Patent Description:
This application claims benefit of priority to <CIT>, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office.

When a user leaves clothing in a washing machine or a drying machine in a home without taking out the clothing from the washing machine or the drying machine after a washing process or a drying process in the washing machine or the drying machine ends, the clothing in the washing machine or the drying machine may be damaged.

To solve such a problem, a clothing processing apparatus such as a washing machine or a drying machine according to the related art has provided a notification regarding the end of the washing process or the drying process when the washing process or the drying process ends. However, a situation of the user cannot but be different per point in time when the notification is provided, and thus, in many cases, the user could not take out the clothing from the washing machine or the drying machine even though the notification was provided. The <CIT> discloses a clothes treating apparatus comprising a cmmonicator configured to download, from a server, several types of information including position information or weather information and a controller which analyzes the collected information and controls the clothes treating apparatus based on the analysis result. The <CIT> discloses a washing machine capable of using IoT to realize control.

The invention is to address at least the above-mentioned problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantages described below. Accordingly, the invention is to provide a clothing processing apparatus capable of flexibly changing a remaining process of a clothing processing process that is being performed, based on contexts of one or more electronic apparatuses in an Internet of Things (IoT) system, and a control method thereof.

The invention is to provide a server apparatus that controls a clothing processing apparatus according to a user's situation, based on contexts of one or more electronic apparatuses.

In accordance with the invention, a clothing processing apparatus included in an Internet of Things (IoT) system is provided according ro claim <NUM>.

In this case, the information on the context of the electronic apparatus may include information on a remaining time until an end of a content that is being provided by the electronic apparatus, and the processor may be configured to identify that the predetermined condition is satisfied when it is identified that the remaining time of the content that is being provided by the electronic apparatus is longer than the remaining time of the process by a threshold time or more, based on the received information.

In addition, the information on the context of the electronic apparatus may include information on a position of the electronic apparatus, and the processor may be configured to identify that the predetermined condition is satisfied when it is identified that the position of the electronic apparatus becomes distant from a place where the clothing processing apparatus is positioned, by a threshold distance or more during a period in which the process is performed, based on the received information.

In addition, the information on the context of the electronic apparatus may include information on a remaining time until an end of a process that is being performed by the electronic apparatus, and the processor may be configured to identify that the predetermined condition is satisfied when it is identified that a first remaining time of the process that is being performed by the electronic apparatus and a second remaining time of the process that is being performed by the clothing processing apparatus are different from each other and a difference between the first and second remaining times is less than a threshold time, based on the received information.

In addition, the information on the context of the electronic apparatus may include information on a remaining time until an end of a process that is being performed by the electronic apparatus, and the processor may be configured to identify that the predetermined condition is satisfied when it is identified that a ratio of a first remaining time of a first process that is being performed by the electronic apparatus to a total time of the first process and a ratio of a second remaining time of a second process that is being performed by the clothing processing apparatus to a total time of the second process is a threshold ratio or more and the first remaining time and the second remaining time are different from each other, based on the received information.

The processor may be configured to adjust a performance time of at least one clothing processing operation included in the remaining process of the process that is being performed, when it is identified that the predetermined condition is satisfied.

Alternatively, the processor may be configured to add at least one clothing processing operation to the remaining process of the process that is being performed, when it is identified that the predetermined condition is satisfied.

The processor may be configured to add at least one clothing processing operation included in the process to the remaining process of the process that is being performed or add a new clothing processing operation that was not included in the process to the remaining process of the process that is being performed.

In accordance with the invention, a control method of a clothing processing apparatus included in an IoT system is provided according to claim <NUM>.

In this case, the information on the context of the electronic apparatus may include information on a remaining time until an end of a content that is being provided by the electronic apparatus, and in the identifying, it may be identified that the predetermined condition is satisfied when it is identified that the remaining time of the content that is being provided by the electronic apparatus is longer than the remaining time of the process by a threshold time or more, based on the received information.

In addition, the information on the context of the electronic apparatus may include information on a position of the electronic apparatus, and in the identifying, it may be identified that the predetermined condition is satisfied when it is identified that the position of the electronic apparatus becomes distant from a place where the clothing processing apparatus is positioned, by a threshold distance or more during a period in which the process is performed, based on the received information.

In addition, the information on the context of the electronic apparatus may include information on a remaining time until an end of a process that is being performed by the electronic apparatus, and in the identifying, it may be identified that the predetermined condition is satisfied when it is identified that a first remaining time of the process that is being performed by the electronic apparatus and a second remaining time of the process that is being performed by the clothing processing apparatus are different from each other and a difference between the first and second remaining times is less than a threshold time, based on the received information.

In addition, the information on the context of the electronic apparatus may include information on a remaining time until an end of a process that is being performed by the electronic apparatus, and in the identifying, it may be identified that the predetermined condition is satisfied when it is identified that a ratio of a first remaining time of a first process that is being performed by the electronic apparatus to a total time of the first process and a ratio of a second remaining time of a second process that is being performed by the clothing processing apparatus to a total time of the second process is a threshold ratio or more and the first remaining time and the second remaining time are different from each other, based on the received information.

In the changing, a performance time of at least one clothing processing operation included in the remaining process of the process that is being performed may be adjusted, when it is identified that the predetermined condition is satisfied.

In addition, in the changing, at least one clothing processing operation may be added to the remaining process of the process that is being performed, when it is identified that the predetermined condition is satisfied.

In the changing, at least one clothing processing operation included in the process may be added to the remaining process of the process that is being performed or a new clothing processing operation that was not included in the process may be added to the remaining process of the process that is being performed.

In accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure, a server apparatus controlling an IoT system is provided. The server apparatus includes a communication interface connected to a clothing processing apparatus and an electronic apparatus that are included in the IoT system, and a processor connected to the communication interface. The processor is configured to receive information on a process performed by the clothing processing apparatus from the clothing processing apparatus through the communication interface, receive information on a context of the electronic apparatus through the communication interface, identify whether or not a relationship between a remaining time until an end of the process that is being performed and the context of the electronic apparatus satisfies a predetermined condition during a period in which the process is being performed by the clothing processing apparatus, and control the clothing processing apparatus to change a remaining process of the process that is being performed through the communication interface when it is identified that the predetermined condition is satisfied.

The processor may be configured to transmit information on the process whose remaining process is changed to a user terminal apparatus through the communication interface.

The clothing processing apparatus according to the disclosure may end a clothing processing process that is being performed, at a point in time appropriate to a user's situation based on information on a context of an external electronic apparatus, even though there is no user input for changing an end time of the clothing processing process.

Therefore, the clothing processing apparatus according to the disclosure may prevent a situation in which clothing is left for a long time after the clothing processing process ends.

The server apparatus according to the disclosure may automatically control the clothing processing apparatus performing the clothing processing process so that the clothing processing apparatus may end the clothing processing process to be appropriate for the user's situation.

Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various changes and modifications of the various embodiments described herein can be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

The terms used in the following description and claims are not limited to the bibliographical meanings, but, are merely used by the inventor to enable a clear and consistent understanding of the disclosure.

In addition, throughout the accompanying drawings of the specification, the same reference numerals denote parts or components performing substantially the same functions. For convenience of explanation and understanding, different embodiments will be described using the same reference numerals. That is, even though all the components having the same reference numerals are illustrated in a plurality of drawings, the plurality of drawings do not mean one embodiment.

