Patent Publication Number: US-2021182087-A1

Title: Electronic device for supporting customized manual

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     This application is based on and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2019-0168306, filed on Dec. 16, 2019, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     The disclosure relates generally to a customized manual for using an electronic device. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     An electronic device may provide a manual through a user interface. The manual may guide various functions of the electronic device to a user and also help the user to manipulate or set such functions. 
     As the electronic device is advanced and diversified, the manual becomes complicated. Thus, the user may have limited use of the electronic device or often have difficulty in finding and manipulating a desired function. 
     Through an interface screen, the electronic device may recommend certain settings (or options) (e.g., a water temperature, the number of rinses, and a spin-dry strength, in the case of a washing machine) with respect to an arbitrary function and/or a particular function selected by the user. However, this recommendation may not always be useful for every user group using the electronic device. For example, such a recommendation may be useful for a particular user group, but may be a function or setting irrespective of interest or preference for other user groups. Here, a user group may contain one or more persons. For example, a user group may refer to a group (or community) that is grouped in a designated relationship (e.g., a family) and uses a common electronic device. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to an aspect of the disclosure, an electronic device includes a communication circuit, a memory, and a processor connected to the communication circuit and the memory. The memory may store instructions causing, upon being executed, the processor to store, in the memory, a usage history collected from a plurality of user devices registered in a user device group through the communication circuit, to receive device information indicating functions of a first user device in the user device group from the first user device or a second user device in the user device group through the communication circuit, to select a function to be recommended to a user from among the functions of the first user device, based on at least the usage history, to generate a customized manual to allow the user to use the recommended function of the first user device, and to transmit, to the first user device or the second user device through the communication circuit, the customized manual or recommendation information for recommending the customized manual to the user. 
     According to another aspect of the disclosure, a mobile electronic device includes a communication circuit, a display, a memory, and a processor connected to the communication circuit, the display, and the memory. The memory may store instructions causing, upon being executed, the processor to store a usage history in the memory, the usage history collected from a plurality of user devices registered in a user device group through the communication circuit, to receive device information indicating functions of an external electronic device from the external electronic device through the communication circuit, to select a function to be recommended to a user from among the functions of the external electronic device, based on at least the usage history, to generate a customized manual to allow the user to use the recommended function, and to display, through the display, recommendation information for recommending the customized manual to the user. 
     According to another aspect of the disclosure, a mobile electronic device includes a communication circuit, a touch-sensitive display, a memory, and a processor connected to the communication circuit, the display, and the memory. The memory may store instructions causing, upon being executed, the processor to transmit device information indicating a type of a first user device and functions of the first user device to a server through the communication circuit, to receive, from the server through the communication circuit, a customized manual for allowing a user to use a function selected by the server from among the functions of the first user device, to display, through the display, a first message for confirming whether to use the customized manual on the first user device, to receive a user input through the display in response to the first message, and to transmit the customized manual to the first user device when the user input indicates that the customized manual is to be used on the first user device. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other aspects, features and advantages of certain embodiments of the disclosure will be more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating an electronic device in a network environment, according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a network environment configured to support a user-customized service, according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating an operation of generating a profile of a washing machine that is a member of the group, according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating an operation of recommending a function of a user device based on a group profile, according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating an operation of recommending a function of a user device based on a usage history, according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 6  is a flow diagram illustrating operations of supporting a customized manual, according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 7  is a flow diagram illustrating operations of updating a group profile based on a usage history, according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 8  is a flow diagram illustrating operations of recommending a function based on a usage type, according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 9A  is a flow diagram illustrating operations of generating a customized manual based on a group profile, according to an embodiment, 
         FIG. 9B  is a diagram illustrating examples of a customized manual, according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 10A  is a flow diagram illustrating operations of changing a customized manual based on an update of a group profile, according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 10B  is a diagram illustrating examples of a customized manual before and after a change, according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 11A  is a flow diagram illustrating operations of generating recommendation information based on a preference of a usage type, according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 11B  is a diagram illustrating examples of recommendation information provided differently to a user depending on preferences, according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 12A  is a flow diagram illustrating operations of generating recommendation information based on a recommendation time point, according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 12B  is a diagram illustrating examples of recommendation information provided differently to a user depending on recommendation time points, according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 13  is a flow diagram illustrating operations performed in the network environment of  FIG. 2 , according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 14  is a diagram illustrating an operation of generating a customized manual for a new same-type user device based on a usage history of an existing user device registered in the group, according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 15  is a diagram illustrating an operation of generating a customized manual for a new user device by using information on functions set in an existing user device registered in the group, according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 16  is a flow diagram illustrating operations of generating a customized manual for a new same-type user device newly registered in a group of an existing user device, based on a usage history of the existing user device, according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 17  is a flow diagram illustrating operations of generating recommendation information for a new user device newly registered in a group, based on usage histories of existing user devices registered in the group, according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 18A  is a diagram illustrating an operation of recommending a function of a user device based on a usage history of the user device, according to an embodiment; and 
         FIG. 18B  is a diagram illustrating an operation of recommending a function of a user device based on a usage history of the user device, according to an embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Various embodiments of the present disclosure are described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, various embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to particular embodiments, and it should be understood that modifications, equivalents, and/or alternatives of the embodiments described herein can be variously made. With regard to description of drawings, similar components may be marked by similar reference numerals. 
     In various embodiments, an electronic device may provide a customized manual to a user so that the user can easily and conveniently use a preferring or familiar function. 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating an electronic device  101  in a network environment  100  according to various embodiments. Referring to  FIG. 1 , the electronic device  101  in the network environment  100  may communicate with an electronic device  102  via a first network  198  (e.g., a short-range wireless communication network), or an electronic device  104  or a server  108  via a second network  199  (e.g., a long-range wireless communication network). According to an embodiment, the electronic device  101  may communicate with the electronic device  104  via the server  108 . According to an embodiment, the electronic device  101  may include a processor  120 , memory  130 , an input device  150 , a sound output device  155 , a display device  160 , an audio module  170 , a sensor module  176 , an interface  177 , a haptic module  179 , a camera module  180 , a power management module  188 , a battery  189 , a communication module  190 , a subscriber identification module (SIM)  196 , or an antenna module  197 . In some embodiments, at least one (e.g., the display device  160  or the camera module  180 ) of the components may be omitted from the electronic device  101 , or one or more other components may be added in the electronic device  101 . In some embodiments, some of the components may be implemented as single integrated circuitry. For example, the sensor module  176  (e.g., a fingerprint sensor, an iris sensor, or an illuminance sensor) may be implemented as embedded in the display device  160  (e.g., a display). 
     The processor  120  may execute, for example, software (e.g., a program  140 ) to control at least one other component (e.g., a hardware or software component) of the electronic device  101  coupled with the processor  120 , and may perform various data processing or computation. According to one embodiment, as at least part of the data processing or computation, the processor  120  may load a command or data received from another component (e.g., the sensor module  176  or the communication module  190 ) in volatile memory  132 , process the command or the data stored in the volatile memory  132 , and store resulting data in non-volatile memory  134 . According to an embodiment, the processor  120  may include a main processor  121  (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU) or an application processor (AP)), and an auxiliary processor  123  (e.g., a graphics processing unit (GPU), an image signal processor (ISP), a sensor hub processor, or a communication processor (CP)) that is operable independently from, or in conjunction with, the main processor  121 . Additionally or alternatively, the auxiliary processor  123  may be adapted to consume less power than the main processor  121 , or to be specific to a specified function. The auxiliary processor  123  may be implemented as separate from, or as part of the main processor  121 . 
     The auxiliary processor  123  may control at least some of functions or states related to at least one component (e.g., the display device  160 , the sensor module  176 , or the communication module  190 ) among the components of the electronic device  101 , instead of the main processor  121  while the main processor  121  is in an inactive (e.g., sleep) state, or together with the main processor  121  while the main processor  121  is in an active state (e.g., executing an application). According to an embodiment, the auxiliary processor  123  (e.g., an ISP or a CP) may be implemented as part of another component (e.g., the camera module  180  or the communication module  190 ) functionally related to the auxiliary processor  123 . 
     The memory  130  may store various data used by at least one component (e.g., the processor  120  or the sensor module  176 ) of the electronic device  101 . The various data may include, for example, software (e.g., the program  140 ) and input data or output data for a command related thereto. The memory  130  may include the volatile memory  132  or the non-volatile memory  134 . 
     The program  140  may be stored in the memory  130  as software, and may include, for example, an operating system (OS)  142 , middleware  144 , or an application  146 . 
     The input device  150  may receive a command or data to be used by another component (e.g., the processor  120 ) of the electronic device  101 , from the outside (e.g., a user) of the electronic device  101 . The input device  150  may include, for example, a microphone, a mouse, a keyboard, or a digital pen (e.g., a stylus pen). 
     The sound output device  155  may output sound signals to the outside of the electronic device  101 . The sound output device  155  may include, for example, a speaker or a receiver. The speaker may be used for general purposes, such as playing multimedia or playing record, and the receiver may be used for an incoming call. According to an embodiment, the receiver may be implemented as separate from, or as part of the speaker. 
     The display device  160  may visually provide information to the outside (e.g., a user) of the electronic device  101 . The display device  160  may include, for example, a display, a hologram device, or a projector and control circuitry to control a corresponding one of the display, hologram device, and projector. According to an embodiment, the display device  160  may include touch circuitry adapted to detect a touch, or sensor circuitry (e.g., a pressure sensor) adapted to measure the intensity of force incurred by the touch. 
     The audio module  170  may convert a sound into an electrical signal and vice versa. According to an embodiment, the audio module  170  may obtain the sound via the input device  150 , or output the sound via the sound output device  155  or a headphone of an external electronic device (e.g., an electronic device  102 ) directly (e.g., wiredly) or wirelessly coupled with the electronic device  101 . 
     The sensor module  176  may detect an operational state (e.g., power or temperature) of the electronic device  101  or an environmental state (e.g., a state of a user) external to the electronic device  101 , and then generate an electrical signal or data value corresponding to the detected state. According to an embodiment, the sensor module  176  may include, for example, a gesture sensor, a gyro sensor, an atmospheric pressure sensor, a magnetic sensor, an acceleration sensor, a grip sensor, a proximity sensor, a color sensor, an infrared (IR) sensor, a biometric sensor, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, or an illuminance sensor. 
     The interface  177  may support one or more specified protocols to be used for the electronic device  101  to be coupled with the external electronic device (e.g., the electronic device  102 ) directly (e.g., wiredly) or wirelessly. According to an embodiment, the interface  177  may include, for example, a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI), a universal serial bus (USB) interface, a secure digital (SD) card interface, or an audio interface. 
     A connecting terminal  178  may include a connector via which the electronic device  101  may be physically connected with the external electronic device (e.g., the electronic device  102 ). According to an embodiment, the connecting terminal  178  may include, for example, a HDMI connector, a USB connector, a SD card connector, or an audio connector (e.g., a headphone connector). 
     The haptic module  179  may convert an electrical signal into a mechanical stimulus (e.g., a vibration or a movement) or electrical stimulus which may be recognized by a user via his tactile sensation or kinesthetic sensation. According to an embodiment, the haptic module  179  may include, for example, a motor, a piezoelectric element, or an electric stimulator. 
     The camera module  180  may capture a still image or moving images. According to an embodiment, the camera module  180  may include one or more lenses, image sensors, ISPs, or flashes. 
     The power management module  188  may manage power supplied to the electronic device  101 . According to one embodiment, the power management module  188  may be implemented as at least part of, for example, a power management integrated circuit (PMIC). 
     The battery  189  may supply power to at least one component of the electronic device  101 . According to an embodiment, the battery  189  may include, for example, a primary cell which is not rechargeable, a secondary cell which is rechargeable, or a fuel cell. 
