Patent Description:
Internet of Things (IoT) technology denotes intelligence technologies and services that connect all things based on the Internet, i.e., a network and enable mutual communication based on human-to-thing information and thing-to-thing information.

The IoT technology is further advanced than the wired communication-based Internet or mobile Internet. Electronic devices, to which the IoT technology is applied, can be connected through a network and perform their own function based on remote control by a user. The IoT technology seems to be similar to M2M (Machine to Machine) communication. However, M2M is mainly intended for communication between communication equipment and a user. The IoT technology allows an electronic device, connected through a network, to interact with all the information in the real world and virtual world as well as things.

In recent years, the IoT technology has served as a platform for smart home appliances. The IoT technology enables various types of electronic devices, such as a refrigerator, a washing machine, an air conditioner and the like at homes, to be connect through a network and allows a user to remotely control each of the electronic devices or detect an operation state of each electronic device in real time.

To control electronic devices at homes using the IoT technology, the electronic devices to be controlled need to be registered on a network through a terminal for control, e.g., a mobile terminal such as a smartphone. A related art in relation to the IoT technology is disclosed in <CIT>.

<FIG> shows a configuration of a network between electronic devices and a mobile terminal, to which the IoT technology is applied according to the related art. <FIG> is a flow chart showing a process of registering an electronic device through a mobile terminal according to the related art.

As illustrated in <FIG>, a user can remotely control electronic devices such as an air conditioner <NUM>, a washing machine <NUM>, an air purifier <NUM> and a refrigerator <NUM> or can detect operation states of the electronic devices in real time using a mobile terminal <NUM> such as a smartphone. The mobile terminal <NUM> and each of the electronic devices <NUM> to <NUM> can exchange data based on wired or wireless communication. Additionally, the electronic devices <NUM> to <NUM> can exchange data with each other based on wired or wireless communication.

For the mobile terminal <NUM> and each of the electronic devices <NUM> to <NUM> or for the electronic devices <NUM> to <NUM> to exchange data with each other, each of the electronic devices <NUM> to <NUM> need to be registered on the same network through the mobile terminal <NUM>. <FIG> shows a process in which the user registers each of the electronic devices <NUM> to <NUM> using an application for control of a smart home appliance, installed on the mobile terminal <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the user performs a login for using a smart home appliance control service, using an application executed on the mobile terminal <NUM> (<NUM>). After the login (<NUM>), the user presses a registration button on a screen of the mobile terminal <NUM> to request registration of an electronic device (<NUM>).

When the user requests the registration of the electronic device, a list of registable electronic devices provided through the application is displayed on the screen of the mobile terminal <NUM>. The user selects an electronic device to be registered, i.e., an electronic device to be registered, from the list of electronic devices (<NUM>). For example, the user can select an air conditioner <NUM> from electronic devices <NUM> to <NUM> around the user as the electronic device to be registered.

Although the user selects a specific electronic device as the electronic device to be registered among the electronic devices <NUM> to <NUM> as described above, a registration method appropriate for the electronic device to be registered selected needs to be specified to register the electronic device. For example, air conditioners <NUM> were launched at different times or the registration methods thereof were set differently.

To specify the method for registering the electronic device to be registered selected by the user, an application for control of a smart home appliance, installed on the mobile terminal <NUM> of the related art, requests the user to detect features of the electronic device to be registered in a predetermined order. A method for detecting the features of the electronic device to be registered is described as follows.

When the user selects the electronic device to be registered (<NUM>), a predetermined first logo and a message for requesting detection as to whether the first logo is presented on the electronic device to be registered selected by the user are displayed on the screen of the mobile terminal <NUM>. Accordingly, the user detects whether the first logo presented on the screen of the mobile terminal <NUM> is displayed on the electronic device to be registered, e.g., the air conditioner <NUM> (<NUM>).

