Patent Application
20250000322
This application claims the priority, under 35 U.S.C. ยง 119, of German Patent Application DE 10 2023 206 245.3, filed Jun. 30, 2023; the prior application is herewith incorporated by reference in its entirety.
The invention relates to a method for operating a mobile self-propelled appliance, in particular a robot mower or a floor cleaning appliance, such as a robot vacuum cleaner, robot sweeper and/or robot mopping machine, in which the appliance can be operated in different communication modes.
Mobile self-propelled appliances such as robot vacuum cleaners have the task of autonomously removing dust from the floor and ensuring this as much as possible over the entire floor surface. For this purpose, they work in a rechargeable battery operation, whereby the rechargeable batteries can be recharged at a base station if necessary. In order to be able to communicate with a user, the robot can connect to an available wireless (local) network (WLAN, WiFi) using a communication unit. Via this connection, error messages or other fault functions can be communicated to the user. In this manner, user commands and cleaning tasks can be transmitted to the robot. The user inputs are preferably made on a mobile device, for example a cell phone or a smartphone.
Such robots can conventionally be operated in two different communication modes. In a first mode, the network module is permanently deactivated. This advantageously results in a low standby power consumption of the robot, however it is disadvantageous that the user cannot operate the robot via app, cannot transmit any commands to the robot or cannot retrieve any information or the status of the robot. In a second mode, a connection to the network or Internet is established throughout, so that it is possible to react as quickly as possible to user commands at any time. However, this has a negative effect on the power consumption of the robot. The user has the option of choosing between the first and the second mode.
Often, the robots are permanently connected to the Internet to wait for user commands. However, the robot usually processes defined tasks without the user having to do anything. Often, the user has activated the second mode in order to receive notifications from the robot, such as: the robot is stuck, the rechargeable battery is empty, the dust container is full, and the like.
It is the object of the invention to provide an improved method for operating a mobile self-propelled appliance, in particular a robot mower or a floor cleaning appliance, such as a robot vacuum cleaner, robot sweeper and/or robot mopping machine, which is distinguished by a reduced power consumption while simultaneously ensuring information transmission.
This object is achieved by a method for operating a mobile self-propelled appliance having the features of the independent mobile self-propelled claim. Advantageous embodiments and developments are the subject matter of the subordinate claims.
In accordance with the invention, in the case of a method for operating a mobile self-propelled appliance, in particular a robot mower or a floor cleaning appliance, such as a robot vacuum cleaner, robot sweeper and/or robot mopping machine or robot mower, the appliance can be operated in a first communication mode, in a second communication mode and in a third communication mode. The first communication mode is an offline mode. The second communication mode is an online mode. The third communication mode is a mixed mode in which the appliance is offline at least temporarily and online at least temporarily.
In the present case, therefore, a defined and monitored control of the network connection of the appliance takes place at least in the mixed mode. As a result, the power consumption of the appliance can advantageously be reduced, in particular in standby. A mixed operation or a controlled and/or automated operation of the network connection is provided. An optimal combination of power consumption and range of functions is advantageously possible. In the mixed mode, the user receives notifications from the appliance, such as: the appliance is stuck, the rechargeable battery is empty, or the like. These messages, however, are not transmitted continuously, but rather, depending on the modes, are transmitted outside the defined time as an error message (these can be sent at any time) or continuously over the wireless network (WLAN, WiFi) in the defined time. If an error message is sent outside the defined time, the appliance briefly connects to the network, sends the message and then interrupts the connection again. The lower energy consumption not only saves power, but rather also reduces rechargeable battery cycles, which overall increases a serviceable life of the rechargeable battery of the appliance.
A mobile self-propelled appliance is to be understood in particular as a floor cleaning appliance which, for example, can autonomously process floor surfaces in the household area. These include, inter alia, robot vacuum cleaners and/or robot sweepers and/or robot mopping machines. For example, the mobile, self-propelled appliance is a combination appliance that can clean in both a dry and wet manner. The appliances work in operation (cleaning operation) preferably without or with as little user intervention as possible. For example, the appliance automatically travels into a predetermined room in order to clean the floor in accordance with a predetermined and programmed method strategy. Robot mowers intended for mowing the lawn in the garden are also to be understood as a mobile self-propelled appliance in the sense of the invention.