In addition, in the specification and the claims, terms including ordinal numbers such as "first", "second" and the like may be used to distinguish between components. These ordinal numbers are used to distinguish the same or similar components from each other, and the meaning of the terms should not be restrictively construed by the use of these ordinal numbers. As an example, components combined with these ordinal numbers should not be limited in order of use or arrangement by the ordinal numbers. If necessary, the respectively ordinal numbers may be interchangeably used.

In the specification, singular forms include plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It should be understood that terms "include" or "formed of" used in the specification specify the presence of features, numerals, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof mentioned in the specification, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, numerals, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

In embodiments of the disclosure, a term such as a "module", a "unit", "part", or the like, is a term for referring to a component performing at least one function or operation, and such a component may be implemented as hardware or software or be implemented as a combination of hardware and software. In addition, a plurality of "modules", "units", "parts", or the like, are integrated into at least one module or chip, except that they need to be implemented as individual specific hardware, such that they may be implemented as at least one processor.

In addition, in an embodiment of the disclosure, a case where any portion is referred to as being "connected to" another portion not only includes a case where any one portion and another portion are "directly connected to" each other, but also includes a case where any one portion and another portion are "indirectly connected to" each other through the other medium. In addition, unless explicitly described otherwise, "including" any components will be understood to imply the inclusion of other components rather than the exclusion of any other components.

<FIG> is a view for schematically describing an example in which a clothing processing apparatus operates in an Internet of Things (IoT) system according to an embodiment of the disclosure. <FIG> illustrates an IoT system for controlling home appliances and terminal apparatuses in a house.

Referring to <FIG>, an IoT system <NUM> may include clothing processing apparatuses <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> each corresponding to a washing machine and a drying machine, and other electronic apparatuses <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, and <NUM>-<NUM>. The electronic apparatuses <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, and <NUM>-<NUM> may include various home appliances or terminal apparatuses in addition to a television (TV), a desktop personal computer (PC), and a smartphone that are illustrated in <FIG>.

The abovementioned clothing processing apparatuses <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> and electronic apparatuses <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, and <NUM>-<NUM> in the IoT system <NUM> may communicate with each other. In this case, one or more server apparatuses may be used.

Each of the clothing processing apparatuses <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> may control processes (for example, a washing process, a drying process, and the like) for clothing processing based on information on contexts received from the electronic apparatuses <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, and <NUM>-<NUM>. The information on the context may refer to information on a state or a situation of each apparatus, and more specific embodiments related to the information on the context will be described later with reference to each of the drawings.

As an example, the washing machine <NUM>-<NUM> may change a remaining process of a washing process based on information on a context received from at least one electronic apparatus while performing the washing process including operations such as washing, rinsing, dewatering, and drying.

As an example, the drying machine <NUM>-<NUM> may change a remaining process of a drying process based on information on a context received from at least one electronic apparatus while performing the drying process including operations such as drying and wrinkle prevention.

A clothing processing process that is being performed by at least one clothing processing apparatus may also be changed based on information on a context transmitted and received between the clothing processing apparatuses <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM>.

For example, the washing machine <NUM>-<NUM> may change the remaining process of the washing process based on information on a context received from the drying machine <NUM>-<NUM>. In addition, the drying machine <NUM>-<NUM> may also change the remaining process of the washing process based on information on a context received from the washing machine <NUM>-<NUM>.

As described above, the clothing processing apparatuses <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> according to the disclosure may change and control the clothing processing process through information on the context of another apparatus included in the IoT system <NUM>, and may resultantly prevent a situation such as a situation in which the clothing processing process ends even when a user may not take out clothing from the clothing processing apparatuses <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> or a situation in which the clothing processing process ends at a point in time that is not wanted by the user.

<FIG> is a block diagram for describing components of a clothing processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure. Referring to <FIG>, the clothing processing apparatus <NUM> may include a communication interface <NUM> and a processor <NUM>.

The clothing processing apparatus <NUM> may correspond to a washing machine, a drying machine, or other apparatus for removing foreign materials from clothing or preserving a state of clothing. A washing machine <NUM>-<NUM> and a drying machine <NUM>-<NUM> according to embodiments to be described hereinafter through a plurality of drawings may be specific examples of the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>, respectively.

The communication interface <NUM> is a component for performing communication with at least one external apparatus. To this end, the communication interface <NUM> may include a circuit.

The clothing processing apparatus <NUM> may be included in at least one IoT system. In this case, the clothing processing apparatus <NUM> may perform communication with various external apparatuses included in the IoT system through the communication interface <NUM>.

The clothing processing apparatus <NUM> may perform communication with at least one electronic apparatus through the communication interface <NUM>. The electronic apparatus may correspond to various home appliances or terminal apparatuses such as a TV, a smartphone, a desktop PC, a laptop PC, a tablet PC, an electric light, a speaker, and an air purifier. In addition, the electronic apparatus may correspond to a clothing processing apparatus different from the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>.

The communication interface <NUM> may transmit and receive various information to and from one or more external electronic apparatuses through a communication protocol such as transmission control protocol/Internet protocol (TCP/IP), user datagram protocol (UDP), hyper text transfer protocol (HTTP), secure hyper text transfer protocol (HTTPS), file transfer protocol (FTP), secure file transfer protocol (SFTP), and message queuing telemetry transport (MQTT).

To this end, the communication interface <NUM> may be connected to an external electronic apparatus based on a network implemented through wired communication and/or wireless communication. In this case, the communication interface <NUM> may be directly connected to the external electronic apparatus, but may also be connected to the external electronic apparatus through one or more external servers (for example, Internet service providers (ISPs)) and/or a relay apparatus providing a network. In addition, the communication interface <NUM> may be connected to at least one server through an application to be connected to the external electronic apparatus connected to the server through the application.

The network may be a personal area network (PAN), a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), or the like, depending on an area or a size thereof, and may be an Intranet, an Extranet, the Internet, or the like, depending on openness thereof.

The wireless communication may include at least one of communication manners such as long-term evolution (LTE), LTE Advanced (LTE-A), <NUM>th generation (<NUM>) mobile communication, code division multiple access (CDMA), wideband CDMA (WCDMA), universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS), wireless broadband (WiBro), global system for mobile communications (GSM), time division multiple access (TDMA), wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi), Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth, near field communication (NFC), and Zigbee. The wired communication may include at least one of communication manners such as Ethernet, an optical network, a universal serial bus (USB), and ThunderBolt. The communication interface <NUM> may include a network interface or a network chip according to the wired and wireless communication manners described above. The communication manner is not limited to the examples described above, and may include a communication manner newly emerging according to the development of technology.

The processor <NUM> is a component for generally controlling each component included in the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>, and may be implemented as a general-purpose processor such as a central processing unit (CPU) or an application processor (AP), a graphics-dedicated processor such as a graphics processing unit (GPU) or a vision processing unit (VPU), or an artificial intelligence-dedicated processor such as a neural processing unit (NPU). In addition, the processor <NUM> may include a volatile memory such as a static random access memory (SRAM).

The processor <NUM> may perform a process including at least one clothing processing operation. To this end, the process may be stored in a memory of the clothing processing apparatus <NUM> in a form of at least one instruction or program.

As an example, when the clothing processing apparatus <NUM> is the washing machine, the processor <NUM> may perform a washing process including at least one of operations such as washing, rinsing, and dewatering.

