized as Wi-Fi. The processor220according to an embodiment may be connected to the position sensor276to request to measure the position of the electronic device200, and the position sensor276may provide the measured position information of the electronic device200to the processor220.

According to an embodiment, the electronic device200may check that the electronic device200is located within a designated area from the position of the external electronic device310, based on the position information of the external electronic device310obtained from the server330and/or the memory230and the position information of the electronic device200obtained from the position sensor276.

According to various embodiments, in response to confirming that the external electronic device310is located within a designated area from the position of the external electronic device310, the electronic device200may scan the network320. For example, the electronic device200may check a connectable network320in a designated area through a communication module (e.g., the communication module290ofFIG. 2). For example, the electronic device200may check network320information including service set identifier (SSID), basic service set identifier (BSSID), and a network password (password, passphrase) of the connectable network320.

According to an embodiment, the network information may be information stored in a memory (e.g., the memory230ofFIG. 2) of the electronic device200. For example, the network information may be information related to the network320to which the electronic device200has a connection history, and the electronic device200may store network information including a network SSID and/or password having a connection history in the memory230.

According to an embodiment, the electronic device200may check network information related to the external electronic device310obtained from the server330and/or the memory230. For example, the network information related to the external electronic device310may be information related to a network used when the external electronic device310is connected to the server330.

According to an embodiment, the electronic device200may check whether network information related to the external electronic device310exists among the information of the networks320scanned through the communication module290.

According to an embodiment, in response to that network information related to the external electronic device310does not exist among the scanned information of the networks320, the processor220may determine that the network320has been changed.

According to various embodiments, the electronic device200may scan the external electronic device310in operation530.

According to various embodiments, in response to determining that the network has changed, the electronic device200may be connected to the external electronic device310via the communication module290using a short-range wireless communication network (e.g., Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), Near-Field Communication (NFC) and/or SoftAP (or Wi-Fi Direct)).

According to an embodiment, the electronic device200may request the connected external electronic device310to transmit information related to the external electronic device310.

According to various embodiments, in operation540, the external electronic device310may transmit information on the external electronic device310to the electronic device200.

For example, the external electronic device310may transmit information related to the external electronic device310including identification information, model information, and/or information related to a network to which the external electronic device310is connectable (e.g., service set identifier (SSID), basic service set identifier (BSSID)) of the external electronic device310, and received signal strength identification (RSSI) to the electronic device200.

According to various embodiments, in operation550, the electronic device200may transmit information related to the changed network320to the external electronic device310.

According to an embodiment, the electronic device200may transmit information related to the changed network320to the external electronic device310so that the external electronic device310is connected to the changed network320.

According to an embodiment, in response that the information related to the external electronic device310obtained from the server330and the information related to the external electronic device310obtained in operation540match, the electronic device200may transmit information related to the network320(e.g., a Wi-Fi SSID and/or password) to the external electronic device310. According to an embodiment, the electronic device200may transmit information related to a network connectable to the external electronic device310obtained in operation540from among the networks320scanned in operation520to the external electronic device310.

According to various embodiments, the external electronic device310may connect to the changed network320in operation560.

The external electronic device310may connect to the network320based on the information related to the network320obtained in operation550.

According to various embodiments, the external electronic device310may connect to the server330in operation570.

According to an embodiment, the external electronic device310may be connected to the server330through the network320. For example, the external electronic device310may be connected to the server330to obtain various information including a control command from the server330.

According to another embodiment, the external electronic device310may register with the server330through the network320. The operation in which the external electronic device310registers with the server330may be described in detail in the description related toFIG. 7.

FIG. 6is a diagram illustrating a method in which a processor (e.g., the processor220ofFIG. 2) controls an electronic device (e.g., the electronic device200ofFIG. 2) to register an external electronic device (E.G., the electronic device310ofFIG. 3) with a server (e.g., the server330ofFIG. 3) according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring toFIG. 6, according to various embodiments, the processor220may connect with the external electronic device310in operation610.

For example, in operation610, the processor220may be connected to the external electronic device310using the communication module290, through a short-range wireless communication network (e.g., Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), Near-Field Communication (NFC) and/or SoftAP (or Wi-Fi Direct)).

According to an embodiment, the processor220may obtain information related to the external electronic device310from the connected external electronic device310. For example, the processor220may obtain information related to the external electronic device310including identification information, model information of the external electronic device310, and/or information (e.g., service set identifier (SSID), basic service set identifier (BSSID), received signal strength identification (RSSI) related to a network to which the external electronic device310is connectable.

According to various embodiments, the processor220may transmit network information to the external electronic device310in operation620.

According to an embodiment, the processor220may transmit network information to the external electronic device310through the communication module290.

