WO2025026562A1

WO2025026562A1 - Household appliance

Info

Publication number: WO2025026562A1
Application number: PCT/EP2023/071549
Authority: WO
Inventors: David GHEORGHITA; Allen Smith; Rafael PASTORISA DALZOCHIO; Michiel KERSTEMAN; Emmi PARVIAINEN; Jesse MEIJERS; Igor PERELYGIN
Original assignee: Electrolux Appliances AB
Current assignee: Electrolux Appliances AB
Priority date: 2023-08-03
Filing date: 2023-08-03
Publication date: 2025-02-06
Anticipated expiration: 2026-02-03

Abstract

A household appliance is provided. The household appliance (100) comprises a display (110) configured to show appliance operation preferences. The household appliance (100) also comprises a controller (310). The controller (310) is configured to retrieve a set of appliance operation preferences based on the identity of a user intending to use the appliance (100). The controller (310) is configured to cause the retrieved set of appliance operation preferences to be shown on the display (100).

Description

HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE

Technical Field

The present disclosure concerns a household appliance. In particular, but not exclusively, the present disclosure concerns measures, including apparatus, systems, methods and computer programs, for operating a household appliance.

Background

Household appliances, also referred to as domestic or home appliances, are used to perform household tasks such as cooking, cleaning, storing food, etc. Examples of such household appliances include ovens, refrigerators, freezers, hobs, dishwashers, washing machines, tumble dryers, air conditioning units and vacuum cleaners. Such household appliances may comprise a display, e.g. a liquid crystal display, LCD. The display may show various content relating to the operation of the household appliance, such as a set of available operating modes of the household appliance, for viewing and interpreting by a user. A number of different users may have access to and/or use a given household appliance.

It is desirable to provide an improved household appliance and/or improved methods of operating a household appliance.

Summary

According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a household appliance comprising: a display configured to show appliance operation preferences; and a controller configured to: retrieve a set of appliance operation preferences based on an identity of a user intending to use the appliance; and cause the retrieved set of appliance operation preferences to be shown on the display.

In embodiments, the household appliance further comprises a memory for storing appliance operation preferences, and retrieving a set of appliance operation preferences comprises retrieving the set of appliance operation preferences from the memory.

In embodiments, the household appliance further comprises a communication interface for communicating with a remote server, and retrieving a set of appliance operation preferences comprises retrieving the set of appliance operation preferences from the remote server. In embodiments, the retrieved set of appliance operation preferences comprises a default set of appliance operation preferences when the user intending to use the appliance is an unknown user.

In embodiments, the controller is configured to determine that the user is intending to use the appliance.

In embodiments, the determination that the user is intending to use the appliance comprises determining that the user is interacting with the appliance.

In embodiments, the determination that the user is intending to use the appliance comprises determining that the user is performing an action to prepare to use the appliance.

In embodiments, the household appliance further comprises a sensor configured to sense a characteristic of the user intending to use the appliance and to produce a signal corresponding to the characteristic. In some such embodiments, the determination that the user is intending to use the appliance comprises determining that the sensor has started producing the signal.

In embodiments, the retrieved set of appliance operation preferences is based on a comparison between the sensed characteristic and one or more stored user characteristics.

In embodiments, the sensor comprises a biometric sensor.

In embodiments, the sensor comprises a fingerprint sensor, and the characteristic of the user comprises at least a portion of the user’s fingerprint.

In embodiments, the sensor comprises a microphone, and the characteristic of the user comprises the user’s voice.

In embodiments, the sensor comprises a camera, and the characteristic of the user comprises at least a portion of the user’s face.

In embodiments, the display is touch sensitive, and the controller is configured to determine that a user is intending to use the appliance by determining that the user is touching the display.

In embodiments, in response to determining that a user is intending to use the appliance, the controller is configured to cause the display to show one or more user profiles. In some such embodiments, retrieving a set of appliance operation preferences comprises receiving a user selection of one of the profiles via the touch sensitive display.

In embodiments, receiving a user selection of one of the profiles comprises the user providing authentication details associated with the selected profile. In embodiments, the authentication details comprise a password associated with the selected profile.

In embodiments, the household appliance further comprises a wireless network communication interface for receiving a signal from a user device of the user, and the controller is configured to determine that a user is intending to use the appliance by determining that the wireless network communication interface is receiving a signal, with a signal strength above a predetermined signal strength threshold, from the user device.

