Household appliances proximity detection

Abstract

A method of operating a group of household appliances includes providing a prompt to perform a proximity test and determining, by a primary household appliance of the group of household appliances, that a distance between the primary household appliance and a secondary household appliance of the group of household appliances is less than a proximity threshold. The method further includes receiving an input at a user interface of the primary household appliance and activating the secondary household appliance in response to the input received at the user interface of the primary household appliance.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of operating a group of household appliances, the method comprising:
 pairing a primary household appliance and a secondary household appliance of the group of household appliances;   providing a prompt to perform a proximity test after pairing the primary household appliance and the secondary household appliance;   detecting a physical interaction with the secondary household appliance after providing the prompt;   receiving an input at a user interface of the primary household appliance; and   activating the secondary appliance in response to the input received at the user interface of the primary household appliance.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising initiating a timer when the prompt is provided, wherein the physical interaction is detected after providing the prompt and before the timer elapses. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein pairing the primary household appliance and the secondary household appliance comprises pairing the primary household appliance and the secondary household appliance in wireless communication. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the primary household appliance and the secondary household appliance are communicatively connected without a physical communication connection. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the physical interaction with the secondary household appliance comprises opening a door of the secondary household appliance. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the physical interaction with the secondary household appliance comprises a manipulation of an input device on the secondary household appliance. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the primary household appliance and the secondary household appliance are laundry appliances. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the primary household appliance and the secondary household appliance are kitchen appliances. 
     
     
         9 . A method of operating a group of household appliances, the method comprising:
 providing a prompt to perform a proximity test;   determining, by a primary household appliance of the group of household appliances, that a distance between the primary household appliance and a secondary household appliance of the group of household appliances is less than a proximity threshold;   receiving an input at a user interface of the primary household appliance; and   activating the secondary household appliance in response to the input received at the user interface of the primary household appliance.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising pairing the primary household appliance and the secondary household appliance prior to providing the prompt to perform the proximity test. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein pairing the primary household appliance and the secondary household appliance comprises pairing the primary household appliance and the secondary household appliance in wireless communication. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the primary household appliance and the secondary household appliance are communicatively connected without a physical communication connection. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein determining, by the primary household appliance of the group of household appliances, that the distance between the primary household appliance and the secondary household appliance is less than the proximity threshold comprises detecting vibrations in the primary household appliance caused by the secondary household appliance. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein determining, by the primary household appliance of the group of household appliances, that the distance between the primary household appliance and the secondary household appliance is less than the proximity threshold comprises receiving, by the primary household appliance, a signal from the secondary household appliance. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein determining, by the primary household appliance of the group of household appliances, that the distance between the primary household appliance and the secondary household appliance is less than the proximity threshold is based on a strength of the received signal from the secondary household appliance. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the primary household appliance and the secondary household appliance are laundry appliances. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the primary household appliance and the secondary household appliance are kitchen appliances.