In order to be able to take into account any individual environmental characteristics, an exploration journey with the mobile self-propelled appliance preferably takes place. An exploration journey is to be understood in particular as an investigatory journey which is suitable for investigating a floor surface to be processed for obstacles, floor plan and the like. The aim of an exploration journey is, in particular, to be able to assess and/or represent the conditions of the floor processing area that is to be processed.
After the exploration journey, the mobile self-propelled appliance knows its environment and can pass it on to the user in the form of an environment map, for example in an app (cleaning app) on a mobile device. In the environment map, the user can be given the opportunity to interact with the mobile self-propelled appliance. The user can advantageously view information in the environment map and change and/or adapt the information if necessary.
An environment map is to be understood in particular as any map which is suitable for representing the environment of the floor processing area with all its obstacles and items. For example, the environment map shows the floor processing area having the furniture, carpets and walls contained therein in a sketch-like manner.
The environment map with the obstacles is preferably displayed in the app on a portable additional device. This is used in particular to visualize a possible interaction for the user. In the present case, an additional device is to be understood in particular as any device which is portable for a user, which is arranged outside the mobile self-propelled appliance, in particular externally and/or differentiated from the mobile self-propelled appliance, and is suitable for displaying, providing, communicating and/or transmitting data, such as, for example, a cell phone, a smartphone, a tablet and/or a computer or laptop.
The app, in particular the cleaning app, is installed on the portable additional device, which is used for the communication of the mobile self-propelled appliance with the additional device and in particular renders possible a visualization of the floor processing area, in particular the living space to be cleaned or the home or living quarters to be cleaned, for example indoor area. The app preferably shows the user the area to be cleaned as an environment map.
In one advantageous embodiment, a user can choose between the communication modes. The user is thus given the opportunity, for example in the cleaning app or by buttons on the appliance itself, to choose whether a network connection to the appliance is permanently necessary, whether it is sufficient if the appliance temporarily connects, synchronizes tasks and the like from the backend, and then goes offline again, or whether the appliance does not go online at all and remains offline throughout.
In a further advantageous embodiment, in the mixed mode it is possible to select a first time interval in which the appliance is offline, and wherein the appliance connects to a network online after the first time interval. It is preferred that the appliance connects online for a second time interval after the first time interval, and disconnects offline from the network again for the first time interval after the second time interval. For example, the appliance connects hourly for the first time interval and then goes offline for the second time interval in order to go online again for the first time interval after the second time interval. The time intervals alternate regularly. The first and/or second time interval can be changeable by the user at any time, for example can be adjustable in the cleaning app.
In addition to the time intervals, the user can preferably select different performance classes of the appliance in the cleaning app. For example, the following options are available to the user:
In a further advantageous embodiment, the appliance is online in the third communication mode at a beginning and/or at an end of a cleaning task and is offline during the cleaning process. In the present case, the appliance is therefore only online at the beginning and at the end of the cleaning process. During cleaning, the appliance is in an offline operation.
In a further advantageous embodiment, in the first communication mode and/or in the third communication mode in the event of an error message the appliance switches into the second communication mode or connects to a network online at least temporarily. Should an error therefore occur during the cleaning process, it is possible that the appliance automatically briefly connects to the network in order to send the error message directly to the user's app or via the backend to the user's app, which can then send the error message on to the user's app. Depending on the error or user setting, it is then possible for the appliance to remain connected to the network, for example for further diagnosis with camera and remote control mode, in order to manually free the appliance from a situation, or for the appliance to disconnect from the network again after the error message has been sent. In this manner, in the event of an error, the standby time of the appliance can advantageously be extended.