As an example, when the clothing processing apparatus <NUM> is the drying machine, the processor <NUM> may perform a washing process including at least one of operations such as drying and wrinkle prevention.

The processor <NUM> may receive information on a context of an electronic apparatus from at least one electronic apparatus through the communication interface <NUM>. In this case, the clothing processing apparatus <NUM> and the electronic apparatus may be included in the same IoT system.

The context may be broadly interpreted as a term including a situation or a state of an electronic apparatus. The information on the context may include, for example, information on a content that is being reproduced by the electronic apparatus, information on a position of the electronic apparatus, information on at least one process that is being performed by the electronic apparatus, information on at least one application that is being performed by the electronic apparatus, and the like, but is not limited thereto.

The processor <NUM> may receive information on a context from the electronic apparatus through at least one server apparatus.

The processor <NUM> according to an embodiment of the disclosure may receive the information on the context from the electronic apparatus while performing a process including at least one clothing processing operation.

The processor <NUM> may identify whether a relationship between a remaining time until an end of the process that is being performed and the context of the electronic apparatus satisfies at least one predetermined condition, based on the received information on the context.

In addition, when it is identified that at least one predetermined condition is satisfied, the processor <NUM> may change and perform the remaining process of the process that is being performed so that the remaining time of the process that is being performed is changed.

At least one predetermined condition may include various conditions. In addition, the processor <NUM> may change and perform the remaining process of the process so that the remaining time of the process is changed according to the satisfied predetermined condition. That is, a manner in which the remaining time of the process is changed (such as, increase/decrease, an increase degree, or a decrease degree) may be changed depending on what the predetermined condition is.

Hereinafter, a predetermined condition according to various embodiments of the disclosure and a manner of changing a remaining time according to the predetermined condition will be described with reference to <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, and the like.

<FIG> are views for describing various examples in which a clothing processing apparatus identifies whether a predetermined condition is satisfied, based on information on a context of an electronic apparatus that reproduces a content according to various embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, the received information on the context of the electronic apparatus may be information on a remaining time until an end of a content that is being provided by the electronic apparatus. In this case, the processor <NUM> may identify whether a predetermined condition is satisfied, based on a relationship between the remaining time of the process that is being performed and the remaining time of the content that is being provided by the electronic apparatus.

As a specific example, when it is identified that the remaining time of the content that is being provided by the electronic apparatus is longer than the remaining time of the process that is being performed, by a first threshold time or more, the processor <NUM> may identify that the predetermined condition is satisfied.

The first threshold time may be a time set based on a time that it takes for the clothing left in the clothing processing apparatus after an end of the washing process or the drying process to be damaged.

In this regard, <FIG> assumes a state in which a clothing processing apparatus <NUM>-<NUM>, which is a washing machine, is performing a washing process, and an electronic apparatus <NUM>-<NUM>, which is a TV, is playing a movie. Referring to <FIG>, a remaining time of the washing process is <NUM> minutes, and a remaining time of the movie that is being played by the electronic apparatus <NUM>-<NUM> is <NUM> hour.

When the first threshold time is set to <NUM> minutes for the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>-<NUM>, which is the washing machine, the remaining time of the movie is longer than the remaining time of the washing process by <NUM> minutes or more (<NUM> minutes) in <FIG>, and thus, the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>-<NUM> may identify that the predetermined condition is satisfied.

In this case, the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>-<NUM> may change and perform the remaining process of the washing process. As an example, the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>-<NUM> may change the remaining process so that the remaining time of the washing process increases. As a result, the washing process may end later than the movie that is being played, and the user may not be disturbed while watching the movie. In addition, the user may unhurriedly take out clothing from the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>-<NUM> after the movie ends.

In this regard, <FIG> assumes a state in which a clothing processing apparatus <NUM>-<NUM>, which is a drying machine, is performing a drying process, and an electronic apparatus <NUM>-<NUM>, which is a TV, is playing a movie. Referring to <FIG>, a remaining time of the washing process is <NUM> minutes, while a remaining time of the movie is <NUM> hour and <NUM> minutes.

When the first threshold time is set to <NUM> minutes for the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>-<NUM>, which is the drying machine, the remaining time of the movie is longer than the remaining time of the drying process by <NUM> minutes or more (<NUM> hour and <NUM> minutes) in <FIG>, and thus, the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>-<NUM> may identify that the predetermined condition is satisfied. In this case, the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>-<NUM> may change and perform the remaining process of the drying process.

As another example, when the remaining time of the process that is being performed is longer than the remaining time of the content that is being provided by the electronic apparatus and a difference between the remaining times is shorter than a second threshold time, the processor <NUM> may also identify that the predetermined condition is satisfied.

The second threshold time may be set based on a time in which an effect of washing or drying is maintained at a predetermined numerical value or more (the predetermined numerical value may be a numerical value for at least one of various factors that may be used to evaluate a quality of the washing process/drying process of the washing machine/drying machine, may be pre-defined by an experiment or common technical knowledge, and may be, for example, an amount of residual foreign materials on clothing, a degree of deterioration of the clothing, a degree of wrinkles in the clothing, an amount of residual detergent on the clothing, a degree of dewatering of the clothing, or the like, after the washing process/drying process) even though processes of an original washing process or drying process are reduced by a specific time.

In this regard, <FIG> assumes a state in which a clothing processing apparatus <NUM>-<NUM>, which is a washing machine, is performing a washing process, and an electronic apparatus <NUM>-<NUM>, which is a TV, is playing a movie. Referring to <FIG>, a remaining time of the washing process is <NUM> hour and <NUM> minutes, and a remaining time of the movie that is being played by the electronic apparatus <NUM>-<NUM> is <NUM> hour and <NUM> minutes.

When the second threshold time is set to <NUM> minutes, the remaining time of the washing process that is being performed is longer than the remaining time of the movie by <NUM> minutes (less than <NUM> minutes), and thus, the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>-<NUM> may identify that the predetermined condition is satisfied.

In this case, the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>-<NUM> may change the remaining process of the washing process. As an example, the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>-<NUM> may change the remaining process so that the remaining time of the washing process decreases in a range in which the washing process does not end before the movie ends. In this case, the user may take out the clothing from the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>-<NUM> immediately after the movie ends.

The processor <NUM> may also identify whether the predetermined condition is satisfied in a relationship with a process that is being performed, based on a type of content that is being reproduced by the electronic apparatus and a remaining time of the content.

To this end, the clothing processing apparatus <NUM> may receive information on a context including information on the type of content that is being reproduced by the electronic apparatus. In addition, when the electronic apparatus receives a broadcast content in real time, the clothing processing apparatus <NUM> may also receive information on a context including hourly broadcast information (for example, electronic program guide (EPG)) from the electronic apparatus or another electronic apparatus connected to the electronic apparatus.

The type of content may be various types such as a movie, a drama, an advertisement, news, and a game. When the type of content is a movie, a drama, or a game, it is not different from embodiments described with reference to <FIG>.

However, when the content that is being reproduced by the electronic apparatus is an advertisement, the processor <NUM> may identify whether the predetermined condition is satisfied based on the remaining time of the process that is being performed and the remaining time of the advertisement that is being reproduced by the electronic apparatus.

Specifically, when the remaining time of the process that is being performed is shorter than the remaining time of one or more consecutive advertisements that are being provided by the electronic apparatus, and a difference between the remaining times is shorter than the second threshold time described above, the processor <NUM> may identify whether the predetermined condition is satisfied.