When the first logo is presented on the electronic device to be registered (<NUM>) as a result of detection (<NUM>), the user presses a "Yes" button displayed on the screen of the mobile terminal <NUM>. Then an image and a message in relation to a first registration method applied to an electronic device having the first logo are displayed on the screen of the mobile terminal <NUM>, and the user carries out the first registration method with reference to the screen of the mobile terminal <NUM> (<NUM>). As the first registration method is carried out, the electronic device to be registered (the air conditioner <NUM>) is registered.

When the first logo is not presented on the electronic device to be registered (<NUM>) as a result of detection (<NUM>), the user presses a "No" button displayed on the screen of the mobile terminal <NUM>. Then a predetermined second logo and a message for requesting detection as to whether the second logo is displayed on the electronic device to be registered selected by the user are displayed on the screen of the mobile terminal <NUM>. Accordingly, the user detects whether the second logo displayed on the screen of the mobile terminal <NUM> is displayed on the electronic device to be registered, e.g., the air conditioner <NUM> (<NUM>).

When the second logo is not presented on the electronic device to be registered (<NUM>) as a result of detection (<NUM>), the user presses the "No" button displayed on the screen of the mobile terminal <NUM>. Then an image and a message in relation to a second registration method applied to an electronic device, on which none of the first logo and the second logo is presented, are displayed on the screen of the mobile terminal <NUM>, and the user carries out the second registration method with reference to the screen of the mobile terminal <NUM> (<NUM>). As the second registration method is carried out, the electronic device to be registered (the air conditioner <NUM>) is registered.

When the second logo is presented on the electronic device to be registered (<NUM>) as a result of detection (<NUM>), the user presses the "Yes" button displayed on the screen of the mobile terminal <NUM>. Then a message for requesting detection as to whether the electronic device to be registered selected by the user is provided with a specific component, e.g., a touch screen, is displayed on the screen of the mobile terminal <NUM>. Accordingly, the user detects whether the electronic device to be registered, e.g., the air conditioner <NUM>, is provided with the touch screen (<NUM>).

When the electronic device to be registered is provided with the touch screen (<NUM>) as a result of detection (<NUM>), the user presses the "Yes" button displayed on the screen of the mobile terminal <NUM>. Then an image and a message in relation to a third registration method applied to an electronic device having the second logo and provided with a touch screen are displayed on the screen of the mobile terminal <NUM>, and the user carries out the third registration method with reference to the screen of the mobile terminal <NUM> (<NUM>). As the third registration method is carried out, the electronic device to be registered (the air conditioner <NUM>) is registered.

When the electronic device to be registered is not provided with the touch screen (<NUM>) as a result of detection (<NUM>), the user presses the "No" button displayed on the screen of the mobile terminal <NUM>. Then an image and a message in relation to a fourth registration method applied to an electronic device having the second logo and provided with no touch screen are displayed on the screen of the mobile terminal <NUM>, and the user carries out the fourth registration method with reference to the screen of the mobile terminal <NUM> (<NUM>). As the fourth registration method is carried out, the electronic device to be registered (the air conditioner <NUM>) is registered.

In the related art, to specify a method for registering an electronic device, a user has to detect features of the electronic device such as a specific logo or a specific component of the electronic device with the eye, resulting in a complex registration process and an increase in time taken for registration.

In the related art, a user can misunderstand an image or a message displayed on a mobile terminal while detecting features of an electronic device or can make input errors while inputting the features of the electronic device, causing failure in registration of the electronic device.

<CIT> presents a home appliance and a mobile terminal. The home appliance includes a drive unit, an acoustic output module to output sound, a microphone to receive sound from an external source, a memory to store information related to the home appliance when the home appliance is being operated, an acoustic communication unit to output sound containing the information related to the home appliance to the acoustic output module or to extract prescribed information from the sound received via the microphone based on an acoustic communication mode, and a controller to control the drive unit according to the information extracted by the acoustic communication unit. Transmission of information between the home appliance and the mobile terminal is accomplished via acoustic communication.