In a further advantageous embodiment, in the first communication mode and/or in the third communication mode in the event of a user command the appliance switches into the second communication mode or connects to a network online at least temporarily. If, for example, the user is at home and has an urgent request to the appliance, which cannot wait because, for example, they have spilled something that should be mopped up promptly, it is possible that the user establishes a network connection directly by pressing a button on the appliance in order to be able to retrieve new user commands. In the third communication mode, the intended second time intervals in which the appliance automatically goes online are retained. As a result, the user command adds another, previously unplanned online mode between the offline modes.
It is to be understood that in addition to the method, a computer program that contains commands that when the program is being implemented prompt a mobile self-propelled appliance to implement the method in accordance with the invention is also included in the scope of this invention. Likewise, a computer-readable medium on which such a computer program is stored is included in the scope of this invention.
Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.
Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a method for operating a mobile self-propelled appliance, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.
The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.
Referring now to the figures of the drawings in detail and first, particularly to
In the mixed mode, for example, the robot vacuum cleaner only briefly connects to the home network every hour to synchronize new tasks or messages from the backend. The time interval for establishing the connection can preferably be changed at any time for the user, for example via their smartphone 3. In this case, different power classes can advantageously also be added. For example, the time interval of the connection setup (second time interval) extends to a beginning and an end of the intended cleaning process, wherein there is no network connection between them (first time interval). The robot vacuum cleaner is therefore only online at the beginning and end of its cleaning task and in between is offline during the execution of its cleaning task.
If an error occurs with the robot vacuum cleaner during the cleaning task in offline operation, the robot vacuum cleaner can connect to the router via connection 1c in order to send the error message to the backend, which then forwards the error message to the user's smartphone 3 via connection 1b. Depending on the error or user setting, the robot vacuum cleaner remains online or disconnects connection 1c again after the error message has been sent, which extends the standby time of the robot vacuum cleaner.
If there is an urgent request from the user in another direction, which cannot wait, and which is to be transmitted to the robot vacuum cleaner, the user can preferably establish the connection 1c of the robot vacuum cleaner to the router 2, for example by pressing a button on the robot vacuum cleaner, in order to retrieve new user commands that have been transmitted to the router via the connection 1b by means of the smartphone 3.
If the user selects the first communication mode (step 101), the robot vacuum cleaner operates in the offline mode. Even in the event of an error message (step 201) or the user pressing a button on the robot vacuum cleaner (step 202), the robot vacuum cleaner remains in the offline mode (step 302) until it has completed its cleaning task (step 700). Alternatively, it is possible that, even in the offline mode (step 101), in the event of an error message (step 201) or the user pressing a button on the robot vacuum cleaner (step 202), the robot vacuum cleaner switches to an online mode (step 301). After data transmission, the robot vacuum cleaner can go offline again (step 401) to terminate its cleaning task (step 700), or the robot vacuum cleaner remains online until the end of the cleaning task (step 700).
If the user selects the second communication mode (step 102), the robot vacuum cleaner operates continuously during its cleaning task in the online mode until its cleaning task is terminated (step 700). This allows the dust robot to react to commands and/or error messages as quickly as possible.
If the user selects the third communication mode (step 103), the robot vacuum cleaner operates in a mixed mode between online mode and offline mode. For example, the robot vacuum cleaner goes online at the beginning of its cleaning task in a second time interval (step 203) in order to receive user commands. After the second time interval, the robot vacuum cleaner goes offline for a first time interval (step 303). After the first time interval, the second time interval takes place in which the robot vacuum cleaner goes online (step 601), and which is preferably at the end of the cleaning task in order to terminate the cleaning task (step 700). If an error message from the robot vacuum cleaner (step 402) or the user pressing a button on the robot vacuum cleaner (step 403) occurs in the first time interval, the robot vacuum cleaner goes online unscheduled before the first time interval is terminated (step 501). This online mode can then remain until the end of the cleaning task (step 700), or alternatively switch back to the offline mode (step 502) in order to terminate the cleaning task (step 700).
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2023 206 245.3 | Jun 2023 | DE | national |