In this regard, referring to <FIG>, it illustrates a state in which a clothing processing apparatus <NUM>-<NUM>, which is a washing machine, is performing a washing process, and an electronic apparatus <NUM>-<NUM>, which is a TV, is providing an advertisement received through broadcasting. <FIG> assumes a situation in which a remaining time of the washing process that is being performed by the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>-<NUM> is <NUM> minutes, and a remaining time of one or more consecutive advertisements that are being provided by the electronic apparatus <NUM>-<NUM> is <NUM> minutes.

When the second threshold time is set to <NUM> minutes, the remaining time of the washing process that is being performed is longer than the remaining time of the advertisement (advertisements) by <NUM> minutes (less than <NUM> minutes), and thus, the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>-<NUM> may identify that the predetermined condition is satisfied.

In this case, the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>-<NUM> may change the remaining process of the washing process. As an example, the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>-<NUM> may decrease the remaining time of the washing process so that the washing process ends before the advertisement(s) ends. In this case, the user may take out the clothing from the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>-<NUM> before other content (for example, news, a drama, or a movie) starts following the advertisement(s).

It has been assumed and illustrated in <FIG> that the electronic apparatus <NUM>-<NUM> is the TV, but the electronic apparatus <NUM>-<NUM> does not necessarily need to be the TV, and may be various types of electronic apparatuses capable of playing a content.

<FIG> is a view for describing an example in which the clothing processing apparatus identifies whether a predetermined condition is satisfied, based on information on a context including a position of an electronic apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

According to an embodiment, the information on the context of the electronic apparatus may include information on a position of the electronic apparatus. In this case, the processor <NUM> may identify that the predetermined condition is satisfied when it is identified that the position of the electronic apparatus becomes distant from a place where the clothing processing apparatus <NUM> is positioned by a threshold distance or more during a period in which the process is performed, based on the received information on the context.

Referring to <FIG>, a situation in which the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>-<NUM>, which is the washing machine, is performing a washing process, the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>-<NUM>, which is the drying machine, is performing a drying process, and information on a context including information on a position of an electronic apparatus <NUM>-<NUM> implemented as a smartphone is transmitted to the clothing processing apparatuses <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> is assumed.

The information on the position of the electronic apparatus <NUM>-<NUM> may be identified based on a global positioning system (GPS) and be transmitted to the clothing processing apparatuses <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM>. In this case, the information on the position of the electronic apparatus <NUM>-<NUM> may be transmitted to the clothing processing apparatuses <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> through at least one server apparatus and/or a relay apparatus.

Alternatively, the information on the position of the electronic apparatus <NUM>-<NUM> may be identified by at least one server apparatus based on connection information between at least one relay apparatus (for example, a Wi-Fi router) and the electronic apparatus <NUM>-<NUM>. For example, when it is identified the electronic apparatus <NUM>-<NUM> is connected to a relay apparatus spaced apart from a house <NUM> by a predetermined distance or more, the server apparatus may identify that the electronic apparatus <NUM>-<NUM> travels from the house <NUM> by a predetermined distance or more. In addition, the server apparatus may transmit the information on the position of the electronic apparatus <NUM>-<NUM> to the clothing processing apparatuses <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM>.

Alternatively, the information on the position of the electronic apparatus <NUM>-<NUM> may be identified by the server apparatus based on an intensity of a signal transmitted and received between at least one relay apparatus and the electronic apparatus <NUM>-<NUM>. In this case, the server apparatus may identify the position of the electronic apparatus <NUM>-<NUM> using a position of a relay apparatus transmitting and receiving a signal having the strongest intensity to and from the electronic apparatus <NUM>-<NUM>. In addition, the server apparatus may transmit the information on the position of the electronic apparatus <NUM>-<NUM> to the clothing processing apparatuses <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM>.

Alternatively, the server apparatus may identify that the electronic apparatus <NUM>-<NUM> travels from the house <NUM> by a predetermined distance or more when an intensity of a signal transmitted and received by the electronic apparatus <NUM>-<NUM> to and from a relay apparatus positioned in the house <NUM> is smaller than a predetermined value. In addition, the server apparatus may transmit the information on the position of the electronic apparatus <NUM>-<NUM> to the clothing processing apparatuses <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM>.

As described above, when it is identified that the position of the electronic apparatus <NUM>-<NUM> becomes distant from the house <NUM> by a predetermined distance or more in a state in which the process for clothing processing is being performed, the clothing processing apparatuses <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> may identify that the predetermined condition is satisfied.

In this case, at least one of the clothing processing apparatuses <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> may change and perform the remaining process so that the remaining time of the washing process and/or the drying process that is being performed is changed.

Specifically, the clothing processing apparatuses <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> may change the remaining process to increase the remaining time of the washing process and/or drying process that is being performed.

As a result, a situation in which the clothing is left in the clothing processing apparatus for a long time as a result of an end of the washing process or the drying process in a state in which the user <NUM> goes out may be prevented.

In <FIG>, the clothing processing apparatuses <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> may identify that the predetermined condition is satisfied only when the position of the electronic apparatus becomes distant from the house <NUM> by a predetermined distance or more (or when the electronic apparatus is positioned outside the house <NUM>) in a state in which the remaining time of the washing process that is being performed or the drying process that is being performed is less than a third threshold time.

The third threshold time may be set to a time corresponding to a predetermined percentage (for example, <NUM>%, <NUM>%, <NUM>%, or <NUM>%) of the entire process, but is not limited thereto.

As an example, a case where the third threshold time set for the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>-<NUM>, which is the drying machine, is <NUM> minutes may be assumed. In addition, when it is identified that the position of the electronic apparatus becomes distant from the house <NUM> by a predetermined distance or more in a state in which the remaining time of the drying process that is being performed is <NUM> minutes as illustrated in <FIG>, the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>-<NUM> may identify that the predetermined condition is satisfied.

On the other hand, even though the position of the electronic apparatus becomes distant from the house <NUM> by a predetermined distance or more, when the remaining time of the drying process that is being performed is longer than <NUM> minutes, the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>-<NUM> may identify that the predetermined condition has not yet been satisfied.

When the third threshold time is set as described above, a situation in which the remaining time of the washing process or the drying process increases when the user does not want such a situation may be prevented. This is because, for example, when the third threshold time is not set, a problem that the remaining time increases due to an inevitable change of the washing process even though the user who clearly recognizes that the washing process that is being performed by the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>-<NUM> returns to the house <NUM> immediately after going out for a short time at an early stage of the washing process (before the original remaining time of the washing process has elapsed) may occur.

<FIG> and <FIG> are views for describing various examples in which a clothing processing apparatus identifies whether a predetermined condition is satisfied, based on information on a context of an electronic apparatus that is performing another process according to various embodiments of the disclosure.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the information on the context of the electronic apparatus may include information on a remaining time until an end of a process that is being performed by the electronic apparatus. In this case, the processor <NUM> may identify that the predetermined condition is satisfied on the basis of a relationship between a first remaining time of a first process that is being performed by the electronic apparatus and a second remaining time of a second process that is being performed by the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>, based on the received information on the context.

In this case, the electronic apparatus may be a clothing processing apparatus different from the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>. For example, the clothing processing apparatus <NUM> may be a washing machine and the electronic apparatus may be a drying machine.