The present disclosure is directed to a method for registering an electronic device by a mobile terminal such that the method for registering an electronic device is specified without causing a user to detect features of an electronic device with the naked eye and to input the features, thereby making it possible to simplify a registration process of the electronic device and shorten time taken for the registration process.

The present disclosure is directed to a method for registering an electronic device by a mobile terminal, which may exclude the possibility that a user is not aware of features of an electronic device correctly or makes input errors while inputting the features, thereby making it possible to prevent failure in registration of the electronic device.

Aspects of the present disclosure are not limited to the above-described ones. Additionally, other aspects and advantages that have not been mentioned may be clearly understood from the following description and may be more clearly understood from embodiments. Further, it will be understood that the aspects and advantages of the present disclosure may be realized via means and combinations thereof that are described in the appended claims.

One or more objects of the present technique are achieved by the invention set out by the features of the independent claims.

A method for registering an electronic device by a mobile terminal according to the invention includes receiving a request for registration of an electronic device to be registered from a user, providing an operation method for outputting an identification sound for identifying the electronic device to be registered to the user such that the identification sound of the electronic device to be registered is output, receiving the identification sound output from the electronic device to be registered as a result of an operation of the user, verifying product information of the electronic device to be registered corresponding to the identification sound, providing a registration method corresponding to the product information of the electronic device to be registered to the user, wherein an operation guide screen for the registration method is displayed, and processing registration of the electronic device to be registered according to the registration method.

In one embodiment, verifying product information of the electronic device to be registered corresponding to the identification sound may include converting the identification sound into an identification pattern, and searching a pre-stored classification table for product information corresponding to the identification pattern and determining the product information searched as product information of the electronic device to be registered.

The method further includes searching a pre-stored registration method table for a registration method corresponding to an identifier of the electronic device to be registered.

In one embodiment, processing registration of the electronic device to be registered according to the registration method may include receiving registration information from the electronic device to be registered, and registering the electronic device to be registered as a device to be controlled with reference to the registration information.

The method may further include determining failure in registration of the electronic device to be registered when product information of the electronic device to be registered is not verified.

The method may further include determining failure in registration of the electronic device to be registered when there is no registration method corresponding to product information of the electronic device to be registered.

The method may further include receiving failure information from a device to be controlled after the electronic device to be registered is registered as the device to be controlled, and transmitting product information and failure information of the device to be controlled to a mobile terminal of a customer service provider through a registration server.

A mobile terminal according to the invention includes a display configured to display an image or a text, a controller configured to provide an operation method for outputting an identification sound for identifying an electronic device to be registered through the display such that the identification sound of the electronic device to be registered is output, when receiving a request for registration of the electronic device to be registered from a user, an identification sound receiver configured to receive an identification sound output from the electronic device to be registered as a result of operation of the user, wherein the controller verifies product information of the electronic device to be registered corresponding to the identification sound, provides a registration method corresponding to the product information of the electronic device to be registered through the display, wherein an operation guide screen for the registration method is displayed, and processes registration of the electronic device to be registered according to the registration method.

In one embodiment, the controller may convert the identification sound into an identification pattern, and determine product information, which corresponds to the identification pattern and is searched in a pre-stored classification table, as product information of the electronic device to be registered.

The controller is further configured to search a pre-stored registration method table for a registration method corresponding to an identifier of the electronic device to be registered.

In one embodiment, the controller may register the electronic device to be registered as a device to be controlled with reference to registration information received from the electronic device to be registered.

In one embodiment, the controller may determine failure in registration of the electronic device to be registered when product information of the electronic device to be registered is not verified.

In one embodiment, the controller may determine failure in registration of the electronic device to be registered when there is no registration method corresponding to product information of the electronic device to be registered.

In one embodiment, the controller may transmit failure information received from a device to be controlled and product information of the device to be controlled to a mobile terminal of a customer service provider through a registration server after the electronic device to be registered is registered as the device to be controlled.

According to the present disclosure, a method for registering an electronic device may be specified without causing a user to detect features of an electronic device with the naked eye and to input the features, thereby making it possible to simplify a registration process of the electronic device and shorten time taken for the registration process.