     The communication module  190  may support establishing a direct (e.g., wired) communication channel or a wireless communication channel between the electronic device  101  and the external electronic device (e.g., the electronic device  102 , the electronic device  104 , or the server  108 ) and performing communication via the established communication channel. The communication module  190  may include one or more CPs that are operable independently from the processor  120  (e.g., the AP) and supports a direct (e.g., wired) communication or a wireless communication. According to an embodiment, the communication module  190  may include a wireless communication module  192  (e.g., a cellular communication module, a short-range wireless communication module, or a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) communication module) or a wired communication module  194  (e.g., a local area network (LAN) communication module or a power line communication (PLC) module). A corresponding one of these communication modules may communicate with the external electronic device via the first network  198  (e.g., a short-range communication network, such as Bluetooth™, wireless-fidelity (Wi-Fi) direct, or infrared data association (IrDA)) or the second network  199  (e.g., a long-range communication network, such as a cellular network, the Internet, or a computer network (e.g., LAN or wide area network (WAN)). These various types of communication modules may be implemented as a single component (e.g., a single chip), or may be implemented as multi components (e.g., multi chips) separate from each other. The wireless communication module  192  may identify and authenticate the electronic device  101  in a communication network, such as the first network  198  or the second network  199 , using subscriber information (e.g., international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI)) stored in the subscriber identification module  196 . 
     The antenna module  197  may transmit or receive a signal or power to or from the outside (e.g., the external electronic device) of the electronic device  101 . According to an embodiment, the antenna module  197  may include an antenna including a radiating element composed of a conductive material or a conductive pattern formed in or on a substrate (e.g., PCB). According to an embodiment, the antenna module  197  may include a plurality of antennas. In such a case, at least one antenna appropriate for a communication scheme used in the communication network, such as the first network  198  or the second network  199 , may be selected, for example, by the communication module  190  (e.g., the wireless communication module  192 ) from the plurality of antennas. The signal or the power may then be transmitted or received between the communication module  190  and the external electronic device via the selected at least one antenna. According to an embodiment, another component (e.g., a radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC)) other than the radiating element may be additionally formed as part of the antenna module  197 . 
     At least some of the above-described components may be coupled mutually and communicate signals (e.g., commands or data) therebetween via an inter-peripheral communication scheme (e.g., a bus, general purpose input and output (GPIO), serial peripheral interface (SPI), or mobile industry processor interface (MIPI)). 
     According to an embodiment, commands or data may be transmitted or received between the electronic device  101  and the external electronic device  104  via the server  108  coupled with the second network  199 . Each of the electronic devices  102  and  104  may be a device of a same type as, or a different type, from the electronic device  101 . According to an embodiment, all or some of operations to be executed at the electronic device  101  may be executed at one or more of the external electronic devices  102 ,  104 , or  108 . For example, if the electronic device  101  should perform a function or a service automatically, or in response to a request from a user or another device, the electronic device  101 , instead of, or in addition to, executing the function or the service, may request the one or more external electronic devices to perform at least part of the function or the service. The one or more external electronic devices receiving the request may perform the at least part of the function or the service requested, or an additional function or an additional service related to the request, and transfer an outcome of the performing to the electronic device  101 . The electronic device  101  may provide the outcome, with or without further processing of the outcome, as at least part of a reply to the request. To that end, a cloud computing, distributed computing, or client-server computing technology may be used, for example. 
     The electronic device according to various embodiments may be one of various types of electronic devices. The electronic devices may include, for example, a portable communication device (e.g., a smartphone), a computer device, a portable multimedia device, a portable medical device, a camera, a wearable device, or a home appliance. According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the electronic devices are not limited to those described above. 
     It should be appreciated that various embodiments of the present disclosure and the terms used therein are not intended to limit the technological features set forth herein to particular embodiments and include various changes, equivalents, or replacements for a corresponding embodiment. With regard to the description of the drawings, similar reference numerals may be used to refer to similar or related elements. It is to be understood that a singular form of a noun corresponding to an item may include one or more of the things, unless the relevant context clearly indicates otherwise. As used herein, each of such phrases as “A or B,” “at least one of A and B,” “at least one of A or B,” “A, B, or C,” “at least one of A, B, and C,” and “at least one of A, B, or C,” may include any one of, or all possible combinations of the items enumerated together in a corresponding one of the phrases. As used herein, such terms as “1st” and “2nd,” or “first” and “second” may be used to simply distinguish a corresponding component from another, and does not limit the components in other aspect (e.g., importance or order). It is to be understood that if an element (e.g., a first element) is referred to, with or without the term “operatively” or “communicatively”, as “coupled with,” “coupled to,” “connected with,” or “connected to” another element (e.g., a second element), it means that the element may be coupled with the other element directly (e.g., wiredly), wirelessly, or via a third element. 
     As used herein, the term “module” may include a unit implemented in hardware, software, or firmware, and may interchangeably be used with other terms, for example, “logic,” “logic block,” “part,” or “circuitry”. A module may be a single integral component, or a minimum unit or part thereof, adapted to perform one or more functions. For example, according to an embodiment, the module may be implemented in a form of an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC). 
     Various embodiments as set forth herein may be implemented as software (e.g., the program  140 ) including one or more instructions that are stored in a storage medium (e.g., internal memory  136  or external memory  138 ) that is readable by a machine (e.g., the electronic device  101 ). For example, a processor (e.g., the processor  120 ) of the machine (e.g., the electronic device  101 ) may invoke at least one of the one or more instructions stored in the storage medium, and execute it, with or without using one or more other components under the control of the processor. This allows the machine to be operated to perform at least one function according to the at least one instruction invoked. The one or more instructions may include a code generated by a complier or a code executable by an interpreter. The machine-readable storage medium may be provided in the form of a non-transitory storage medium. Wherein, the term “non-transitory” simply means that the storage medium is a tangible device, and does not include a signal (e.g., an electromagnetic wave), but this term does not differentiate between where data is semi-permanently stored in the storage medium and where the data is temporarily stored in the storage medium. 
     A method according to various embodiments of the disclosure may be included and provided in a computer program product. The computer program product may be traded as a product between a seller and a buyer. The computer program product may be distributed in the form of a machine-readable storage medium (e.g., compact disc read only memory (CD-ROM)), or be distributed (e.g., downloaded or uploaded) online via an application store (e.g., PlayStore™), or between two user devices (e.g., smart phones) directly. If distributed online, at least part of the computer program product may be temporarily generated or at least temporarily stored in the machine-readable storage medium, such as memory of the manufacturer&#39;s server, a server of the application store, or a relay server. 
     According to various embodiments, each component (e.g., a module or a program) of the above-described components may include a single entity or multiple entities. According to various embodiments, one or more of the above-described components may be omitted, or one or more other components may be added. Alternatively or additionally, a plurality of components (e.g., modules or programs) may be integrated into a single component. In such a case, according to various embodiments, the integrated component may still perform one or more functions of each of the plurality of components in the same or similar manner as they are performed by a corresponding one of the plurality of components before the integration. According to various embodiments, operations performed by the module, the program, or another component may be carried out sequentially, in parallel, repeatedly, or heuristically, or one or more of the operations may be executed in a different order or omitted, or one or more other operations may be added. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a network environment  200  configured to support a user-customized service, according to an embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , in the network environment  200 , a user device group  210  may communicate with a manual support server  230  through a network  220 . The manual support server  230  may also communicate with one or more other user device groups  270  through the network  220 . 
     A user device, which participates in or is registered as a member of the user device group  210 , may include one or more components identical with those of the electronic device  101  shown in  FIG. 1  (e.g., the processor  120 , the memory  130 , the input device  150 , the audio output device  155 , the display device  160 , the audio module  170 , the sensor module  176 , the communication module  190 , and/or the antenna module  197 ). 
     The user device group  210  may include at least one mobile device (e.g., a smart phone), at least one computer device (e.g., a notebook PC or a desktop PC), and a plurality of home appliances (e.g., a washing machine, a robot cleaner, a refrigerator, a TV or an air conditioner), all of which will be commonly referred to as user devices hereinafter. At least one user device (e.g., a home appliance) in the user device group  210  may be located in a geographically designated area (e.g., home), and may be a shared device commonly used by members of a corresponding user group. The user devices in the group  210  may perform communication, for data transmission or remote control, with each other through an access point (AP) located in the area or by using peer-to-peer (P2P) communication technology (e.g., Wi-Fi Direct or Bluetooth). Also, the user devices in the group  210  may perform communication with each other through the network  220 . For example, a processor of the mobile device may be configured to, using a wireless communication circuitry thereof, monitor an operating status of any other user device (e.g., a home appliance) in the group  210  and control, based on a monitoring result, the operation of the user device. 
     The user device in the group  210  may collect a usage history indicating the use of the user device group  210  by member(s) and provide it to the manual support server  230 . Each of the user devices may collect the usage history during a given period of time and transmit it to the manual support server  230 . The usage history may contain functional information indicating a particular function (or operation mode) performed in response to a user&#39;s manipulation (or remote control of any other user device), and setting information indicating a particular setting (or option) applied to such functions. For example, if the user device is a washing machine, the functional information may include standard wash, bedding wash, powerful wash, wool wash, or outdoor wash, and the setting information may include a water temperature, the number of rinses, or a spin-dry strength. If the user device is a TV, the functional information may include a standard mode, and the setting information may include backlight, brightness, contrast, or sharpness. If the user device is an electric stove, the functional information may include a turbo mode, and the setting information may include cooking zone, firepower, flex (e.g., using two cooing zones simultaneously), or lighting. If the user device is an air conditioner, the functional information may include a sleep mode, and the setting information may include driving time, wind direction, wind speed, or temperature. 
     The user device in the group  210  may collect a user profile (or personal information) and provide it to the manual support server  230 . For example, the user device (e.g., a mobile device or a computer device) may receive the user profile (e.g., name, age, address, a relationship with other members, or account information) from the user through as an input device  150  or a touch-sensitive display  160 . The user device may transmit the received user profile to the manual support server  230 . 
     The user device in the group  210  may provide device information (e.g., a device type (e.g., a brand name or a model name), information on functions and settings, or a manual) to the manual support server  230 . The manual may guide various functions of the device (e.g., a mobile device, a computer device, and a home appliance) to a user and/or help the user to manipulate or set such functions. The user device (e.g., a mobile device or a computer device) may display a screen for registering any electronic device as a new member of the group  210 . The user device may recognize the presence of a new electronic device (e.g., a home appliance) (hereinafter, an unregistered device) not registered in the group  210  by scanning a wireless communication channel (e.g., a WiFi communication channel) through the wireless communication circuit, and display the identification information of the unregistered device on the registration screen. The user device may receive a user&#39;s selection of the unregistered device through the registration screen, and establish a wireless communication channel for communication with the selected unregistered device. The user device may receive device information from the unregistered device through the established wireless communication channel, and transmit the received device information to the manual support server  230  to register the unregistered device as a new member of the group  210  in the manual support server  230 . 
     The manual support server  230  may be composed of a plurality of electronic devices that are physically or functionally separated. The manual support server  230  may include a connection server (or a relay server)  240 , an account server  250 , and a service server  260 . At least one of the servers  240 ,  250 , and  260  may include one or more components identical with those of the electronic device  101  shown in  FIG. 1  (e.g., the processor  120 , the memory  130 , the communication module  190 , and/or the antenna module  197 ). Additionally or alternatively, the servers  240 ,  250 , and  260  may be configured in a module form (i.e., a connection module, an account module, and a service module), thus constructing one united server. A memory of the server may store instructions that cause, when executed by a processor of the server, the processor to perform the functions of the modules. In addition, the processor of the server may be configured to perform the functions of the modules. Additionally, the modules may be constructed as group-dedicated modules in any one of the user devices in the group  210 . At least one of the user devices (e.g., a mobile device) in the group  210  may be configured to perform the same function(s) (e.g., an operation of generating a customized manual for a home appliance) as at least one of the functions of the modules. The processor of the mobile device may be configured to perform the above operation. In addition, the memory of the mobile device may store instructions that cause, when executed by the processor, the processor to perform the operation. 
     The connection server  240  may deliver data received from the user device group  210  to the account server  250  or the service server  260 , and also deliver data received from the service server  260  to user devices of the user device group  210 . For example, the connection server  240  may receive a registration request message containing device information from a user device and deliver the device information to the account server  250  and the service server  260 . In addition, the connection server  240  may receive a usage history from a user device and deliver the usage history to the service server  260 . The service server  260  may store the received usage history in a usage history database (DB). In addition, the connection server  240  may receive a customized manual and/or recommendation information from the service server  260  and deliver it to a user device. In addition, the connection server  240  may receive a user profile from a user device and deliver it to the account server  250 . 
     The account server  250  may store, in a device information DB, device information of the user device group  210  received from a user device through the connection server  240 . The account server  250  may store, in a user profile DB, a user profile received from a user device through the connection server  240 . The account server  250  may store, in a user device profile DB, a user device profile received from the service server  260 . As shown in Table 1, the user device profile may contain a user&#39;s usage type (or usage pattern) for a user device, a usage frequency (or preference) of a function related to the usage type, and a proficiency indicating a user&#39;s skillful handling of a function related to the usage type (or a difficulty level indicating a user&#39;s ease of using the function). The usage type may include items as shown in Table 2, shown below. Profiles classified for each user device may be combined into one profile. For example, the service server  260  may select profiles of the same category (e.g., a home appliance) from among user device profiles, calculate an average of preferences and an average of proficiencies for each usage type in the selected profiles, and determine the calculated averages as a preference and a proficiency for each usage type in the home appliance group profile. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 Profile 
                 Usage type 1 
                 Usage type 2 
                 . . . 
                 Usage type N 
               