According to an embodiment, the processor220may transmit network information to the external electronic device310among the acquired information related to the external electronic device310, based on information related to a network connectable to the external electronic device310. For example, the network information may be information stored in the memory230. For example, the network information is information related to a network having a connection history to which the electronic device200is connected, and the processor220may store a network SSID and/or password having a connection history in the memory230. The processor220may transmit network information including an SSID and/or password of a network connectable to the external electronic device310to the external electronic device310.

According to various embodiments, in operation630, the processor220may control the external electronic device310to connect the external electronic device310to the network320and register the external electronic device310with the server330.

According to an embodiment, the processor220may control the external electronic device310to connect to the network320, based on the network information obtained by the external electronic device310. For example, the external electronic device310may register with the server330through the network320connection. For example, the external electronic device310may transmit information of the external electronic device310including a serial code and/or a model code to the server330through a network320connection, and the server330may register the external electronic device310based on the acquired information of the external electronic device310.

According to an embodiment, the server330may transmit a notification that the external electronic device310is registered to the processor220through an application that controls the external electronic device310.

According to various embodiments, in operation640, the processor220may transmit network320information to the server330.

According to an embodiment, in response to receiving a notification that the external electronic device310is registered from the server330, the processor220may transmit information (e.g., BSSID, SSID, RSSI, Capability) of a network connected to the external electronic device310to the server330.

For example, the processor220may transmit information on the network320to which the external electronic device310is connected to the server330, based on network information (e.g., service set identifier (SSID), basic service set identifier (BSSID), received signal strength identification (RSSI)) scanned by the external electronic device310acquired from the external electronic device310and network information (e.g., service set identifier (SSID), basic service set identifier (BSSID), network password (password, passphrase)) stored in the memory230.

According to various embodiments, the processor220may obtain information on the external electronic device310from the server330in operation650.

According to an embodiment, the processor220may obtain information on the external electronic device310from the server330through the communication module290. For example, the processor220may acquire information on the external electronic device310including a serial code and/or a model code through an application related to the control of the external electronic device310.

According to an embodiment, the processor220may store information of the external electronic device310in a memory.

FIG. 7is a flowchart illustrating a method in which a system according to various embodiments registers an external electronic device (e.g., the external electronic device310ofFIG. 3) with a server (e.g., the server330ofFIG. 3) according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring toFIG. 7, according to various embodiments, in operation710, the electronic device200may scan the external electronic device310.

For example, the electronic device200may be connected to the external electronic device310using the communication module290, through a short-range wireless communication network (e.g., Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), Near-Field Communication (NFC) and/or SoftAP (or Wi-Fi Direct)).

According to various embodiments, in operation720, the external electronic device310may transmit information related to the external electronic device310to the electronic device200.

According to an embodiment, the processor220may obtain information related to the external electronic device310from the connected external electronic device310. For example, the processor220may obtain information related to the external electronic device310including identification information, model information of the external electronic device310, and/or information related to a network to which the external electronic device310is connectable (e.g., service set identifier (SSID), basic service set identifier (BSSID), received signal strength identification (RSSI)).

According to various embodiments, in operation730, the electronic device200may transmit information related to the external electronic device310to the server330.

According to an embodiment, the electronic device200may transmit information related to the external electronic device310obtained in operation720to the server330.

According to various embodiments, in operation740, the server330may transmit information for registering the external electronic device310to the electronic device200.

According to an embodiment, the server330may transmit information for registering the external electronic device310including a registration guide for the external electronic device310to the electronic device200, based on information related to the external electronic device310.

According to an embodiment, the server330may store a registration guide for each type of external electronic device. For example, the server330may store a registration guide that can be provided to the user so that the external electronic device can be registered on the server330based on the model code of the external electronic device. For example, the registration guide may include content instructing the user to perform a specified operation with respect to the external electronic device and/or the electronic device200(e.g., Press the connect button on the refrigerator for more than 3 seconds).

According to an embodiment, the server330may transmit the registration guide corresponding to the model code of the external electronic device310obtained in operation730to the electronic device200.

According to an embodiment, the electronic device200may output the registration screen of the external electronic device310to the display, based on the information for registering the external electronic device310obtained from the server330.

According to various embodiments, in operation750, the electronic device200may transmit information related to the network320to the external electronic device310.

According to an embodiment, in response to obtaining a user's registration request input through a user interface (UI) of the external electronic device310registration screen, the electronic device200may transmit information related to the network320to the external electronic device310.

According to an embodiment, the electronic device200may transmit network information to the external electronic device310among the acquired information related to the external electronic device310, based on information related to a network to which the external electronic device310can connect. For example, the network information may be information stored in the memory of the electronic device200(e.g., the memory230ofFIG. 2). For example, the network information may be information related to a network to which the electronic device200has a connection history, and the electronic device200may store a network SSID and/or password having a connection history in the memory230. The electronic device200may transmit network information including an SSID and/or a password of a network connectable to the external electronic device310to the external electronic device310.