According to the present disclosure, the possibility that a user is not aware of features of an electronic device rightly or makes input errors while inputting the features may be excluded, thereby making it possible to prevent failure in registration of the electronic device.

The above-described aspects, features and advantages are specifically described with reference to the accompanying drawings hereunder. In description of the disclosure, detailed description of known technologies in relation to the disclosure is omitted if it is deemed to make the gist of the disclosure unnecessarily vague. Below, preferred embodiments according to the disclosure are specifically described. Throughout the specification, identical reference numerals may denote identical or similar components.

<FIG> shows a configuration of a network between electronic devices and a mobile terminal to which IoT technology is applied according to the present disclosure.

As illustrated in <FIG>, a user may remotely control electronic devices such as an air conditioner <NUM>, a washing machine <NUM>, an air purifier <NUM> and a refrigerator <NUM> or may detect operation states of the electronic devices in real time, using a mobile terminal <NUM> such as a smartphone. Below, a series of methods for controlling registered electronic devices and for detecting operation states thereof are referred to as control of a smart home appliance.

The user may perform registration of an electronic device and control of a smart home appliance, described below, through an application for control of a smart home appliance installed on the mobile terminal <NUM>. Below, provided is an example in which a user selects a refrigerator <NUM> as an electronic device to be registered among various types of electronic devices and performs registration of the refrigerator <NUM>. However, a registration method according to the present disclosure may be applied to other types of electronic devices.

The mobile terminal <NUM> and each of the electronic devices <NUM> to <NUM> may exchange data with each other based on wired communication or wireless communication. Additionally, the electronic devices <NUM> to <NUM> may exchange data mutually based on wired communication or wireless communication.

To remotely control the electronic device to be registered, e.g., the refrigerator <NUM> and to detect an operation state of the refrigerator <NUM> in real time, the user may perform registration of the refrigerator <NUM> through the mobile terminal <NUM>.

During the process of registration of the electronic device to be registered, the mobile terminal <NUM> may exchange data with a registration server <NUM> based on communication with the registration server <NUM>. In one embodiment, the registration sever <NUM> may store a classification table. Identification patterns, generated as a result of conversion of identification sounds output by electronic device to be registered, and product information (e.g., a model name) corresponding to each of the identification patterns may be listed in the classification table. The registration server <NUM> may search product information corresponding to an identification pattern transmitted by the mobile terminal <NUM> and may deliver the product information to the mobile terminal <NUM> at the request of the mobile terminal <NUM>.

In one embodiment, the registration server <NUM> may store a registration method table. Product information (e.g., a model name) of electronic devices, and a registration method of an electronic device corresponding to each piece of product information are listed in the registration method table. The registration server <NUM> may search a registration method corresponding to a model name of an electronic device to be registered and may deliver the registration method to the mobile terminal <NUM> at the request of the mobile terminal <NUM>.

In one embodiment, the registration server <NUM> may store product information of an electronic device to be registered, verified by the mobile terminal <NUM> based on an identification sound output by the electronic device to be registered. As the registration server <NUM> stores product information of an electronic device to be registered, the user may easily bring the product information of the electronic device to be registered to the mobile terminal <NUM> from the registration server <NUM> although the user exchanges the mobile terminal <NUM> or reinstalls an application for control of a smart home appliance according to the present disclosure.

Further, in one embodiment, the registration server <NUM> may communicate with a mobile terminal <NUM> of a customer service provider to exchange data. After registering an electronic device to be registered through the mobile terminal <NUM>, the user may request detection of a failure of the registered electronic device through the mobile terminal <NUM>. The electronic device subject to the request for detection of a failure may detect its failure on its own, and may generate failure information on details of the failure and deliver the failure information to the mobile terminal <NUM>.