               
                 of user 
                 Preference 
                 Preference 
                 . . . 
                 Preference 
               
               
                 device 1 
                 Proficiency 
                 Proficiency 
                   
                 Proficiency 
               
               
                 Profile 
                 Usage type 1 
                 Usage type 2 
                 . . . 
                 Usage type N 
               
               
                 of user 
                 Preference 
                 Preference 
                 . . . 
                 Preference 
               
               
                 device 2 
                 Proficiency 
                 Proficiency 
                   
                 Proficiency 
               
               
                 . . . 
                 . . . 
                 . . . 
                 . . . 
                 . . . 
               
               
                 Profile 
                 Usage type 1 
                 Usage type 2 
                 . . . 
                 Usage type N 
               
               
                 of user 
                 Preference 
                 Preference 
                 . . . 
                 Preference 
               
               
                 device N 
                 Proficiency 
                 Proficiency 
                   
                 Proficiency 
               
               
                 Group 
                 Usage type 1 
                 Usage type 2 
                 . . . 
                 Usage type N 
               
               
                 profile 
                 Preference (avg.) 
                 Preference (avg.) 
                 . . . 
                 Preference (avg.) 
               
               
                   
                 Proficiency (avg.) 
                 Proficiency (avg.) 
                   
                 Proficiency (avg.) 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                 TABLE 2 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Related functions 
               
               
                   
                 Usage type 
                 Description 
                 (example) 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 Device 
                 Setting 
                 Users prefer to set their own way of 
                 My favorite 
               
               
                   
                 personalization 
                 use. 
               
               
                   
                 Manipulation 
                 Users prefer to change setting other 
                 Option change 
               
               
                   
                 change 
                 than default mode/operation values. 
               
               
                 Location 
                 Remote control 
                 Users prefer to use a device remotely. 
                 Remote monitoring 
               
               
                 Time 
                 Notification 
                 Users prefer to receive information 
                 Notification 5 
               
               
                   
                   
                 from a device in a desired condition. 
                 minutes before 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 completion 
               
               
                   
                 Schedule setting 
                 Users prefer to operate a device at a 
                 Delay end 
               
               
                   
                   
                 desired time. 
                 (Scheduled cleaning) 
               
               
                 Person 
                 Share 
                 Users prefer to share device&#39;s 
                 Neighborhood 
               
               
                   
                   
                 permissions or usage history with 
                 energy use rate 
               
               
                   
                   
                 others. 
               
               
                 Service 
                 Function 
                 Users prefer to use other functions in 
                 service card 
               
               
                   
                 extension 
                 addition to default functions of a 
               
               
                   
