System and method for remote monitoring and control of household appliances

Abstract

A household appliance includes a camera assembly operable to obtain an image. A method of operating the household appliance includes obtaining a first image of an exterior of the household appliance and a second image of an interior of the household appliance. The method may also include obtaining a reading from a sensor. The method further includes generating a real-time interactive visual representation of the household appliance from the first image and the second image. The visual representation may also be generated from the sensor reading. The method further includes displaying the real-time interactive visual representation of the household appliance on a remote user interface device. The method may also include receiving an inspection input at the remote user interface device. The method further includes receiving a control input at the remote user interface device and activating the household appliance in response to the control input.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of operating a household appliance, the household appliance comprising a camera assembly, the camera assembly operable to obtain an image, the method comprising:
 obtaining a first image from a first camera of the camera assembly, the first image of an exterior of the household appliance;   obtaining a second image from a second camera of the camera assembly, the second image of an interior of the household appliance;   obtaining a reading from a sensor of the household appliance, the reading indicative of a status of a component of the household appliance;   generating a real-time interactive visual representation of the household appliance from the first image, the second image, and the reading from the sensor;   displaying the real-time interactive visual representation of the household appliance on a remote user interface device;   receiving a control input at the remote user interface device; and   activating the household appliance in response to the control input received at the remote user interface device, wherein activating the household appliance comprises initiating an operation cycle of the household appliance.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the household appliance is activated in response to the control input received at the remote user interface device without a direct physical input at a local user interface of the household appliance. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein initiating the operation cycle of the household appliance comprises locking a door of the household appliance. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein initiating the operation cycle of the household appliance comprises activating a heating element of the household appliance. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising detecting motion with a motion detector of the household appliance, wherein the real-time interactive visual representation of the household appliance comprises a visual indicator of the detected motion. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is a temperature sensor and the reading from the temperature sensor is indicative of a status of a heating element of the household appliance. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is a door switch and the reading from the door switch is indicative of a position of a door of the household appliance. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is a temperature sensor and the reading from the temperature sensor is indicative of a temperature at a motor of the household appliance. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the household appliance is a laundry appliance, wherein the image from the second camera of the interior of the laundry appliance is of a tub or drum of the laundry appliance. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the household appliance is an oven appliance, wherein the image from the second camera of the interior of the oven appliance is of a cooking chamber of the oven appliance. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving an inspection input at the remote user interface device while displaying the real-time interactive visual representation of the household appliance on the remote user interface device prior to receiving the control input at the remote user interface device. 
     
     
         12 . A method of operating a household appliance, the household appliance comprising a camera assembly, the camera assembly operable to obtain an image, the method comprising:
 obtaining a first image from a first camera of the camera assembly, the first image of an exterior of the household appliance;   obtaining a second image from a second camera of the camera assembly, the second image of an interior of the household appliance;   generating a real-time interactive visual representation of the household appliance from the first image and the second image;   displaying the real-time interactive visual representation of the household appliance on a remote user interface device;   receiving an inspection input at the remote user interface device while displaying the real-time interactive visual representation of the household appliance on the remote user interface device;   receiving a control input at the remote user interface device after the inspection input; and   activating the household appliance in response to the control input received at the remote user interface device, wherein activating the household appliance comprises initiating an operation cycle of the household appliance.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the household appliance is activated in response to the control input received at the remote user interface device without a direct physical input at a local user interface of the household appliance. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising detecting motion with a motion detector of the household appliance, wherein the real-time interactive visual representation of the household appliance comprises a visual indicator of the detected motion. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising obtaining a reading from a sensor of the household appliance, the reading indicative of a status of a component of the household appliance, wherein the real-time interactive visual representation of the household appliance is further generated from the reading from the sensor. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the sensor is a temperature sensor and the reading from the temperature sensor is indicative of a status of a heating element of the household appliance. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the sensor is a door switch and the reading from the door switch is indicative of a position of a door of the household appliance. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the sensor is a temperature sensor and the reading from the temperature sensor is indicative of a temperature at a motor of the household appliance. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the household appliance is a laundry appliance, wherein the image from the second camera of the interior of the laundry appliance is of a tub or drum of the laundry appliance. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the household appliance is an oven appliance, wherein the image from the second camera of the interior of the oven appliance is of a cooking chamber of the oven appliance.