After checking the failure information, the user may request a customer service through the application for control of a smart home appliance of the mobile terminal <NUM>. When the user requests the customer service, the mobile terminal <NUM> may transmit, to the registration server <NUM>, the failure information of the failing electronic device and the product information detected during the registration process. After receiving the failure information and product information, the registration server <NUM> may transmit the failure information and product information to the mobile terminal <NUM> of the customer service provider at a short distance from the user, and may request a customer service for the failing electronic device.

<FIG> is a block diagram schematically showing a configuration in a mobile terminal and an electronic device according to one embodiment.

Referring to <FIG>, the mobile terminal <NUM> may include a display <NUM>, a controller <NUM>, an identification sound receiver <NUM>, a storage <NUM>, and a Communication device <NUM>.

The display <NUM> may display a process of registration of an electronic device and a process of control of an electronic device, performed through the application for control of a smart home appliance, and information needed during detection of an operation state or a failure of an electronic device, in the form of an image or a text. The display <NUM> may be implemented as one of the panels such as an LCD panel or an OLED panel, or may be implemented as a touch panel with a touch function.

The controller <NUM> may provide an operation method for outputting an identification sound for identifying an electronic device to be registered through the display <NUM> to output the identification sound of the electronic device to be registered when receiving a request for registration of the electronic device to be registered, e.g., the refrigerator <NUM> from the user.

When the user operates the electronic device to be registered with reference to the operation method displayed through the display <NUM>, the electronic device to be registered may output the identification sound. The identification sound output by the electronic device to be registered may be input by the identification sound receiver <NUM>. The identification sound receiver <NUM> may be implemented as a device such as a microphone that may receive a sound.

The controller <NUM> may convert the identification sound input through the identification sound receiver <NUM> and generate an identification pattern. The controller <NUM> may verify product information of the electronic device to be registered corresponding to the identification sound output by the electronic device to be registered based on the converted identification pattern.

After verifying the product information of the electronic device to be registered, the controller <NUM> may detect a registration method corresponding to the product information of the electronic device to be registered and provide the detected registration method to the user through the display <NUM>. When the user carries out the registration method provided through the display <NUM>, the controller <NUM> may process registration of the electronic device to be registered according to the registration method provided to the user.

The controller <NUM> may communicate with a Communication device <NUM> of the electronic device to be registered through the Communication device <NUM> during the process of registration of the electronic device to be registered and may receive registration information needed for registration from the electronic device to be registered. The registration information may include information such as a model name, a serial number, a production date and a production place of the electronic device to be registered.

Referring back to the drawing, an electronic device to be registered, e.g., a refrigerator <NUM>, may include an input device <NUM>, a storage <NUM>, an identification sound converter <NUM>, an identification sound output device <NUM> and a Communication device <NUM>. <FIG> shows a refrigerator <NUM> as an example of the electronic device to be registered. Depending on embodiments, other electronic devices may include the same components as the refrigerator <NUM> in <FIG>.

The input device <NUM> is a device for the user to input information needed for control of the refrigerator <NUM>. A physical button on a control panel of the refrigerator <NUM>, or a touch panel constituting the control panel of the refrigerator <NUM> may be an example of the input device <NUM>.

The storage <NUM> may store various types of information in relation to the refrigerator <NUM>. Registration information (e.g., a model name, a serial number, a production date, a production place and the like), delivered through the Communication device <NUM> to the mobile terminal <NUM> during the process of registration of the refrigerator <NUM>, may be stored in the storage <NUM>.

The identification sound converter <NUM> may convert the product information (e.g., a model name or a serial number) of the refrigerator <NUM>, stored in the storage <NUM>, into an audio signal and may generate an identification sound. The identification sound converted by the identification sound converter <NUM> may be output by the identification sound output device <NUM>. The identification sound output device <NUM> may be implemented as a device such as a speaker that may output an audio signal.

The Communication device <NUM> may exchange data with the Communication device <NUM> of the mobile terminal <NUM> based on communication. In one embodiment, the Communication device <NUM> may deliver the registration information stored in the storage <NUM> to the mobile terminal <NUM> through the Communication device <NUM> when the controller <NUM> processes registration of the electronic device to be registered according to a registration method applied to the refrigerator <NUM>.