                   
                 device. 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     The service server  260  may generate a customized manual fora newly registered user device (e.g., a device of the same or different type as the existing user device) and/or recommendation information for recommending the manual to a user, based on the usage history or group profile of the existing user device (e.g., a home appliance). For example, the service server  260  may generate the customized manual and/or recommendation information by extracting apart matched with a group profile from the entire manual of the new user device. The matched part may be a manual for a function corresponding to a usage type with the highest preference, or a manual for an unused sub-function in a function corresponding to a certain level of proficiency (e.g., a high level among low, medium, and high levels). The service server  260  may transmit the generated customized manual and/or recommendation information to the user device (e.g., a newly registered user device or mobile device) through the connection server  240 . The operation of generating the customized manual and/or recommendation information may be performed by one (e.g., a mobile device) of members of the user device group  210 . 
     The service server  260  may update a user device profile (or group profile), based on the usage history of the user device, and store the updated profile in the account server  250 . The service server  260  may determine a user device&#39;s function matched with the updated profile and/or a setting necessary for performing the function and, based on the determined function and/or setting, update the customized manual and/or recommendation information for the user device. The operation of updating the customized manual and/or recommendation information may be performed by one (e.g., a mobile device) of the members of the user device group  210 . 
       FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating an operation of generating a profile of a washing machine that is a member of the group  210 , according to an embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the generating operation may be performed by a processor of the service server  260 , the washing machine or a processor of another user device (e.g., a mobile device) in the group  210 . 
     The processor may collect a usage history  320  for each function (e.g., a “my favorite” function or a delay end function) of the washing machine  310 . Then, based on the usage history  320  collected during a given period of time, the processor may generate a washing machine profile  330 . 
     The processor may count the number of times each function has been used based on the collected usage history, and assign a weight (preference) to a usage type related to each function based on the counted number. For example, the processor may assign a weight of 30% to the usage type “setting personalization” related to the function “my favorite”, assign a weight of 62% to the usage type “schedule settings” related to the function “delay end”, and assign the remaining weight of 8% to other usage types. In this case, the processor may recognize that in the group  210  the washing machine is mainly used as the usage type “schedule settings” and secondly used as the usage type “setting personalization”. 
     The processor may count the number of settings (e.g., rinse, spin-dry, water or temperature) for each function or the number of user manipulations to set each function based on the collected usage history, and determine a proficiency for a usage type related to each function based on the counted number. For example, the processor may determine the proficiency for the usage type “setting personalization” related to the function “my favorite” as a “low” level, and determine the proficiency for the usage type “schedule settings” related to the function “delay end” as a “medium” level. 
       FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating an operation of recommending a function of a user device based on a group profile, according to an embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , a procedure of registering an unregistered device as a member of the group  210  may be started through a registration screen  420  of a first user device  410  (e.g., a mobile device) in the group  210 . As a result of registration, first recommendation information  430  may be provided through a display. Also, when a group profile is updated, second recommendation information  440  may be provided through the display. 
     A processor of the first user device  410  may recognize the existence of an unregistered device, e.g., a robot cleaner, by using a wireless communication circuit. The processor may visually provide a user with identification information  450  and a registration request button  460  on the registration screen  420 . The processor may perform the procedure of registering an unregistered device as a member of the group  210  in response to a user input on the registration request button  460 . 
     The processor of the first user device  410  may visually provide the first recommendation information  430  as a result of registration through the display. 
     The processor of the service server  260  may receive device information of a second user device (e.g., a robot cleaner) from the first user device  410  through the connection server  240 . The processor of the service server  260  may compare the received device information with device information of the user device group  210  (e.g., device information stored in the account server  250 ), and thereby recognize that the second user device is different from the existing user devices in the group  210 . Based on this recognition, as shown in Table 3, below, the processor of the service server  260  may identify a preference and a proficiency corresponding to each usage type from a group profile (e.g., the group profile stored in the account server  250 ). In addition, the processor of the service server  260  may classify functions of the second user device according to the usage type as shown in Table 3. Based on such identifying and classifying results, the processor of the service server  260  may determine that the user will most preferentially and skillfully handle the scheduled cleaning among the functions of the second user device, and then determine the scheduled cleaning as a first recommended function. The processor of the service server  260  may transmit information on the first recommended function to the first user device  410  through the connection server  240 . The processor of the first user device  410  may visually provide the received first recommendation information  430  through the display. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
             
               
                 TABLE 3 
               
               
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Function of 2nd 
               
               
                 Usage type 
                 Preference 
                 Proficiency 
                 user device 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 Manipulation change 
                  3% 
                 Low 
                 Powerful cleaning 
               
               
                 Remote control 
                 30% 
                 Low 
                 Use of remote 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 controller 
               
               
                 Schedule setting 
                 62% 
                 Medium 
                 Scheduled cleaning 
               
               
                 . . . 
                   
                 . . . 
                 . . . 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     The processor of the first user device  410  may be configured to perform the above-described operations of identifying the preference/proficiency, classifying the functions of the second user device according to the usage type, and determining the first recommended function. 
     When the group profile is updated, the processor of the first user device  410  may visually provide the second recommendation information  440  through the display. 
     The processor of the service server  260  may receive a usage history of a user device (e.g., the second user device) through the connection server  240 . The processor of the service server  260  may update the group profile, based on the received usage history. For example, based on the usage history, the processor of the service server  260  may adjust upwards the proficiency of the schedule setting to a high level as shown in Table 4, below. In another example, based on the usage history, the processor of the service server  260  may adjust upwards the preference of the schedule setting. Based on such upward adjustment, the processor of the service server  260  may generate recommendation information for a function related to a usage type in which the proficiency and/or preference is adjusted upwards. For example, referring to Table 4, below, the processor may recognize that the usage type whose proficiency is adjusted upwards to a certain level or higher is the schedule setting, and then recognize that the function of the second user device related to the schedule setting is the scheduled cleaning. In another example, the processor may recognize the function of the second user device corresponding to the usage type whose preference is adjusted upwards to a certain level or higher. As a result, based on the user&#39;s proficiency and/or preference for the recognized function being adjusted upwards to a certain level or higher, the processor may determine a sub-function of that function as a second recommended function. For example, the processor may recognize, based on the usage history of the user device, that a conditional scheduled cleaning (e.g., a function to schedule cleaning to be performed repeatedly when fine dust is high) has never been used as a sub-function of the scheduled cleaning, and thereby determine the conditional scheduled cleaning as the second recommended function. The processor of the service server  260  may transmit information on the second recommended function to the first user device  410  through the connection server  240 . The processor of the first user device  410  may visually provide the received second recommendation information  440  through the display. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
             
               
                 TABLE 4 
               
               
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Function of 2nd 
               
               
                 Usage type 
                 Preference 
                 Proficiency 
                 user device 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 Manipulation change 
                  3% 
                 Low 
                 Powerful cleaning 
               
               
                 Remote control 
                 30% 
                 Low 
                 Use of remote 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 controller 
               
               
                 Schedule setting 
                 62% 
                 High 
                 Scheduled cleaning 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 (Conditional 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 scheduled cleaning) 
               
               
                 . . . 
                   
                 . . . 
                 . . . 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     The processor of the first user device  410  may be configured to perform the above-described operation of determining the second recommended function based on the update of the group profile. 
     The registration screen  420 , the first recommendation information  430 , and/or the second recommendation information  440  may be provided to the user through the display of the second user device. 
       FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating an operation of recommending a function of a user device, based on a usage history, according to an embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , a first user device  510  (e.g., a washing machine) may provide a first customized manual  522  and/or a second customized manual  523 , instead of a default manual  521 , through a setting screen  520 . 
     The processor of the first user device  510  may visually provide, through the setting screen  520 , the first customized manual  522  and/or the second customized manual  523  as a result of the first user device  510  being registered as a member of the group  210 . 
     The processor of the service server  260  may receive information of the first user device  510  from the first user device  510  or a second user device (e.g., a mobile device) in the group  210 . The processor may compare the received device information with device information of the user device group  210  (e.g., device information stored in the account server  250 ), and thereby recognize that a third user device of the same type as the first user device  510  exists in the group  210 . Based on this recognition, as shown in Table 5, below, the processor of the service server  260  may classify the functions of the third user device in the order of use frequency by using the usage history of the second user device. The processor of the service server  260  may select functions of the first user device  510  matched with functions of a predetermined rank (e.g., a third rank) or higher among functions of the third user device. 
     Referring to Tables 5 and 6, below, the processor may select, as a function to be provided through a customized manual, a function (e.g., a standard washing function) of the first user device  510  having the same setting values as those of the standard washing function, which is classified as the first rank, among functions of the third user device. Also, the processor may select, as another function to be provided through the customized manual, a function (e.g., a bedding wash function) of the first user device  510  having the same setting values as those of the bedding wash function classified as the second rank. Also, the processor may select, as another function to be provided through the customized manual, a function (e.g., an outdoor wash function) of the first user device  510  having the same setting values as those of the random wash function classified as the third rank. The processor of the service server  260  may generate recommendation information containing item(s) indicating at least one of the selected functions. For example, the processor may change the default manual  521  to a customized default manual  522  that contains items (e.g., standard, bedding, or outdoor) of the selected functions. The processor may generate a customized favorite manual  523  that contains specific items (e.g., bedding or outdoor). Additionally, the processor may generate information for informing the user that two functions are different only in their names and have the same setting values. For example, the processor may generate information for notifying the user that the outdoor wash and the random wash have the same setting values except for their names. The processor of the service server  260  may transmit the customized manual(s)  522  and/or  523  to the first user device  510  and/or the second user device, thereby allowing the user to manipulate (or remotely manipulate) the first user device  510  by using the customized manual. For example, the first customized manual  522  and/or the second customized manual  523  may be recommended to the user through the display of the user device. If a user input of accepting the recommendation is recognized through the input device  150  or the touch-sensitive display  160  of the user device, the first customized manual  522  and/or the second customized manual  523  may be provided to the user as a manual for allowing the user to manipulate the first user device. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
                 TABLE 5 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Frequency 
                   
                 Water 
                 Number of 
                 Spin-dry 
               
               
                 rank 
                 Function 
                 temp. 
                 rinses 
                 strength 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 1 
                 Standard wash 
                 40 
                 3 
                 Strong 
               
               
                 2 
                 Bedding wash 
                 30 
                 3 
                 Strong 
               
               
                 3 
                 Random wash 
                 30 
                 2 
                 Medium 
               
               
                 . . . 
                 . . . 
                 . . . 
                 . . . 
                 . . . 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
             
               
                 TABLE 6 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Function 
                 Water temp. 
                 Number of rinses 
                 Spin-dry strength 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 Standard wash 
                 40 
                 3 
                 Strong 
               