For example, when it is identified that the first remaining time and the second remaining time are different from each other and a difference between the first remaining time and the second remaining time is less than a fourth threshold time, the processor <NUM> may identify that the predetermined condition is satisfied. The fourth threshold time may be set according to a type (a washing machine, a drying machine or the like) of the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>.

In this regard, <FIG> illustrates a situation in which the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>-<NUM>, which is the washing machine, is performing a washing process, and the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>-<NUM>, which is the drying machine, is performing a drying process. Referring to <FIG>, the remaining time of the washing process is <NUM> hour and <NUM> minutes, and the remaining time of the drying process is <NUM> hour and <NUM> minutes.

In this case, the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>-<NUM> may receive information on the context from the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>-<NUM> and determine a relationship between the remaining times.

When the fourth threshold time set for the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>-<NUM> is <NUM> minutes, the difference between the remaining times is <NUM> minutes less than <NUM> minutes, and the processor <NUM> of the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>-<NUM> may thus identify that the predetermined condition is satisfied.

In this case, the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>-<NUM> may change the remaining process of the washing process that is being performed by the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>-<NUM>. As an example, the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>-<NUM> may change the remaining process of the washing process so that a difference between the remaining time of the washing process and the remaining time of the drying process decreases.

However, in the situation of <FIG>, the remaining process of the washing process of the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>-<NUM>, which is the washing machine, is not changed, but the remaining process of the drying process of the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>-<NUM>, which is the drying machine, may also be changed.

The processor <NUM> may identify that the predetermined condition is satisfied, when it is identified that a ratio of a first remaining time of a first process that is being performed by the electronic apparatus (another clothing processing apparatus) to a total time of the first process and a ratio of a second remaining time of a second process that is being performed by the clothing processing apparatus <NUM> to a total time of the second process is a threshold ratio or more and the first remaining time and the second remaining time are different from each other.

The threshold ratio may be set to various ratios such as <NUM>%, <NUM>%, and <NUM>%, but is not limited thereto.

Referring to <FIG>, situation in which a remaining time of the washing process that is being performed by the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>-<NUM>, which is the washing machine, is <NUM> hour and <NUM> minutes, and a remaining time of the drying process that is being performed by the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>-<NUM>, which is the drying machine, is <NUM> hour and <NUM> minutes is illustrated. In this case, a progress rate of the washing process is <NUM>%, and a progress rate of the drying process is <NUM>%. That is, a ratio of the remaining time of the washing process is <NUM>%, and a ratio of the remaining time of the drying process is <NUM>%.

When the threshold ratio is <NUM>%, both of the ratios of the remaining times of the washing process and the drying process are <NUM>% or more (<NUM>% and <NUM>%), which is the threshold ratio, and the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>-<NUM> may thus identify that the predetermined condition is satisfied.

In this case, the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>-<NUM> may change the remaining process of the drying process that is being performed by the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>-<NUM>. As an example, the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>-<NUM> may change the remaining process of the drying process so that a difference between the remaining time of the drying process and the remaining time of the washing process decreases.

However, in the situation of <FIG>, the remaining process of the drying process of the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>-<NUM>, which is the drying machine, is not changed, but the remaining process of the washing process of the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>-<NUM>, which is the washing machine, may also be changed.

When it is identified that at least one predetermined condition is satisfied according to the various embodiments described above, the processor <NUM> may change the remaining process of the process that is being performed. Hereinafter, various embodiments in which a remaining process of a process that is being performed by the clothing processing apparatus <NUM> is changed will be described with reference to <FIG> and <FIG> and <FIG>.

The processor <NUM> according to an embodiment of the disclosure may adjust a performance time of at least one clothing processing operation included in the remaining process of the process that is being performed, when it is identified that at least one predetermined condition is satisfied.

The clothing processing operation may include operations such as washing, rinsing, dewatering, and soaking included in the washing process. In addition, the clothing processing operation may include operations such as drying and wrinkle prevention included in the drying process.

Alternatively, the processor <NUM> may add at least one clothing processing operation to the remaining process of the process that is being performed. In this case, the processor <NUM> may add at least one clothing processing operation included in the process to the remaining process of the process that is being performed or add a new clothing processing operation that was not included in the process to the remaining process of the process that is being performed.

<FIG> are views for describing various examples in which a clothing processing apparatus implemented as a washing machine changes a remaining process of a clothing processing process according to various embodiments of the disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, a situation in which the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>-<NUM>, which is the washing machine, is performing a washing process <NUM> including two washing operations, three rinsing operations, and one dewatering operation is assumed.

In addition, when it is identified that at least one predetermined condition is satisfied, the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>-<NUM> may change a remaining process <NUM>' of the washing process <NUM>.

First, referring to <FIG>, the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>-<NUM> may adjust a performance time of at least one clothing processing operation included in the washing process <NUM>.

Specifically, the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>-<NUM> may change a performance time of at least one of a washing operation <NUM>, a rinsing operation <NUM>, a rinsing operation <NUM>, or a dewatering operation <NUM> performed after a point in time when it is identified that the predetermined condition is satisfied, in the washing process <NUM>.

When the performance time of at least one clothing processing operation increases, a remaining time of the washing process <NUM> may increase, and when the performance time of at least one clothing processing operation decreases, the remaining time of the washing process <NUM> may decrease.

Referring to <FIG>, the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>-<NUM> may add at least one clothing processing operation to the washing process <NUM>.

Specifically, the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>-<NUM> may add a washing operation <NUM>' between the washing operation <NUM> and the rinsing operation <NUM> or add a rinsing operation <NUM>' between the rinsing operation <NUM> and the dewatering operation <NUM>.

In addition, the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>-<NUM> may further add a rinsing operation <NUM> and a dewatering operation <NUM> after an entire process of the original washing process <NUM> ends. The rinsing operation <NUM> and the dewatering operation <NUM> have a clothing preservation effect that may prevent a situation in which clothing left after the original washing process <NUM> ends is damaged or becomes dirty again.

As a result of adding at least one clothing processing operation as described above, the remaining time of the washing process <NUM> may increase.

Referring to <FIG>, the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>-<NUM> may exclude at least one clothing processing operation included in the washing process <NUM> from the washing process <NUM>.

As a specific example, the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>-<NUM> may not perform one (for example, a rinsing operation <NUM>) of three rinsing operations <NUM> to <NUM> of the washing process <NUM>. In this case, the remaining time of the washing process <NUM> may decrease.

<FIG> and <FIG> are views for describing various examples in which a clothing processing apparatus implemented as a drying machine changes a remaining process of a clothing processing process according to various embodiments of the disclosure.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, a situation in which the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>-<NUM>, which is the drying machine, is performing a drying process <NUM> including a primary drying operation <NUM> and a secondary drying operation <NUM> is assumed.

The first drying operation and the second drying operation may correspond to a plurality of operations divided from the drying process by various references. For example, drying temperatures at which drying operations are performed in each of the first drying operation and the second drying operation may be different from each other. Alternatively, a progress rate of the drying process may be calculated based on an amount of moisture contained in clothing that is being dried or a humidity of air (inside a drum) sensed through a sensor, and the primary drying operation and the secondary drying operation may be divided on the basis of a point in time when a specific numerical value of drying progress rate (for example, <NUM>%) is achieved. However, the division of the drying process may be changed depending on a design/implementation manner of the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>-<NUM>, which is the drying machine, and the drying process <NUM> is not necessarily divided into the primary drying operation and the secondary drying operation, but may be defined as only one operation (: drying operation) or may be defined as including three or more operations.