<FIG> is a flow chart showing a method for registering an electronic device by a mobile terminal according to one embodiment. <FIG> show an image and a message displayed on a display of a mobile terminal during a process of selecting and searching a product, for registration of an electronic device. <FIG> shows a classification table used as a reference during a process in which a mobile terminal processes registration of an electronic device according to one embodiment. <FIG> shows a registration method table used as a reference during a process in which a mobile terminal processes registration of an electronic device according to one embodiment. <FIG> show an image and a message displayed on a display of a mobile terminal during a process of processing registration according to a registration method of an electronic device to be registered.

Below, a method for registering an electronic device by a mobile terminal according to one embodiment is described with reference to <FIG> along with <FIG>.

When the user executes an application for control of a smart home appliance installed on the mobile terminal <NUM>, a login screen as in <FIG> may be displayed on the screen <NUM> displayed through the display <NUM> of the mobile terminal <NUM>. The user may input a pre-registered email address or an ID and a password and press a login button <NUM> to log in.

After the user logs in, an initial screen <NUM> as in <FIG> may be displayed through the display <NUM>. The user may press a product addition button <NUM> based on a message on the screen <NUM> to request registration of an electronic device.

When the user presses the product addition button <NUM>, a product selection screen <NUM> as in <FIG> may be displayed through the display <NUM>. The user may select an electronic device to be registered, i.e., an electronic device to be registered, from a list of electronic devices provided through the product selection screen <NUM>, and may request registration of the electronic device to be registered. Below, suppose that the user selects a "refrigerator" on the product selection screen <NUM> in <FIG>.

As the user selects the "refrigerator" on the product selection screen <NUM> in <FIG>, a controller <NUM> of the mobile terminal <NUM> may receive the request for registration of the electronic device to be registered (<NUM>). Then the controller <NUM> may provide an operation method for outputting an identification sound of the electronic device to be registered to the user (<NUM>).

For example, when the user selects a "refrigerator" on the product selection screen <NUM> in <FIG>, a screen <NUM> in relation to an operation method for allowing the refrigerator <NUM> selected by the user to output an identification sound may be displayed on a display <NUM> of the mobile terminal <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>. The user may press an input device <NUM>, e.g., a "product registration" button, on a control panel of the refrigerator <NUM> for three seconds with reference to an image or a text displayed on the screen <NUM>.

When the user presses the "product registration" button for three seconds, product information (e.g., a model name or a serial number) stored in a storage <NUM> may be converted into an identification sound by an identification sound converter <NUM>. The converted identification sound may be output through an identification sound output device <NUM>, e.g., a speaker.

When the refrigerator <NUM> outputs the identification sound, the user moves the mobile terminal <NUM> close to the refrigerator <NUM> based on details in a text on the screen <NUM> as in <FIG>. Accordingly, the mobile terminal <NUM> may receive the identification sound output from the refrigerator <NUM> through an identification sound receiver <NUM>, e.g., a microphone (<NUM>).

When the identification sound is input, the controller <NUM> may verify product information of the electronic device to be registered corresponding to the identification sound (<NUM>). To verify the product information of the electronic device to be registered, the controller <NUM> may convert the identification sound input through the identification sound receiver <NUM> into an identification pattern. For example, the controller <NUM> may convert the identification sound input through the identification sound receiver <NUM> into a digital data-type identification pattern such as "0X1003".

While the controller <NUM> verifies the product information of the electronic device to be registered corresponding to the identification sound, a gage or a text indicating that verification of the product information is being performed may be displayed on the display <NUM> like the screen <NUM> in <FIG>.

The controller <NUM> may verify the product information of the electronic device to be registered corresponding to the identification pattern previously converted with reference to a classification table pre-stored in the storage <NUM> of the mobile terminal <NUM>. <FIG> shows an example of the classification table. The controller <NUM> may search the classification table, where the identification pattern and the product information (e.g., a model name) corresponding thereto are listed as illustrated in <FIG>, for a model name (e.g., "S831SN35") corresponding to the identification pattern (e.g., "0X1003") previously converted, and may determine the searched model name as the product information of the electronic device to be registered.