               
                 Bedding wash 
                 30 
                 3 
                 Strong 
               
               
                 Outdoor wash 
                 30 
                 2 
                 Medium 
               
               
                 . . . 
                 . . . 
                 . . . 
                 . . . 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     The processor of the first user device  510  or the processor of the second user device may be configured to perform operations of classifying functions of the third user device in the order of use frequency by using the usage history of the second user device, selecting functions of the first user device  510  matched with functions of a certain rank or higher among functions of the third user device, and generating a customized manual containing item(s) indicating at least one of the selected functions. 
       FIG. 6  is a flow diagram illustrating operations  600  for supporting a customized manual, according to an embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , the operations  600  may be performed by a processor of the manual support server  230  or the service server  260 , or by a processor of a user device in the group  210  (e.g., a processor of a mobile device) when a new electronic device is registered as a member of the group  210 . 
     At operation  610 , the processor determines whether a second user device (a previously registered electronic device) of the same type as a first user device (a newly registered electronic device) exists in the group  210 . For example, when device information of the first user device is found in the device information DB or the user device profile DB of the user device group  210 , the processor may determine that the same-type second user device exists in the group  210 . Also, when it is not found in the DB, the processor may determine that the same-type second user device does not exist in the group  210 . 
     When it is determined that the same-type second user device does not exist in the group  210  (i.e., NO branch of operation  610 ), the processor performs operation  620  and recommends a function of the first user device (e.g., the operation of providing information on the first recommended function to the user in the above-described process of  FIG. 4 ), based on the group profile. When it is determined that the same-type second user device exists in the group  210  (i.e., YES branch of operation  610 ), the processor performs operation  630  and recommends a function of the first user device (e.g., the operation of recommending the customized manual to the user in the above-described process of  FIG. 5 ), based on the usage history of the second user device. 
     The information on the recommended function may be visually provided through a display of a user device. If a user input of accepting recommendation is received through an input device  150  or a touch-sensitive display  160  of the user device as a user&#39;s response to the recommendation, an item indicating the recommended function may be applied to a customized manual of the first user device. 
     At operation  640 , the processor collects the usage history generated when the first user device is used by the user(s), and updates the group profile by using the collected usage history. 
       FIG. 7  is a flow diagram illustrating operations  700  for updating a group profile, based on a usage history, according to an embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , the operations  700  may be performed by a processor of the manual support server  230 , a processor of the service server  260 , a processor of a user device in the group  210 , or a processor of a mobile device. 
     At operation  710 , the processor collects usage histories as shown in Table 7, below, from the user device in the group  210 . In Table 7, the value “N−M” (N=1, 2, 3, . . . and M=1, 2, 3, . . . ) may indicate whether the user has used a particular function to which the corresponding setting is applied (e.g., whether an alarm has been used) or whether the user has manipulated (or changed) the corresponding setting (e.g., whether the number of rinses has been increased). 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                 TABLE 7 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Setting 1 
                 Setting 2 
                 . . . 
                 Setting N 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 Usage history 1 
                 Value 1-1 
                 Value 2-1 
                 . . . 
                 Value N-1 
               
               
                 Usage history 2 
                 Value 1-2 
                 Value 2-2 
                 . . . 
                 Value N-2 
               
               
                 Usage history 3 
                 Value 1-3 
                 Value 2-3 
                 . . . 
                 Value N-3 
               
               
                 . . . 
                 . . . 
                 . . . 
                 . . . 
                 . . . 
               
               
                 Usage history M 
                 Value 1-M 
                 Value 2-M 
                 . . . 
                 Value N-M 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     At operation  720 , the processor identifies a meaningful setting from settings of the collected usage histories (1, 2, . . . , and N). The meaningful setting may refer to a setting that has a usage frequency greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold. For example, the processor may calculate a sum of values assigned to each setting, and regard a certain setting having the sum greater than or equal to the threshold as the meaningful setting. 
     At operation  730 , the processor updates the group profile by adjusting upwards the preference and/or proficiency assigned to the usage type associated with the meaningful setting from among the usage types of the group profile. 
       FIG. 8  is a flow diagram illustrating operations  800  for recommending a function based on a usage type, according to an embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , the operations  800  may be performed by a processor of the manual support server  230 , a processor of the service server  260 , a processor of a user device in the group  210 , or a processor of a mobile device. 
     At operation  810 , the processor determines a recommendation time point for a user device function determined to be recommended to the user. As shown in Table 8, below, the memory may store information indicating a relationship among a usage type, a user device type, a user device function, and a recommendation time point. Based on this information stored in the memory, the processor may determine the recommendation time point. For example, the processor may recognize, from the above information, the recommendation time point that corresponds to the user device and its function (e.g., remote preheating of an oven). In another example, the processor may recognize, from the above information, there commendation time point corresponding to a different particular function (e.g., “my favorite” function or personalization of main functions). The recommendation time point may refer to “initial” (when the user device is registered as a member of the group  210  and used for the first time by the user), “before use” (when the user device is not yet used), “in use” (when the user device is in use), or “after use” (after the user device is used). 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
                 TABLE 8 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Usage type 
                 Initial 
                 Before use 
                 In use 
                 After use 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 Setting 
                 Personalization 
                   
                   
                 My favorite 
               
               
                 personalization 
                 of main functions 
                   
                   
                 function 
               
               
                 Manipulation 
                   
                 Robot cleaner, 
                 Washing machine, 
               
               
                 change 
                   
                 Spot cleaning 
                 Add-wash 
               
               
                   
                   
                 mode setting 
                 deadline notice 
               
               
                 Remote control 
                   
                 Oven remote 
                 Washing machine 
               
               
                   
                   
                 preheating 
                 remote 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 monitoring 
               
               
                 Notification 
                   
                 Air dresser, 
                   
                 Washing machine, 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Fine dust 
                   
                 Personalized 
               
               
                   
                   
                 notification 
                   
                 notification 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 setting 
               
               
                 Schedule setting 
                   
                   
                   
                 Washing machine, 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Notification 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 of laundry 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 collection 
               
               
                 Share 
                 Friends&#39; usage 
               
               
                   
                 top 3 
               
               
                 Function 
                   
                 Air Dresser, 
                   
                 Air Dresser, 
               
               
                 extension 
                   
                 Download 
                   
                 Accessories 
               
               
                   
                   
                 course 
                   
                 introduction 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     At operation  820 , the processor provides recommendation information to the user at the determined recommendation time point. The processor of the service server  260  may transmit information indicating the recommendation time point to a remote control device (e.g., a mobile device) in the group  210  so that the recommendation information is displayed through a display of the remote control device at the recommendation time point. The processor of the service server  260  may transmit the recommendation time point information to a user device to perform the corresponding recommended function so that the recommendation information is displayed through a display of the user device at the recommendation time point. A processor of the remote control device may display the recommendation information through the display thereof at the recommendation time point. 
       FIG. 9A  is a flow diagram illustrating operations  900  for generating a customized manual based on a group profile, according to an embodiment.  FIG. 9B  is a diagram illustrating examples of a customized manual, according to an embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG. 9A , the operations  900  may be performed by a processor of the manual support server  230  or a processor of the service server  260 . 
     At operation  910 , the processor recognizes a profile of a user device group, in which a user device is registered, among a plurality of group profiles. The manual support server  230  or the account server  250  may store a plurality of user device group profiles as shown in Table 9, below. From among the user device group profiles, the processor may recognize a profile of a group  210  in which the user device is registered. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                 TABLE 9 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Setting personalization 
                 Remote control 
                 . . . 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 Group profile of 1 st  user 
                 30%, Low     
                 62%, High 
                 . . . 
               
               
                 device group 
               
               
                 Group profile of 2 nd  user 
                 80%, High 
                  5%, Low 
                 . . . 
               
               
                 device group 
               
               
                 . . . 
                 . . . 
                 . . . 
                 . . . 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     At operation  920 , the processor generates a customized manual for the user device by using the recognized group profile and a default manual of the user device. 
     The processor may generate the customized manual by adjusting the order of function items of the default manual so that a function item corresponding to a usage type having a higher preference is preferentially disposed higher than a function item corresponding to a usage type having a lower preference. For example, referring to Table 9 and  FIG. 9B , if the user device belongs to a first user device group, the processor may generate a first customized manual  930  for the user(s) of the first user device group by preferentially disposing a function item (e.g., smart control or washing end mobile notification) corresponding to the remote control over a function item (e.g., washing drum brightness adjust) corresponding to the setting personalization. If the user device belongs to a second user device group, the processor may generate a second customized manual  940  for the user(s) of the second user device group by preferentially disposing a function item (e.g., washing drum brightness adjust, favorite washing direct setting, or default course value change) corresponding to the setting personalization. 
     The processor may generate the customized manual by adjusting the order of function items of the default manual so that a function item having a low proficiency is preferentially disposed over a function item having a high proficiency. Even if function items belong to the same usage type, individual functions may be contained with different proficiencies in the group profile. Referring to the second customized manual  940 , the processor may arrange function items corresponding to the setting personalization in the manual in an order from a low proficiency to a high proficiency. 
       FIG. 10A  is a flow diagram illustrating operations  1000  for changing a customized manual based on an update of a group profile, according to an embodiment.  FIG. 10B  is a diagram illustrating examples of a customized manual before and after a change, according to an embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG. 10A , the operations  1000  may be performed by a processor of the manual support server  230  or a processor of the service server  260 . 
     At operation  1010 , the processor adjusts the proficiency of a specific usage type based on a usage history for the user device. For example, referring to Table 9, above, and Table 10, below, the processor may adjust upwards the proficiency of the setting personalization from a “medium” level to a “high” level in the group profile of the first user device group and/or the second user device group. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                 TABLE 10 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Setting personalization 
                 Remote control 
                 . . . 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 Group profile of 1 st  user 
                 30%, Medium 
                 62%, High 
                 . . . 
               
               
                 device group 
               
               
                 Group profile of 2 nd  user 
                 80%, High      
                  5%, Low 
                 . . . 
               
               
                 device group 
               
               
                 . . . 
                 . . . 
                 . . . 
                 . . . 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     At operation  1020 , the processor changes the customized manual for the user device based on the adjusted proficiency. For example, the processor may generate a third customized manual  1030  by changing “washing drum brightness adjust” to correspond to a “low” proficiency level, designated as the third item in the first customized manual  930 , by changing it to “favorite mobile setting” corresponding to a “middle” proficiency level. 
       FIG. 11A  is a flow diagram illustrating operations  1100  for generating recommendation information based on a preference of a usage type, according to an embodiment.  FIG. 11B  is a diagram illustrating examples of recommendation information provided differently to a user depending on preferences, according to an embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG. 11A , the operations  1100  may be performed by a processor of the manual support server  230  or a processor of the service server  260 . 
     At operation  1110 , the processor recognizes a profile of a user device group, in which a user device is registered, among a plurality of group profiles. For example, the manual support server  230  or the account server  250  may store a plurality of user device group profiles as shown in Table 11, below. From among the user device group profiles, the processor may recognize a profile of a group  210  in which the user device is registered. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                 TABLE 11 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Setting 
                 Remote 
                 Notifica- 
                 Schedule 
                   
               
               
                   
                 personalization 
                 control 
                 tion 
                 setting 
                 . . . 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 Group profile of 
                   
                   
                 78% 
                   
                 . . . 
               