When it is identified that at least one predetermined condition is satisfied, the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>-<NUM> may change a remaining process <NUM>' of the drying process <NUM>.

As an example, referring to <FIG>, the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>-<NUM>, which is the drying machine, may add a wrinkle prevention operation <NUM> to the drying process <NUM>. The wrinkle prevention operation <NUM> has a clothing preservation effect that may prevent a situation in which the clothing left after the original drying process <NUM> ends is damaged, for example, wrinkles.

In this case, the remaining time of the drying process <NUM> may increase.

As an example, referring to <FIG>, the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>-<NUM>, which is the drying machine, may change a temperature set for at least one of the drying operations <NUM> and <NUM> performed after a point in time when it is identified that the predetermined condition is satisfied.

Referring to <FIG>, the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>-<NUM> may increase or decrease a temperature at the time of the secondary drying operation <NUM>. When a temperature set for the secondary drying operation <NUM> increases, a time required for the secondary drying operation <NUM> may also decrease as a result of sensing that an amount of moisture contained in the clothing quickly reaches a target value. As a result, the remaining time of the drying process <NUM> may decrease.

On the contrary, when the temperature set for the secondary drying operation <NUM> decreases, the time required for the secondary drying operation <NUM> may increase, such that the remaining time of the drying process <NUM> may increase.

Specifically, the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>-<NUM>, which is the drying machine, may include a compressor, a heat exchanger, a fan, and the like, for generating warm air, and may increase/decrease a drying temperature in an operation such as the secondary drying operation <NUM> by increasing/decreasing an operating frequency of the compressor.

In the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>-<NUM>, which is the drying machine, a time required to perform the drying operation may be pre-stored for each drying temperature of at least one drying operation (for example, the primary drying operation or the secondary drying described above). For example, a performance time of the secondary drying operation whose drying temperature is <NUM> may be set to <NUM> hour, a performance time of the secondary drying operation whose drying temperature is <NUM> may be set to <NUM> minutes, and a performance time of the secondary drying operation whose drying temperature is <NUM> may be set to <NUM> minutes.

When the remaining time of the drying process <NUM> needs to be decreased by <NUM> minutes in a state in which a drying temperature set for the secondary drying operation is <NUM> and a performance time set for the secondary drying operation is <NUM> minutes, the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>-<NUM> may change the drying temperature of the secondary drying operation to <NUM> and then perform the drying process <NUM>.

A (target) drying temperature matched to the changed performance time of the drying operation may be inferred through at least one artificial intelligence model. The artificial intelligence model may be data in the form of a neural network model trained to output a drying temperature when the changed performance time of the drying operation (for example, the secondary drying operation) is input, and may be stored in at least one server apparatus capable of communicating with the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>-<NUM> or the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>-<NUM>.

As a specific example, when the remaining time of the drying process <NUM> needs to be decreased by <NUM> minutes, the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>-<NUM> may transmit information on a target performance time obtained by subtracting <NUM> minutes from the performance time of the (original) secondary drying operation <NUM> to the server apparatus. In addition, the server apparatus may identify a target drying temperature of the secondary drying operation by inputting the information on the target performance time into the artificial intelligence model. In addition, the clothing processing apparatus -<NUM>-<NUM> may change the drying process <NUM> by setting the drying temperature of the secondary drying operation <NUM> to the target drying temperature received from the server apparatus.

Although not illustrated through <FIG>, as an example, the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>-<NUM>, which is the drying machine, may adjust the time of the secondary drying operation <NUM> by increasing/decreasing a rotational speed of the fan emitting warm air. In this case, as the rotation speed of the fan increases, the performance time of the secondary drying operation <NUM> may decrease, and as the rotational speed of the fan decreases, the performance time of the secondary drying operation <NUM> may increase. The clothing processing apparatus <NUM>-<NUM> may adjust the rotation speed of the fan by controlling an output of a motor that drives rotation of the fan.

The processor <NUM> may change the remaining process of the process that is being performed, in a different manner depending on what the satisfied predetermined condition is. As described above through each of the embodiments, it may be changed whether the remaining time of the process increases or decreases for each predetermined condition. In addition, a degree (time length) to which the remaining time increases or decreases may also be changed for each predetermined condition.

<FIG> is a block diagram for describing detailed components of a clothing processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, the clothing processing apparatus <NUM> may further include a clothing processor <NUM>, a memory <NUM>, a user input interface <NUM>, an output interface <NUM>, and the like, in addition to the communication interface <NUM> and the processor <NUM>.

The processor <NUM> may transmit the information on the context of the clothing processing apparatus <NUM> to at least one external apparatus through the communication interface <NUM>. For example, the processor <NUM> may transmit information on a (clothing processing) process that is currently being performed to a server apparatus and/or an electronic apparatus included in the IoT system.

The information on the process may include information on a type and a performance time of each operation included in the process, a start time of the process, a remaining time of the process, and the like.

In addition, when the process for clothing processing ends, the processor <NUM> may transmit a notification regarding the end of the process to the server apparatus and/or the electronic apparatus through the communication interface <NUM>. As a result, the electronic apparatus implemented as a smartphone or a TV may provide the notification regarding the end of the process to the user.

In addition, when the remaining process of the process for clothing processing is changed, the processor <NUM> may transmit information on the changed process to the server apparatus and/or the electronic apparatus.

The clothing processor <NUM> is a component for performing a process including the various clothing processing operations described above under the control of the processor <NUM>.

When the clothing processing apparatus <NUM> is the washing machine, the clothing processor <NUM> may include various components for performing at least one of a washing operation, a rinsing operation, a dewatering operation, or a drying operation.

As an example, the clothing processor <NUM> may include a tub for storing water, a drum in which laundry (clothing) is put and washing/rinsing/dewatering/drying, and the like, are performed on the laundry (clothing), a motor for rotating the drum, a water supply valve for supplying water from the tub to the drum, a pump for discharging water from the drum, and the like. However, the components of the clothing processor <NUM> of the clothing processing apparatus <NUM> may be implemented in various manners known in the related art.

When the clothing processing apparatus <NUM> is the drying machine, the clothing processor <NUM> may include various components for performing operations such as drying and wrinkle prevention.

As an example, the clothing processor <NUM> may include a drum in which clothing is put and drying is performed on the clothing, a motor for rotating the drum, a heater (that may include a compressor, a heat exchanger, a fan, and the like) for providing warm air having a predetermined temperature into the drum, and the like. However, the components of the clothing processor <NUM> of the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>, which is the drying machine, may be implemented in various manners (for example, a manner of heating air using an electric heater, a manner of generating heat by burning gas, and the like) known in the related art.

When the clothing processing apparatus <NUM> is the drying machine, a sensor for measuring an amount of moisture contained in the clothing may be provided inside the drum. Specifically, the sensor may include one or more electrodes, and in this case, the processor <NUM> may measure an amount of moisture contained in the clothing or a humidity of air inside the drum based on an intensity of a current flowing through the clothing in contact with the electrodes or the air inside the drum in contact with the electrodes. In addition, the processor <NUM> may determine a progress rate of the drying based on the measured amount of moisture or the measured humidity.

When the clothing processing apparatus <NUM> is implemented as another type of clothing processing apparatus (for example, an apparatus for storing and managing clothing) other than the washing machine and the drying machine, the components of the clothing processor <NUM> may also be changed.

