Patent ID: 8217752

Claim:
A method for controlling a remote monitoring unit, the method comprising: selecting a device to be monitored, wherein the selected device corresponds to one of a washer or a dryer and wherein the other one of the washer or dryer corresponds to an unselected device; judging if a power cord of the selected device is connected; and controlling a displayer of the remote monitoring unit to be powered-on or powered-off based on whether the power cord of the selected device is connected or not, wherein said judging comprises: transmitting from the remote monitoring unit a message identifying an operation condition of the selected device, the message transmitted a first number of times, receiving a second number of answers from the selected device, determining whether the second number is equal to the first number, and judging that the power cord of the selected device is not connected when the second number does not equal the first number, and wherein, when the power cord of the selected device is judged to be disconnected, controlling the displayer of the remote monitoring unit to be powered-on or powered-off comprises: identifying if the power cord of the unselected device is connected, remotely monitoring an operation condition of the unselected device when the power cord of the unselected device is identified as being connected, and shutting off power of the displayer when the power cord of the unselected device is identified to be disconnected.