According to various embodiments, in operation760, the external electronic device310may connect to the network320based on the acquired network-related information.

According to an embodiment, the external electronic device310may connect to the network320based on the network SSID and/or password obtained in operation750.

According to various embodiments, in operation770, the external electronic device310may register with the server330.

According to an embodiment, the external electronic device310may register the external electronic device310with the server330through the network320connection. For example, the external electronic device310may transmit information of the external electronic device310including a serial code and/or a model code to the server330through a network320connection, and the server330may register the external electronic device310based on the acquired information of the external electronic device310.

According to various embodiments, when the registered external electronic device310is registered with the server330before operations710to770, the external electronic device310may transmit information related to the external electronic device310(e.g., identification information, model information, position information, and/or network information) to the server330.

According to various embodiments, in operation780, the server330may transmit information related to the external electronic device310registered in the electronic device200.

For example, the server330may transmit a notification that the external electronic device310is registered to the electronic device200and information related to the external electronic device310through an application related to the control of the external electronic device310.

According to various embodiments, when the registered external electronic device310is registered with the server330before operations710to770, the external electronic device310may transmit information related to the external electronic device310(e.g., identification information, model information, position information, and/or network information) to the electronic device200.

FIGS. 8A and 8Bare diagrams illustrating examples of an alarm related to a changed network output by a processor220according to various embodiments of the disclosure.

Referring toFIG. 8A, it may be an example of an application screen related to control of the external electronic device310.

According to an embodiment, an icon related to a registered external electronic device (e.g., audio/video (AV), stand, dishwasher, dryer and/or washing machine) may be displayed on the application screen related to the control of the external electronic device310.

According to an embodiment, in response to determining that the external electronic device310is offline and the network to which the external electronic device310is connected has changed (e.g., operations410to440ofFIG. 4), the processor220may output a UI (e.g., “Update offline Wi-Fi”) related to the changed network.

According to an embodiment, in response to obtaining the user's network information update request input through the UI (user interface) according to the alarm related to the changed network (e.g., selecting “Start update”), the processor220may output a list of external electronic devices that are offline.

According to an embodiment, in response to obtaining an input for selecting one of the list of external electronic devices that are offline (e.g., selecting “Dishwasher”), the processor220may update information related to the changed network320to the external electronic device310. For example, the external electronic device310may be connected to the server330by connecting to the changed network320(e.g., operations560to570ofFIG. 5), based on the information related to the changed network320.

Referring toFIG. 8B, it may be an example of an application screen related to control of the external electronic device310.

According to an embodiment, an icon related to control of a registered external electronic device (e.g., a refrigerator) may be displayed on an application screen related to control of the external electronic device310.

According to an embodiment, in response to determining that the external electronic device310(e.g., refrigerator) is offline and a network to which the external electronic device is connected has changed (e.g., operations410to440ofFIG. 4), the processor220may output a UI related to the changed network (e.g., “offline”, “start update”).

According to an embodiment, in response to obtaining the user's network information update request input through the user interface (UI) according to the alarm related to the changed network (e.g., selecting “Start update” or selecting “Wi-Fi update” on the view-more screen), the processor220may update information related to the changed network320to the external electronic device310. For example, the external electronic device310may be connected to the server330by connecting to the changed network320, based on information related to the changed network320(e.g., operations560to570ofFIG. 5).

The electronic device200according to various embodiment of the disclosure may include a communication module290, a position sensor276, and a processor220. The processor is configured to obtain information of an external electronic device310including status information of the external electronic device310, position information of the external electronic device310, and network320information related to the external electronic device310from a server330through the communication module290; check whether the external electronic device310is in an offline state, based on the information; check whether the electronic device200enters within a designated area at a position of the external electronic device310, based on the position information of the electronic device310obtained from the position sensor276, in response to the external electronic device310being in the offline state; scan a network320through the communication module290to check the network320information in response to the electronic device200being positioned in the designated area; and transmit the network320information to the external electronic device310in response to the network being different from the network320information related to the external electronic device310.

In the electronic device200according to various embodiment of the disclosure, the processor220may output an alarm related to a network320change in response to the network320being different from the network320information related to the external electronic device310.

In the electronic device200according to various embodiment of the disclosure, the processor220controls the external electronic device310to be connected to the network320, based on the network320information transmitted to the external electronic device310.

In the electronic device200according to various embodiment of the disclosure, the processor220controls the external electronic device310to register the external electronic device310with the server330through the network320, based on the network320information transmitted to the external electronic device310.