The memory <NUM> is a component for storing an operating system (OS) for controlling general operations of the components of the clothing processing apparatus <NUM> and at least one instruction or data related to the components of the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>. The processor <NUM> may perform the operations according to the various embodiments described above by executing at least one instruction stored in the memory <NUM>.

The memory <NUM> may include a nonvolatile memory such as a read only memory (ROM) and a flash memory, and may include a volatile memory such as a dynamic random access memory (DRAM). In addition, the memory <NUM> may include a storage such as a hard disk and a solid state drive (SSD).

The memory <NUM> may store information on a process performed by the clothing processing apparatus <NUM> in the form of a program or an instruction. The program or the instruction may be defined as a control command code used by the processor <NUM> to control the clothing processor <NUM>.

The user input interface <NUM> is a component for receiving a user input.

The processor <NUM> may receive a user command for performing at least one process through the user input interface <NUM>.

To this end, the user input interface <NUM> may include at least one button, a touch screen, and the like, and may also include a microphone, an image sensor or the like.

The output interface <NUM> is a component for providing various information to the user. The output interface <NUM> may include at least one display and a speaker.

As an example, when the washing process of the clothing processing apparatus <NUM> implemented as the washing machine ends, the processor <NUM> may visually and/or audibly provide a notification regarding the end of the washing process through the display and/or the speaker.

As an example, when the remaining process of the washing process of the clothing processing apparatus <NUM> implemented as the washing machine is changed, the processor <NUM> may control the output interface <NUM> to visually/audibly notify the user that the washing process that is being performed has changed. In this case, the display of the output interface <NUM> may display information on the changed remaining time.

<FIG> and <FIG> are views for describing operations and components of a server apparatus that controls at least one clothing processing apparatus and at least one electronic apparatus included in an IoT system according to various embodiments of the disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, a server apparatus <NUM> may receive information on a context from clothing processing apparatuses <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> and electronic apparatuses <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, and <NUM>-<NUM>.

In addition, the server apparatus <NUM> may control a washing process/drying process performed by the clothing processing apparatuses <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> based on the received information on the context.

Hereinafter, operations of the server apparatus <NUM> will be described in more detail through components of the server apparatus <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>. Referring to <FIG>, the server apparatus <NUM> may include a communication interface <NUM> and a processor <NUM>.

The communication interface <NUM> may be connected to at least one clothing processing apparatus and at least one electronic apparatus included in the IoT system.

The communication interface <NUM> may transmit and receive various information to and from external electronic apparatuses through a communication protocol such as transmission control protocol/Internet protocol (TCP/IP), user datagram protocol (UDP), hyper text transfer protocol (HTTP), secure hyper text transfer protocol (HTTPS), file transfer protocol (FTP), secure file transfer protocol (SFTP), and message queuing telemetry transport (MQTT).

To this end, the communication interface <NUM> may be connected to at least one clothing processing apparatus or electronic apparatus based on a network implemented through wired communication and/or wireless communication. The communication interface <NUM> may also be connected to external apparatuses through one or more external servers (for example, Internet service providers (ISPs)) providing a network.

The processor <NUM> is a component for controlling general operations and components of the server apparatus <NUM>. The processor <NUM> may be implemented as a general-purpose processor such as a central processing unit (CPU) or an application processor (AP), a graphics-dedicated processor such as a graphics processing unit (GPU) or a vision processing unit (VPU), or an artificial intelligence-dedicated processor such as a neural processing unit (NPU). In addition, the processor <NUM> may include a volatile memory such as a static random access memory (SRAM).

When at least one clothing processing apparatus is performing a process, the processor <NUM> may identify whether a relationship between a remaining time until an end of the process that is being performed and the context of at least one electronic apparatus satisfies at least one predetermined condition described above, based on the received information on the context.

In addition, when it is identified that the predetermined condition is satisfied, the processor <NUM> may control the clothing processing apparatus to change a remaining process of the process that is being performed through the communication interface <NUM>.

Specifically, the processor <NUM> may transmit control information for changing the remaining process of the process that is being performed by the clothing processing apparatus to the clothing processing apparatus through the communication interface <NUM>. As a result, the remaining process of the process that is being performed by the clothing processing apparatus may be changed.

The control information may include information on the process to be changed. That is, the control information may include information on whether the remaining time of the process that is being performed increases or decreases, information on a length of the time that increases or decreases, information on an operation to be added to the process that is being performed, information on an operation to be excluded from the process that is being performed, and the like. In addition, when the process to be changed is the drying process, the control information may also include information on a drying temperature to be newly set for at least one drying operation included in the drying process.

In addition, the processor <NUM> may also transmit information on the process whose remaining process is changed to a user terminal apparatus through the communication interface <NUM>. As a result, the user terminal apparatus may notify the user that the residual process of the process that is being performed by the clothing processing apparatus has been changed.

The processor <NUM> of the server apparatus <NUM> may control the clothing processing apparatuses <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> and the electronic apparatuses <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, and <NUM>-<NUM> in various manners even after the process of the at least one clothing processing apparatus ends.

<FIG> and <FIG> are views for describing operations of a server apparatus controlling a clothing processing apparatus and an electronic apparatus after a clothing processing process of the clothing processing apparatus ends according to various embodiments of the disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, when a washing process ends (S1010), the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>-<NUM>, which is the washing machine, may transmit information for notifying the server apparatus <NUM> of the end of the washing process to the server apparatus <NUM> (S1020).

In this case, the server apparatus <NUM> may transmit control information on the notification regarding the end to the electronic apparatus <NUM>-<NUM> implemented as a TV (S1030). As a result, the electronic apparatus <NUM>-<NUM> may output a message <NUM> for notifying the user of the end of the washing process (S <NUM>).

Referring to <FIG>, after the washing process ends, the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>-<NUM> may monitor door opening (S1050). That is, the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>-<NUM> may identify whether a door of the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>-<NUM> has been opened by the user after the washing process ends. To this end, the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>-<NUM> may be provided with at least one sensor for sensing whether the door has been opened or closed. This is because whether the door is opened or closed may be matched to whether the user takes out the clothing.

In addition, the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>-<NUM> may transmit monitoring information on the door opening to the server apparatus <NUM> (S1060).

The server apparatus <NUM> may receive information on a context of the electronic apparatus <NUM>-<NUM> (S1070).

When it is identified that the door of the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>-<NUM> is not opened even though a predetermined first threshold time has elapsed since the washing process has ended, the server apparatus <NUM> may control the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>-<NUM> to provide an additional notification or perform an additional process.

As a specific example, when the electronic apparatus <NUM>-<NUM> is providing an advertisement, the server apparatus <NUM> may transmit control information to the electronic apparatus <NUM>-<NUM> to provide the notification regarding the end of the washing process again (S1080-<NUM>).

In this case, the electronic apparatus <NUM>-<NUM> may provide a message or the like for notifying the user of the end of the washing process again (S <NUM>-<NUM>).

As another example, when the electronic apparatus <NUM>-<NUM> is providing a movie, a drama, a game, or the like, the server apparatus <NUM> may transmit control information on an additional process to the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>-<NUM> (S1080-<NUM>).

In this case, the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>-<NUM> may perform an additional process including operations such as rinsing and dewatering based on the control information (S1090-<NUM>). As a result, a situation in which laundry (clothing) is left in the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>-<NUM> to become dirty or be damaged even though the washing process ends may be prevented.