               
                 1 st  user device 
               
               
                 group 
               
               
                 Group profile of 
                   
                 41% 
                 32% 
                   
                 . . . 
               
               
                 2 nd  user device 
               
               
                 group 
               
               
                 Group profile of 
                 23% 
                   
                 19% 
                 21% 
                 . . . 
               
               
                 3 rd  user device 
               
               
                 group 
               
               
                 . . . 
                 . . . 
                 . . . 
                 . . . 
                 . . . 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     At operation  1120 , the processor generates recommendation information for the user device based on the preference of each usage type of the recognized group profile. The processor may select at least one usage type having a relatively high preference from among usage types (e.g., from among usage types shown in Table 2), and generate the recommendation information for functions related to the selected at least one usage type. 
     Referring to Table 11, above, and  FIG. 11B , the processor may generate the recommendation information for a specific function (e.g., a so-called “echo drum clean”, which means a function of cleaning a washing drum without detergent) of the user device. If the user device belongs to the first user device group, the processor may recognize from the first user device group profile that the notification has the highest preference among various usage types, and thereby generate first recommendation information  1130  for specifically informing the user what the specific function (e.g., the echo drum clean) is. If the user device belongs to the second user device group, the processor may recognize that the remote control and the notification have relatively higher preferences over the other usage types, and thereby generate second recommendation information  1140  for specifically informing the user what the specific function is and that the remote control is available. If the user device belongs to the third user device group, the processor may recognize that the setting personalization, the notification, and the schedule setting have relatively higher preferences over the other usage types, and thereby generate third recommendation information  1150  for specifically informing the user what the specific function is and that a scheduled and personalized setting is possible. 
       FIG. 12A  is a flow diagram illustrating operations  1200  for generating recommendation information, based on a recommendation time point, according to an embodiment.  FIG. 12B  is a diagram illustrating examples of recommendation information provided differently to a user depending on recommendation time points, according to an embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG. 12A , the operations  1200  may be performed by a processor of the manual support server  230  or a processor of the service server  260 . 
     At operation  1210 , the processor selects a function (e.g., “my favorite” function) to be recommended among functions of the user device. For example, based on the group profile of a group to which the user device belongs, the processor may select a specific function corresponding to a usage type with a certain preference or higher as a function to be recommended to the user. 
     At operation  1220 , the processor determines a recommendation time point for the selected function based on the usage history of the user device. For example, the processor may recognize the absence of the usage history in the DB as the user device is newly registered as a member of the group  210 , and thus determine the recommendation time point of the selected function as “initial”, which means when the user uses the user device for the first time. The processor may retrieve the usage history of the user device from the DB and then check, from the usage history, the period of time the user has used the device for. If the usage period exceeds a given threshold, the processor may determine the recommendation time point of the selected function as “after use”, which means after the user device is used. 
     At operation  1230 , the processor generates recommendation information, based on the determined recommendation time point. For example, referring to  FIG. 12B , when the recommendation time point is “initial”, the processor may generate first recommendation information  1240  for allowing the user to know what the selected function (e.g., “my favorite” function) is. When the recommendation time point is “after use”, the processor may generate second recommendation information  1250  for allowing the user to know of a detail usage method for the selected function (e.g., how to register a function as having a higher preference than “my favorite” function). 
       FIG. 13  is a flow diagram illustrating operations  1300  performed in the network environment  200  of  FIG. 2 , according to an embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG. 13 , a first electronic device  1301  may be a device that a user wants to register as a new member of the group  210 , and a second electronic device  1302  may be a user device (e.g., a remote control device) that has been already registered in the group  210 . 
     At operation  1310 , the first electronic device  1301  activates a registration mode for registering the first electronic device  1301  in the group  210 . For example, a processor of the first electronic device  1301  may transmit (e.g., broadcast) identification information of the first electronic device  1301  through a short-range wireless communication circuit (e.g., a WiFi communication circuit), so that the second electronic device  1302  recognizes the existence of the first electronic device  1301 . 
     At operation  1315 , the second electronic device  1302  transmits, to the manual support server  230 , a registration request message that contains device information (e.g., information indicating an electronic device type, information about functions and settings, or a manual) of the first electronic device  1301  obtained using a short-range wireless communication circuit. 
     At operation  1320 , the manual support server  230  performs, in response to the registration request, a registration procedure including an operation of storing the device information of the first electronic device  1301  in the device information DB of the group  210 , thereby completing the registration of the first electronic device  1301 . The manual support server  230  may receive the device information of the first electronic device  1301  from the first electronic device  1301 . For example, the manual support server  230  may transmit, to the first electronic device  1301 , a device information request message containing the identification information of the first electronic device  1301  received from the second electronic device  1302 . In response to receiving the device information request message, the first electronic device  1301  may transmit the device information to the manual support server  230 . 
     At operation  1325 , the manual support server  230  retrieves a third electronic device of the same type as the first electronic device  1301  from the device information DB or the user device profile DB of the group  210 . 
     If the third electronic device of the same type as the first electronic device  1301  is not found in the DB (i.e., NO branch of operation  1325 ), the manual support server  230  may transmit, at operation  1330 , a related notification message to the second electronic device  1302 . Upon receiving this message, the second electronic device  1302  may provide an interface screen for allowing the user to input identification information (e.g., a brand name or a model name) of the third electronic device and selecting a function of the third electronic device through a display, and then transmit information on the function(s) of the third electronic device selected through the interface screen to the manual support server  230  at operation  1335 . If the third electronic device of the same type as the first electronic device  1301  is found in the DB (i.e., YES branch of operation  1325 ), the manual support server  230  performs operation  1340 . 
     At operation  1340 , the manual support server  230  classifies the functions of the third electronic device retrieved at the operation  1325  or recognized through the interface screen of the second electronic device  1302  in the order of use frequency (e.g., as shown in Table 5, above). 
     At operation  1345 , the manual support server  230  determines whether, among functions of the third electronic device having a predetermined rank (e.g., a third rank) or higher, there is a function matched with a function of the first electronic device  1301 . 
     If it is determined that there is no function matched with a function of the first electronic device  1301  (i.e., No branch of operation  1345 ), the manual support server  230  transmits, at operation  1350 , information indicating the functions, together with their settings, of the third electronic device having a predetermined rank (e.g., a third rank) or higher to the second electronic device  1302 . 
     If it is determined that there is a function matched with a function of the first electronic device  1301  (i.e., YES branch of operation  1345 ), the manual support server  230  transmits, at operation  1355 , information indicating the function, together with its settings, of the third electronic device matched with a function of the first electronic device  1301  to the second electronic device  1302 . 
     At operation  1360 , the second electronic device  1302  generates a customized manual for the first electronic device  1301  by using the information received from the manual support server  230 . 
     At operation  1365 , the second electronic device  1302  transmits the customized manual to the first electronic device  1301  such that the customized manual is applied as a manual for manipulating the first electronic device  1301 . 
       FIG. 14  is a diagram illustrating an operation of generating a customized manual for a new same-type user device based on a usage history of an existing user device registered in the group  210 , according to an embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG. 14 , a first user device  1410  may be a new user device (e.g., the first electronic device  1301  in  FIG. 13 ) newly registered in the group  210 , and a second user device  1420  may be a device (e.g., the second electronic device  1302  in  FIG. 13 ) supporting registration of the first user device  1410  among the existing user devices belonging to the group  210 . For example, a procedure for registering the first user device  1410  as a member of the group  210  may be started through a registration screen  1421  provided by the second user device  1420 . 
     When the registration procedure of the first user device  1410  is completed, a processor of the second user device  1420  may retrieve a third user device of the same type (e.g., a washing machine) as the first user device  1410  from the device information DB or the group profile DB of the group  210  provided by the manual support server  230 . If the same-type of device as the third user device is not found in the DB, the processor of the second user device  1420  may obtain identification information (e.g., a brand name or a model name) of the third user device directly from the user through an interface screen. 
     The processor of the second user device  1420  may identify a usage history of the third user device from the manual support server  230  and classify functions of the third user device in the order of use frequency by using the usage history (e.g., as shown in Table 5, above). The processor of the second user device  1420  may select functions (e.g., standard wash, bedding wash, and random wash in Table 5) having a given rank or higher from among functions of the third user device. 
     The processor of the second user device  1420  may select a function (e.g., standard wash in Table 6) of the first user device  1410  to which the same setting values (e.g., a water temperature, the number of rinses, or a spin-dry strength for the standard wash) as those of the selected function of the third user device are applied. 
     The processor of the second user device  1420  may display, through a display (e.g., a touch-sensitive display), a customized manual  1422  containing items indicating the selected functions of the first user device  1410 , and buttons (e.g., “Apply” and “Skip”) for allowing the user to select whether to use the customized manual on the first user device  1410 . 
     If the user selects using the customized manual  1422  on the first user device  1410 , the processor of the second user device  1420  may transmit the customized manual  1422  to the first user device  1410  to use the customized manual  1422 , instead of default manual  1411 , as a manual for manipulating the first user device  1410 . 
     Meanwhile, the function of the first user device  1410  to which the same setting values as those of the selected function of the third user device (e.g., as shown in Table 12, below) are applied may not be set in the first user device  1410  (e.g., NO branch of operation  1345  in  FIG. 13 ). In this case, the processor of the second user device  1420  may add an item corresponding to the selected function of the third user device to the default manual of the first user device  1410  to generate a customized manual (e.g., as shown in Table 13, below). 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
                 TABLE 12 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Frequency 
                   