In the electronic device200according to various embodiment of the disclosure, before obtaining the information of the external electronic device310from the server330, the processor220may be connected to an external electronic device310through the communication module290, transmits the information related to a network320to the external electronic device310, controls the external electronic device310to register the external electronic device310with a server330through the network320, and transmits information related to the network320to the server330.

In the electronic device200according to various embodiment of the disclosure, the processor220obtains information on the external electronic device310including a list of networks320connectable to the external electronic device310through the communication module290, and transmits information related to at least one network320among the networks320connectable to the external electronic device310to the external electronic device310.

A system according to various embodiments of the disclosure may include an external electronic device310, an electronic device200, a network320, and a server330. The electronic device200may receive a notification from the server330that the external electronic device310is in an offline state, scan the network320to obtain information related to the network320, obtain information related to the external electronic device310by scanning the external electronic device310, transmitting the information related to the network320to the external electronic device310. The external electronic device310is connected to the network, based on the information related to the network320, and connected to the server330through the network320.

In the system according to various embodiments of the disclosure, the electronic device200may obtain position information of the external electronic device310from the server330, check whether the electronic device200enters within a designated area at the position of the external electronic device310, scan the network320to obtain information related to the network320, in response to the electronic device200being positioned in the designated area.

In the system according to various embodiments of the disclosure, the electronic device200may obtain network320information related to the external electronic device310from the server330, and transmit the network320information to the external electronic device310in response to the network320being different from the network320information related to the external electronic device310.

In the system according to various embodiments of the disclosure, the external electronic device310may register the external electronic device310with the server330through the network320.

An operation method of an electronic device200according to various embodiments of the disclosure may include an operation of obtaining information of the external electronic device310including status information of the external electronic device310, position information of the external electronic device310, and network320information related to the external electronic device310from a server330through the communication module290, an operation of checking whether the external electronic device310is offline based on the information, an operation of checking whether the electronic device200enters within a designated area at the position of the external electronic device310, based on the position information of the electronic device200obtained from the position sensor276, in response to the external electronic device310being in the offline state, an operation of scanning a network320through the communication module290to check the network320information in response to the electronic device200being located in the designated area, and an operation of transmitting the network320information to the external electronic device310in response to the network320being different from the network320information related to the external electronic device310.

The operation method of the electronic device200according to various embodiments of the disclosure may further include outputting an alarm related to a network320change in response to the network320being different from network320information related to the external electronic device310.

The operation method of the electronic device200according to various embodiments of the disclosure may further include controlling the external electronic device310to connect to the network320, based on the network320information transmitted to the external electronic device310.

The operation method of the electronic device200according to various embodiments of the disclosure may further include controlling the external electronic device310to register the external electronic device310with the server330through the network320based on the network320information transmitted to the external electronic device310.

The operation method of the electronic device200according to various embodiments of the disclosure may further include, before acquiring the information of the external electronic device310from the server330, connecting to an external electronic device310through the communication module290, transmitting information related to the network320to the external electronic device310, controlling the external electronic device310to register the external electronic device310with a server through the network, and transmitting information related to the network320to the server330.

The operation method of the electronic device200according to various embodiments of the disclosure may further include obtaining information on the external electronic device310including a list of networks320connectable to the external electronic device310through the communication module290, and transmitting information related to at least one network320among networks320connectable to the external electronic device310to the external electronic device310.

An operation method of a system according to various embodiments of the disclosure may include an operation of receiving, by an electronic device200, a notification from a server330that an external electronic device310is in an offline state, an operation of scanning the network320to obtain information related to the network320, an operation of scanning the external electronic device310to obtain information related to the external electronic device310, an operation of transmitting information related to the network320to the external electronic device310, an operation of connecting, by an external electronic device310, to the network320, based on the information related to the network320, and an operation of connecting, by the external electronic device310, to the server330through the network320.

The operation method of the system according to various embodiments of the disclosure may further include an operation of obtaining position information of the external electronic device310from the server330, an operation of checking whether the electronic device200enters within a designated area at the position of the external electronic device310, and an operation of scanning the network320to obtain information related to the network320, in response to the electronic device200being located in the designated area.

The operation method of the system according to various embodiments of the disclosure may further include an operation of obtaining network320information related to an external electronic device310from the server330, and an operation of transmitting the network320information to the external electronic device310in response to the network320being different from network320information related to the external electronic device310.

The operation method of a system according to various embodiments of the disclosure may further include an operation of registering, by the external electronic device310, the external electronic device310with the server330through the network320.

The various embodiments of this document and the terms used therein are not intended to limit the technical features described in this document to specific embodiments, and should be understood to include various modifications, equivalents, or substitutions of the embodiments.

In connection with the description of the drawings, like reference numerals may be used for similar or related components. The singular form of the noun corresponding to the item may include one or more of the item, unless the relevant context clearly dictates otherwise.