Even when a position of the electronic apparatus <NUM>-<NUM> implemented as the smartphone, becomes distant from a predetermined distance or more as illustrated in <FIG> after the washing process of the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>-<NUM> ends, the server apparatus <NUM> may transmit control information for causing the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>-<NUM> to perform an additional process to the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>-<NUM>.

Only a case of the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>-<NUM>, which is the washing machine, has been illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, but a similar embodiment may be assumed even in a situation in which the drying process of the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>-<NUM>, which is the drying machine, ends. For example, when the door opening is not sensed even though a predetermined first threshold time has elapsed since the drying process has ended, the clothing processing apparatus <NUM>-<NUM> may perform an additional process (for example, wrinkle prevention) under the control of the server apparatus <NUM>.

<FIG> is a flowchart for describing a control method of a clothing processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure. In this case, the clothing processing apparatus may be included in the IoT system together with at least one electronic apparatus.

Referring to <FIG>, in the control method, a process including at least one clothing processing operation may be performed. In addition, during a period in which the process is being performed, information on the context of the electronic apparatus included in the IoT system is received from the electronic (S1110).

The information on the context includes information on a remaining time until an end of a content that is being provided by the electronic apparatus, information on a position of the electronic apparatus, information on a remaining time until an end of a process that is being performed by the electronic apparatus.

In addition, in the control method, it is identified whether a relationship between the remaining time until the end of the process that is being performed and the context of the electronic apparatus satisfies at least one predetermined condition, based on the received information (S1120).

In this case, when it is identified that the remaining time of the content that is being provided by the electronic apparatus is longer than the remaining time of the process that is being performed, by a threshold time or more, it may be identified that the predetermined condition is satisfied.

In addition, when it is identified that a position of the electronic apparatus becomes distant from a place where the clothing processing apparatus is positioned, by a threshold distance or more during a period in which the process is being performed, it may be identified that the predetermined condition is satisfied.

In addition, it may also be identified that the predetermined condition is satisfied, based on a relationship between a first remaining time of the process that is being performed by the electronic apparatus and a second remaining time of the process that is being performed by the clothing processing apparatus. In this case, the electronic apparatus may be another clothing processing apparatus.

As an example, when it is identified that the first remaining time of the process that is being performed by the electronic apparatus and the second remaining time of the process that is being performed by the clothing processing apparatus are different from each other and a difference between the first and second remaining times is less than a threshold time, it may be identified that the predetermined condition is satisfied.

As an example, when it is identified that a ratio of the first remaining time of the first process that is being performed by the electronic apparatus to a total time of the first process and a ratio of the second remaining time of the second process that is being performed by the clothing processing apparatus to a total time of the second process is a threshold ratio or more and the first remaining time and the second remaining time are different from each other, it may be identified that the predetermined condition is satisfied.

In addition, when it is identified that at least one predetermined condition is satisfied, the remaining process of the process that is being performed is changed so that the remaining time of the process that is being performed is changed (S1130). In this case, a manner in which the remaining process is changed (whether the remaining time increases/decreases, a length of a time that increases/decreases, and the like) may be changed depending on the satisfied predetermined condition.

Specifically, when it is identified that the predetermined condition is satisfied, a performance time of at least one clothing processing operation included in the remaining process of the process that is being performed is adjusted.

Alternatively, when it is identified that the predetermined condition is satisfied, at least one clothing processing operation is added to the remaining process of the process that is being performed. In this case, at least one clothing processing operation included in the process that is being performed may be added to the remaining process of the process that is being performed or a new clothing processing operation that was not included in the process may be added to the remaining process of the process that is being performed.

The control method of a clothing processing apparatus described with reference to <FIG> may be performed by the clothing processing apparatus <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG> and described with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>.

Alternatively, the control method of a clothing processing apparatus described with reference to <FIG> may be performed by a system including the clothing processing apparatus <NUM> and at least one electronic apparatus.

<FIG> is a sequence diagram for describing operations of a clothing processing apparatus, an electronic apparatus, and a server apparatus on an IoT system according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, the clothing processing apparatus <NUM> may perform a process for clothing processing (S1210). In addition, the clothing processing apparatus <NUM> may transmit information on a process that is being performed to the server apparatus <NUM> (S1220).

The server apparatus <NUM> may receive information on a context of the electronic apparatus <NUM> from the electronic apparatus <NUM> (S1230).

In addition, the server apparatus <NUM> may identify whether at least one predetermined condition is satisfied between the remaining time of the process that is being performed by the clothing processing apparatus <NUM> and the context of the electronic apparatus <NUM> (S1240).

When it is identified that the predetermined condition is satisfied, the server apparatus <NUM> may transmit control information for changing a remaining process of the process that is being performed to the clothing processing apparatus <NUM> (S1250).

As a result, the clothing processing apparatus <NUM> may change and perform the remaining process based on the received control information (S <NUM>).

At least some of the operations described with reference to <FIG> may be slightly modified and practiced from usual technical common sense. For example, even though the operations S <NUM> and S <NUM> are performed in a changed order or are simultaneously performed, there is no problem.

The various embodiments described above may be implemented in a computer or a computer-readable recording medium using software, hardware, or a combination of software and hardware.

According to a hardware implementation, embodiments described in the disclosure may be implemented using at least one of application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), digital signal processors (DSPs), digital signal processing devices (DSPDs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), processors, controllers, micro-controllers, microprocessors, or electric units for performing other functions.

In some cases, embodiments described in the specification may be implemented as the processor itself. According to a software implementation, embodiments such as procedures and functions described in the specification may be implemented as separate software modules. Each of the software modules described above may perform one or more functions and operations described in the specification.

Computer instructions for performing processing operations in the clothing processing apparatus <NUM> or the server apparatus <NUM> according to the various embodiments of the disclosure described above may be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium. The computer instructions stored in the non-transitory computer-readable medium cause a specific apparatus to perform the processing operations according to the various embodiments described above when they are executed by a processor of the specific apparatus.

The non-transitory computer-readable medium is not a medium that stores data for a while, such as a register, a cache, a memory, or the like, but means a medium that semi-permanently stores data and is readable by the apparatus. Specific examples of the non-transitory computer-readable medium may include a compact disc (CD), a digital versatile disc (DVD), a hard disk, a Blu-ray disc, a USB, a memory card, a ROM, and the like.

Claim 1:
A clothing processing apparatus (<NUM>) included in an Internet of Things, IoT, system (<NUM>), the clothing processing apparatus (<NUM>) comprising:
a communication interface (<NUM>); and
a processor (<NUM>) configured to perform a process including at least one clothing processing operation,
wherein the processor (<NUM>) is configured to:
receive information on a context of an electronic apparatus (<NUM>) included in the IoT system (<NUM>) from the electronic apparatus (<NUM>) through the communication interface (<NUM>) during a period in which the process is being performed, wherein the information on the context includes information on a remaining time until an end of a content that is being provided by the electronic apparatus or information on a remaining time until an end of a process that is being performed by the electronic apparatus,
characterized in,
identify whether a relationship between a remaining time until an end of the process that is being performed and the context of the electronic apparatus (<NUM>) satisfies a predetermined condition, based on the received information, and
change, based on the predetermined condition being identified as being satisfied, a remaining process of the process that is being performed so that the remaining time is changed.