                 Water 
                 Number of 
                 Spin-dry 
               
               
                 rank 
                 Function 
                 temp. 
                 rinses 
                 strength 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 1 
                 Standard wash 
                 40 
                 4 
                 Medium 
               
               
                   
                 (User-defined) 
               
               
                 2 
                 Bedding wash 
                 60 
                 3 
                 Strong 
               
               
                   
                 (User-defined) 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
             
               
                 TABLE 13 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Function 
                 Water temp. 
                 Number of rinses 
                 Spin-dry strength 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 Standard wash 
                 40 
                 3 
                 Strong 
               
               
                 Standard wash 
                 40 
                 4 
                 Medium 
               
               
                 (User-defined) 
               
               
                 Bedding wash 
                 60 
                 3 
                 Strong 
               
               
                 (User-defined) 
               
               
                 Bedding wash 
                 60 
                 2 
                 Strong 
               
               
                 Delicate wash 
                 30 
                 2 
                 Weak 
               
               
                 . . . 
                 . . . 
                 . . . 
                 . . . 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
       FIG. 15  is a diagram illustrating an operation of generating a customized manual for a new user device by using information on functions set in an existing user device registered in the group  210 , according to an embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG. 15 , the existing user device (e.g., the second electronic device  1302  in  FIG. 13 , hereinafter, a second user device) may display, on a display thereof, interface screens  1510 ,  1520 , and  1530  for interacting with a user to generate a customized manual for the new user device (e.g., the first electronic device  1301  in  FIG. 13 ). 
     As described above, a third user device of the same type as the first user device may not be retrieved from the manual support server  230 . In this case, the processor of the second user device may display, on the display (e.g., a touch-sensitive display), a first interface screen  1510  for allowing the user to input identification information of the third user device (e.g., a model name of the third user device that the user has used in the past). The processor of the second user device may transmit the identification information (e.g., the model name “WF14FFT5FFF1”), inputted through the first interface screen  1510 , to the manual support server  230  and thereby retrieve the third user device from the manual support server  230 . The manual support server  230  may obtain a usage history of the third user device corresponding to the received identification information and reply to the second user device. For example, as shown in Table 14, below, the usage history may contain functions, setting values applied to each function, and information indicating whether the same function is applied to the first user device. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
                 TABLE 14 
               
               
                   
               
               
                   
                 Water 
                 Number of 
                 Spin-dry 
                 Same 
               
               
                 Function 
                 temp. 
                 rinses 
                 strength 
                 function 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 Standard wash 
                 40 
                 3 
                 Strong 
                 ◯ 
               
               
                 Quick wash 
                 40 
                 4 
                 Medium 
                 X 
               
               
                 Powerful wash 
                 60 
                 3 
                 Strong 
                 X 
               
               
                 Bedding wash 
                 60 
                 2 
                 Strong 
                 ◯ 
               
               
                 Delicate wash 
                 30 
                 2 
                 Weak 
                 ◯ 
               
               
                 . . . 
                 . . . 
                 . . . 
                 . . . 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     The processor of the second user device may display, on the display, an interface screen that contains information related to the usage history of the third user device received from the manual support server  230 . For example, the processor may display a second interface screen  1520  that contains the functions of the third user device and information indicating whether each function is applied to the first user device. 
     When the user selects at least one (e.g., quick wash or bedding) of the functions of the third user device in the second interface screen  1520 , the processor of the second user device may display, on the display, a third interface screen  1530  that requests confirmation of the user as to whether to apply the selected function(s) to the first user device. Upon receiving user&#39;s confirmation through the third interface screen  1530 , the processor may generate a customized manual for the first user device by adding an item corresponding to the selected function to the manual of the first user device. 
       FIG. 16  is a flow diagram illustrating operations  1600  for generating a customized manual for a new same-type user device newly registered in a group of an existing user device based on a usage history of the existing user device, according to an embodiment. The operations  1600  may be performed by a processor of the manual support server  230  or a processor of the service server  260 . 
     At operation  1610 , the processor retrieves, from the device information DB or the user device profile DB of a user device group to which the new user device (hereinafter, a first user device) belongs, the existing user device (hereinafter, a second user device) of the same type as the first user device. 
     The processor may identify a usage history of the second user device in the usage history DB of the corresponding group, and classify the functions of the second user device in the order of use frequency by using the identified usage history. At operation  1620 , the processor selects particular functions having a given rank or higher from among the functions of the second user device. For example, referring to Table 15, below, if the second user device belongs to the first user device group, the functions “standard wash”, “standard wash (user-defined)”, and “bedding wash (user-defined)” may be selected. If the second user device belongs to the second user device group, the functions “standard wash (user-defined)”, “standard wash”, and “delicate wash” may be selected. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
                 TABLE 15 
               
               
                   
               
               
                   
                 Frequency 
                   
                 Water 
                 Number of 
                 Spin-dry 
               
               
                 Group 
                 rank 
                 Function 
                 temp. 
                 rinses 
                 strength 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 1 st  user 
                 1 
                 Standard wash 
                 40 
                 2 
                 Medium 
               
               
                 device 
                 2 
                 Standard wash 
                 40 
                 4 
                 Medium 
               
               
                 group 
                   
                 (User-defined) 
               
               
                   
                 3 
                 Bedding wash 
                 60 
                 3 
                 Strong 
               
               
                   
                   
                 (User-defined) 
               
               
                   
                 . . . 
                 . . . 
                 . . . 
                 . . . 
                 . . . 
               
               
                 2 nd  user 
                 1 
                 Standard wash 
                 40 
                 3 
                 Medium 
               
               
                 device 
                   
                 (User-defined) 
               
               
                 group 
                 2 
                 Standard wash 
                 40 
                 2 
                 Medium 
               
               
                   
                 3 
                 Delicate wash 
                 30 
                 2 
                 Weak 
               
               
                   
                 . . . 
                 . . . 
                 . . . 
                 . . . 
                 . . . 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     At operation  1630 , the processor selects, from among the selected functions of the second user device, a function that is not set in the first user device. For example, if the second user device belongs to the first user device group, the functions “standard wash (user-defined)” and “bedding wash (user-defined)” may be selected. If the second user device belongs to the second user device group, the function “standard wash (user-defined)” may be selected. 
     At operation  1640 , the processor generates a customized manual by adding an item corresponding to the selected function to the manual of the first user device. 
       FIG. 17  is a flow diagram illustrating operations  1700  for generating recommendation information for a new user device newly registered in a group  210  based on usage histories of existing user devices registered in the group  210 , according to an embodiment. The operations  1700  may be performed by a processor of the manual support server  230  or a processor of the service server  260 . 
     At operation  1710 , the processor retrieves a plurality of existing user devices similar to the new user device (hereinafter, a first user device) in the device information DB or group profile DB of the group  210  provided by the manual support server  230 . For example, the processor may recognize the type of the first user device (e.g., an air conditioner), based on the corresponding device information, and retrieve a second user device classified as the recognized type from the device information DB of the group  210 . The processor may recognize a function (e.g., an air cleaning function) performed by the first user device, based on the corresponding device information, and retrieve a third user device (e.g., an air cleaner) capable of performing the same function as the recognized function. 
     The processor may identify usage histories of the retrieved user devices in the usage history DB of the group  210 , and classify the functions of the retrieved user devices in the order of use frequency by using the identified usage histories. In operation  1720 , the processor selects particular functions having a given rank or higher from among the classified functions. For example, referring to Table 16, below, the processor may select, from among the functions of the air cleaner, particular functions “auto”, “no wind”, “turbo”, and “sleep”, which have higher use frequencies, as a source for generating a customized manual of the first user device. Also, the processor may select, from among the functions of the air conditioner, particular functions “no wind”, “weak”, “turbo”, and “sleep mode”, which have higher use frequencies, as a source for generating a customized manual for the first user device. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
                 TABLE 16 
               
               
                   
               
               
                   
                 Frequency 
                   
                   
                 Average 
               
               
                 Device type 
                 rank 
                 Function 
                 Main use time 
                 duration 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 Air cleaner 
                 1 
                 Auto 
                 18:00~23:00 
                 2 
                 hrs 
               
               
                   
                 2 
                 No wind 
                 13:00~23:00 
                 1 
                 hrs 
               
               
                   
                 3 
                 Turbo 
                 12:00~14:00 
                 30 
                 mins 
               
               
                   
                 4 
                 Sleep 
                 24:00~3:00  
                 3 
                 hrs 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 . . . 
                 . . . 
                 . . . 
                 . . . 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 Air conditioner 
                 1 
                 No wind 
                 15:00~18:00 
                 2 
                 hrs 
               
               
                   
                 2 
                 Weak 
                 13:00~23:00 
                 1 
                 hrs 
               
               
                   
                 3 
                 Turbo 
                 12:00~14:00 
                 30 
                 mins 
               
               
                   