The product information listed on the classification table may be defined as identification information such as a model name or a serial number of each product used to distinguish the types and registration methods of products.

In another embodiment, the classification table in <FIG> may be stored in a registration server <NUM>. In this case, the controller <NUM> may transmit the identification pattern previously converted to the registration server <NUM> through a Communication device <NUM>, and may request the registration server <NUM> to verify product information. The registration server <NUM>, as described above, may search the classification table for a model name (e.g., "S831SN35") corresponding to the identification pattern (e.g., "0X1003") sent by the controller <NUM>, and may transmit the model name searched to the mobile terminal <NUM>.

The product information verified in the above process may be stored in the storage <NUM>.

When the product information of the electronic device to be registered is not verified even after the above process finishes, the controller <NUM> may display a text or an image, indicating it is impossible to register the electronic device to be registered, through the display <NUM>, and may determine that the registration is failed.

When the product information, i.e., the model name, of the refrigerator <NUM> subject to the user's request for registration is verified in the above process, the controller <NUM> may detect a registration method corresponding to the model name of the refrigerator <NUM> with reference to a registration method table in <FIG>. The registration method table may be pre-stored in the storage <NUM> of the mobile terminal <NUM>.

A registration method corresponding to each piece of product information is listed in the registration method table. According to the embodiment in <FIG>, registration methods based on features of each product are classified by code names such as R1, R2 and R3. For example, code name R1 denotes a "registration method based on NFC tagging", and code name R3 denotes a "registration method based on Wi-Fi communication".

In yet another embodiment, the controller <NUM> may request the registration server <NUM> to detect a registration method corresponding to the product information previously verified. In this case, the registration server <NUM> may search the pre-stored registration method table for a registration method corresponding to the product information subject to the controller's request for detection, and may deliver the registration method to the controller <NUM>.

When the method for registering the electronic device to be registered is not detected even after the above process finishes, the controller <NUM> may display a text or an image, indicating that it is impossible to register the electronic device to be registered, through the display <NUM> and may determine failure in the registration.

When the method for registering the electronic device to be registered, i.e., the refrigerator <NUM>, is detected in the above process, the controller <NUM> may provide the registration method corresponding to the product information of the electronic device to be registered to the user (<NUM>).

As an example, the controller <NUM> may display an operation guide screen <NUM> for the registration method (R1), i.e., the "registration method through NFC tagging" corresponding to the previously detected model name (S831SN35) of the refrigerator <NUM>, through the display <NUM>, to carry out the "registration method based on NFC tagging", as illustrated in <FIG>. The user may bring the mobile terminal <NUM> in close contact with a "Tag On" logo presented on one side of the refrigerator <NUM> with reference to a method on the screen <NUM> in <FIG>.

As another example, the controller <NUM> may display an operation guide screen for another registration method (R3). i.e., the "registration method based on Wi-Fi communication" corresponding to the model name (S829TS35) of the refrigerator <NUM>. The user may press a specific button on the refrigerator <NUM> to activate a Wi-Fi function of the refrigerator <NUM> with reference to a method on the screen in <FIG>. Accordingly, the refrigerator <NUM> and the mobile terminal <NUM> may communicate with each other.

When the refrigerator <NUM> is ready for registration in the above process, the controller <NUM> may process the registration of the refrigerator <NUM> according to the previously specified method for registering the refrigerator <NUM> (<NUM>). While the registration of the refrigerator <NUM> is processed, a gage or a text, indicating the product is being registered, may be displayed on the display <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG>.

To process the registration of the refrigerator <NUM>, the controller <NUM> may receive registration information from the refrigerator <NUM>, and, with reference to the received registration information, may register the refrigerator <NUM> as a device to be controlled to complete the registration process.