                 4 
                 Sleep mode 
                 24:00~3:00  
                 3 
                 hrs 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 . . . 
                 . . . 
                 . . . 
                 . . . 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     At operation  1730 , the processor generates recommendation information for the first user device by combining some of the selected functions. For example, the processor may compare the selected functions of the air conditioner with the selected functions of the air cleaner, recognize a particular function of the air conditioner and a particular function of the air cleaner having the same setting values, and generate recommendation information containing an item corresponding to a combination of the recognized functions. The processor may recognize that the same setting values are applied to the function “no-wind cooling” of the air conditioner and the function “no-wind air cleaning” of the air cleaner, and add a new item indicating a combination of these functions (e.g., a function named “no-wind cooling &amp; air-cleaning”) to the recommendation information. Additionally, the processor may recognize that the same setting values are applied to the function “sleep mode cooling” of the air conditioner and the function “sleep air cleaning” of the air cleaner, and add a new item indicating a combination of these functions (e.g., a function named “sleep mode cooling &amp; air-cleaning”) to the recommendation information. 
       FIGS. 18A and 18B  are diagrams illustrating an operation of recommending a function of a user device based on a usage history of the user device, according to an embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG. 18A , a processor of a first user device  1810  (e.g., a remote control device) may retrieve a usage history of a second user device  1820  (e.g., a washing machine) from a usage history DB (e.g., the usage history DB provided by the manual support server  230 ). Based on the retrieved usage history, the processor may generate recommendation information and display the recommendation information through a display. The processor may recognize, from the usage history of the second user device  1820 , that setting values applied to a first function of the second user device  1820  have been changed (e.g., the water temperature is changed from 40 to 50 degrees and the spin-dry strength is changed from standard to strong) and then the first function has been performed a given number of times or more based on the changed setting values. In a more detailed example, the processor may recognize, from the usage history of the second user device  1820 , that first setting values  1821  (e.g., 40 degrees, 3 times, and standard) applied to settings (e.g., a water temperature, the number of rinses, and a spin-dry strength) of the first function (e.g., a standard wash) have been changed to second setting values  1822  (e.g., 50 degrees, 4 times, strong), and then the standard wash has been performed a given number of times (e.g., 7 times) or more based on the second setting values  1822 . Based on this recognition, the processor may generate recommendation information for recommending the first function having the changed setting values (i.e., the second setting values  1822 ) as a new function (e.g., “my favorite” function) to the user such that the second user device  1820  will perform the first function with user&#39;s desired setting values without any change of setting values by the user. Additionally, the processor may recognize, from the usage history of the second user device  1820 , that the second user device  1820  already has a second function (e.g., a powerful wash function) to which the same setting values as the changed setting values (i.e., the second setting values  1822 ) are applied. In this case, the processor may generate and display first recommendation information  1811  for notifying that the second function is a function with user&#39;s desired setting values applied and also for recommending adding the second function as “my favorite” function to the manual of the second user device  1820 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 18B , the processor of the first user device  1810  may retrieve a usage history of a third user device  1830  (e.g., a TV) from the usage history DB. Based on the retrieved usage history, the processor may generate recommendation information and display the recommendation information through the display. The processor may recognize, from the usage history of the third user device  1830 , that first setting values  1831  (e.g., 42, 50, 10, and 15) applied to settings (e.g., backlight, contrast, sharpness, and volume) of a standard viewing mode have been changed to second setting values  1832  (e.g., 40, 45, 0, and 27), and then the standard viewing mode has been performed a given number of times (e.g., 5 times) or more based on the second setting values  1832 . Based on this recognition, the processor may generate and display second recommendation information  1812  for recommending the standard viewing mode (a user-defined mode) having the changed setting values (i.e., the second setting values  1832 ) as a new viewing mode (e.g., a movie mode) to the user. 
     According to an embodiment, an electronic device may include a communication circuit; a memory; and a processor connected to the communication circuit and the memory, wherein the memory stores instructions causing, upon being executed, the processor to store a usage history in the memory, the usage history collected from a plurality of user devices registered in a user device group through the communication circuit, to receive device information indicating functions of a first user device (e.g., a new home appliance) in the user device group from the first user device or a second user device (e.g., a smart phone) in the user device group through the communication circuit, to select a function to be recommended to a user from among the functions of the first user device, based on at least the usage history, to generate a customized manual to allow the user to use the recommended function of the first user device, and to transmit, to the first user device or the second user device through the communication circuit, the customized manual or recommendation information for recommending the customized manual to the user. 
     The instructions may further cause the processor to generate, based on the usage history, a group profile that includes information indicating usage types of the user for the user device group and information indicating the user&#39;s preference for each usage type, to select, upon determining (e.g., NO branch of the operation  610  in  FIG. 6 ) that there is no user device of a same type as the first user device in the user device group, and based on the group profile, at least one of the functions of the first user device as the recommended function, and to select, upon determining (e.g., YES branch of the operation  610  in  FIG. 6 ) that there is a third user device of a same type as the first user device in the user device group, and based on a usage history of the third user device, a function of the first user device matched with a function of the third user device as the recommended function. 
     The instructions may further cause the processor to, as a part of an operation of selecting the recommended function, based on the group profile, select (e.g., the operation  1120 ), from among the usage types, at least one usage type having a higher preference than other usage types, and select, from among the functions of the first user device, a function related to the selected usage type as the recommended function. 
     The instructions may further cause the processor to, as a part of an operation of selecting the recommended function, based on the usage history of the third user device, select, from among the functions of the third user device, a function having a predetermined use frequency or more, and select a function of the first user device matched with the selected function of the third user device as the recommended function. The instructions may cause the processor to select a function of the first user device having the same setting values as setting values (e.g., in a standard wash, a water temperature is 40 degrees, the number of rinses is 3 times, and a spin-dry strength is medium) applied to the selected function of the third user device as the recommended function. 
     The instructions may further cause the processor to receive the usage history from the first user device through the communication circuit, to recognize a setting having a usage frequency greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold from settings of the received usage history, and to update (e.g., the operation  730 ) the group profile by adjusting upwards a preference of a usage type related to the recognized setting. The group profile may further include information indicating a user&#39;s proficiency for each usage type, and the instructions may cause the processor to update the group profile by adjusting upwards a proficiency of a usage type related to the recognized setting. The instructions may cause the processor to select, as the recommended function, a function of the first user device related to the usage type whose proficiency is adjusted upwards. The instructions may cause the processor to recognize, based on the usage history received from the first user device, a sub-function that has never been used among sub-functions of the function of the first user device related to the usage type whose proficiency is adjusted upwards, and to select the recognized sub-function as the recommended function. 
     The instructions may further cause the processor to generate, based on the usage history, a group profile that includes information indicating the user&#39;s usage types for the user device group and information indicating the user&#39;s preference for each usage type, to determine a recommendation time point, based on at least the usage type corresponding to the recommended function, and to transmit (e.g., the operation  820 ) information indicating the recommendation time point to the first user device or the second user device such that the recommendation information is displayed at the recommendation time point. The recommendation time point may be a time point when the first user device registered in the user device group is used for a first time, a time point before the first user device is used, a time point when the first user device is in use, or a time point after the first user device is used. The instructions may cause the processor to provide (e.g., the operation  1230 ) the recommendation information differently depending on the recommendation time point. 
     The instructions may further cause the processor to generate, based on the usage history, a group profile that includes information indicating the user&#39;s usage types for the user device group and information indicating the user&#39;s preference for each usage type, and to generate the customized manual by using the group profile and a manual for the functions of the first user device. The instructions may cause the processor to, as a part of an operation of generating the customized manual by using the group profile and a default manual containing items corresponding to the functions of the first user device, generate the customized manual by adjusting (e.g., the operation  920 ) an order of function items of the default manual so that a function item corresponding to a usage type having a higher preference is preferentially selected instead of a function item corresponding to a usage type having a lower preference. The group profile may further include information indicating the user&#39;s proficiency for each usage type, and the instructions may cause the processor to generate the customized manual by adjusting an order of function items of the default manual so that a function item having a low proficiency is preferentially selected instead of a function item having a high proficiency. 
     The instructions may further cause the processor to, as a part of an operation of generating the customized manual, classify, upon determining that there is a third user device of the same type as the first user device in the user device group, and using a usage history of the third user device, functions of the third user device in an order of use frequency, to select (e.g., the operation  1620 ) functions having a given rank or higher from among the functions of the third user device, to select (e.g., the operation  1630 ), from among the selected functions of the third user device, a function that is not set in the first user device, and to generate (e.g., the operation  1640 ) the customized manual by adding an item corresponding to the selected function that is not set in the first user device to a manual of the first user device. 
     The instructions may further cause the processor to, when user devices similar to the first user device are retrieved from a device information DB of the user device group, classify functions of the retrieved user devices in an order of use frequency by using usage histories of the retrieved user devices, to select (e.g., the operation  1720 ) functions having a given rank or higher from among the classified functions, and to generate (e.g., the operation  1730 ) the recommendation information by combining some of the selected functions. The user devices similar to the first user device may include a user device having a same type as a type of the first user device, and a user device configured to perform a same function as a function of the first user device. 
     According to an embodiment, a mobile electronic device (e.g., a smart phone in the user device group  210  in  FIG. 2 ) may include a communication circuit; a display; a memory; and a processor connected to the communication circuit, the display, and the memory, wherein the memory stores instructions causing, upon being executed, the processor to store a usage history in the memory, the usage history collected from a plurality of user devices registered in a user device group through the communication circuit, to receive device information indicating functions of an external electronic device (e.g., a new home appliance) from the external electronic device through the communication circuit, to select a function to be recommended to a user from among the functions of the external electronic device, based on at least the usage history, to generate a customized manual to allow the user to use the recommended function, and to display, through the display, recommendation information for recommending the customized manual to the user. 
     According to an embodiment, a mobile electronic device (e.g., a smart phone in the user device group  210  in  FIG. 2 ) may include a communication circuit; a touch-sensitive display; a memory; and a processor connected to the communication circuit, the display, and the memory, wherein the memory stores instructions causing, upon being executed, the processor to transmit device information indicating a type of a first user device (e.g., a new home appliance) and functions of the first user device to a server (e.g., the manual support server  230  in  FIG. 2 ) through the communication circuit, to receive, from the server through the communication circuit, a customized manual for allowing a user to use a function selected by the server from among the functions of the first user device, to display, through the display, a first message for confirming whether to use the customized manual on the first user device, to receive a user input through the display in response to the first message, and to transmit the customized manual to the first user device when the user input indicates that the customized manual is to be used on the first user device. 
     The instructions may further cause the processor to receive, from the server, a second message indicating that a user device of a same type as the first user device is not registered in the server, to display (e.g., displaying the first interface screen  1510  in  FIG. 15 ), upon receiving the second message, a third message requesting identification information of a second user device of a same type as the first user device on the display, to transmit, to the server through the communication circuit, the identification information received in response to the third message through the display, to display, on the display (e.g., displaying the second interface screen  1520  in  FIG. 15 ), information on functions of the second user device received from the server, and to transmit, to the server through the communication circuit, information indicating a function selected by a user from among the functions of the second user device. 
     While the present disclosure has been particularly shown and described with reference to certain embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.