After the refrigerator <NUM> is registered, an initial screen <NUM> as in <FIG> may be displayed on the display <NUM>.

In this case, a refrigerator control button <NUM> for control of the registered refrigerator <NUM> may be added on the initial screen <NUM>. The user may press the refrigerator control button <NUM> on the initial screen <NUM> to control operation of the refrigerator <NUM>, or to detect information (e.g., temperature information and the like) in relation to the operation of the refrigerator <NUM> in real time.

In the above-described method for registering an electronic device according to the present disclosure, the user does not need to detect features of each electronic device to register the electronic device and may detect a method for registering an electronic device accurately and rapidly based on an operation for outputting an identification sound.

<FIG> is a flow chart showing a process of transmitting failure information after a mobile terminal registers an electronic device according to one embodiment.

After an electronic device, e.g., the refrigerator <NUM> is registered in the above-described process, the user may request detection of a failure of the previously registered refrigerator <NUM> through an application for control of a smart home appliance.

When receiving a signal for requesting detection of a failure from the mobile terminal <NUM>, the refrigerator <NUM> itself may perform failure analysis and detect any failure (<NUM>).

When broken parts or functions are detected through the detection of a failure, the refrigerator <NUM> may transmit failure information to the mobile terminal <NUM> (<NUM>). The failure information may include names of broken parts or functions. Additionally, the failure information may include failure codes corresponding to the broken parts or functions. The failure codes may be stored in the storage <NUM>.

The mobile terminal <NUM> may receive the failure information from the refrigerator <NUM> (<NUM>), and may display results of the detection of a failure of the refrigerator <NUM> or the received failure information through the display <NUM>. After detecting a failure of the refrigerator <NUM>, the user may apply to a service center for a customer service using a function of applying for a customer service of an application installed on the mobile terminal <NUM>.

When the user applies for a customer service, the controller <NUM> may transmit the failure information received from the refrigerator <NUM> together with the product information (e.g., a model name or a serial number) of the refrigerator <NUM>, stored in the storage <NUM> in the above-described registration process, to the registration server <NUM> through the Communication device <NUM> (<NUM>).

When receiving the product information and the failure information from the mobile terminal <NUM>, the registration server <NUM> may deliver the user's request for a customer service to a mobile terminal <NUM> of a customer service provider for a service center at a shortest distance from the user or a mobile terminal <NUM> of a customer service provider at a shortest distance from the user. The registration server <NUM> may transmit the product information and failure information previously received as well as the request for a customer service to the mobile terminal <NUM> of the customer service provider.

Accordingly, the user may apply for a customer service conveniently and rapidly without providing details about the product information or states of the broken product during the process of applying for a customer service.

Additionally, the customer service provider may quickly detect the model name, or the serial number of the broken product, and the broken parts or functions of the product, thereby making it possible to offer a customer service more rapidly. Further, the customer service provider may verify the product information and failure information of the broken product in advance, thereby making it possible to offer parts and customer services appropriate for the product.

Claim 1:
A method for registering, by a mobile terminal (<NUM>), an electronic device as a device to be controlled by the mobile terminal (<NUM>), the method comprising:
receiving (<NUM>), from a user, a request for registration of an electronic device (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) to be registered;
providing (<NUM>), to the user, an operation method for outputting an identification sound for identifying the electronic device to be registered such that the identification sound of the electronic device to be registered is output;
receiving (<NUM>) the identification sound output from the electronic device to be registered as a result of an operation of the user;
verifying (<NUM>) product information of the electronic device to be registered corresponding to the identification sound;
searching a pre-stored registration method table for a registration method corresponding to an identifier of the electronic device to be registered;
providing (<NUM>), to the user, the registration method corresponding to the product information of the electronic device to be registered, wherein an operation guide screen (<NUM>) for the registration method (R1, R3) is displayed; and
registering (<NUM>) the electronic device to be registered as the device to be controlled as a result of the user's operation of the electronic device to be registered according to the registration method.