In embodiments, the controller is configured to, in response to a determination that an additional user is intending to use the appliance, retrieve an additional set of appliance operation preferences based on the identity of the additional user. In some such embodiments, the controller is configured to cause the additional set of appliance operation preferences to be shown on the display contemporaneously with the set of appliance operation preferences corresponding to the initial user.

In embodiments, the two sets of appliance operation preferences are shown in different colours on the display.

In embodiments, the household appliance comprises one or more of: a cooker, a washing machine, a microwave, a dishwasher, a refrigerator, a freezer, a dehumidifier, and a fan.

In embodiments, the appliance operation preferences comprise modes of operation of the household appliance most commonly invoked by the user.

In embodiments, the appliance operation preferences comprise user notification preferences.

In embodiments, the household appliance is a cooker and the appliance operation preferences comprise one or more cooking programs associated with one or more food items.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a system comprising a first household appliance and a second household appliance associated with the first household appliance, at least the first household appliance being according to the first aspect, wherein the first and second household appliances are in communication with each other via one or more communication networks.

In embodiments, the second household appliance is configured to receive, via the one or more communication networks, a set of appliance operation preferences for the second household appliance based on the identity of the user intending to use the first appliance, and to display the received set of appliance operation preferences for the second household appliance on a display of the second household appliance.

In embodiments, the second household appliance is configured to: receive, via the one or more communication networks, the identity of the user intending to use the first household appliance; retrieve a set of appliance operation preferences for the second household appliance based on the identity of the user intending to use the first appliance; and display the retrieved set of appliance operation preferences for the second household appliance on a display of the second household appliance.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a system comprising: a household appliance according to the first aspect; and a user device, wherein the controller of the household appliance is configured to cause the display of the household appliance to display data corresponding to an identifier associated with the household appliance, wherein the user device is configured to obtain the displayed identifier and send the displayed identifier along with the identity of the user to a remote server, and wherein the controller of the household appliance is configured to retrieve the set of appliance operation preferences from the remote server.

In embodiments, the system further comprises a remote server, wherein the remote server is configured to: store the set of appliance operation preferences; receive the appliance identifier and the identity of the user from the user device; and transmit the set of appliance operation preferences to the household appliance.

In embodiments, the data corresponding to the identifier comprises a QR code encoding the identifier or comprises a network address.

In embodiments, the user device comprises one or more of: a smartphone; a radio frequency identification, RFID, tag; and a smart watch.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a system comprising: a household appliance; a display configured to show appliance operation preferences to a user of the appliance; and one or more controllers, the one or more controllers configured to: in response to a determination that a user is intending to use the household appliance, retrieve a set of appliance operation preferences based on the identity of the user intending to use the household appliance; and cause the retrieved set of appliance operation preferences to be shown on the display.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method of operating a household appliance, the household appliance comprising a display configured to show appliance operation preferences, the method comprising: retrieving a set of appliance operation preferences based on an identity of a user intending to use the appliance; and causing the retrieved set of appliance operation preferences to be shown on the display.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a computer program comprising a set of instructions which, when executed by a computerised device, cause the computerised device to perform a method of operating a household appliance, the household appliance comprising a display configured to show appliance operation preferences, the method comprising: retrieving a set of appliance operation preferences based on an identity of a user intending to use the appliance; and causing the retrieved set of appliance operation preferences to be shown on the display.

It will of course be appreciated that features described in relation to one aspect of the present invention may be incorporated into other aspects of the present invention. For example, a method of the invention may incorporate any of the features described with reference to an apparatus of the invention and vice versa.

Brief description of the drawings

Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a household appliance according to embodiments;

Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a system including a household appliance according to embodiments;

Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a household appliance according to embodiments;

Figure 4 is a flow diagram showing a method of operating a household appliance according to embodiments;

Figure 5 is a flow diagram showing a method of operating a household appliance according to embodiments; and

Figure 6 is a flow diagram showing a method of operating a household appliance according to embodiments.

Detailed Description

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a household appliance, according to embodiments. The household appliance 100, and/or components thereof, may be used to implement the methods described herein. A household (or “domestic”) appliance may be configured to perform one or more household tasks or functions, such as cooking, cleaning, or storing food. As such, the household appliance 100 may comprise a cooking appliance, a cleaning appliance, a food storage appliance, etc. In the example shown in Figure 1, the household appliance 100 comprises an oven. Other examples of household appliances (which may be used to implement the presently-described methods) include, but are not limited to, refrigerators, freezers, air conditioning appliances, heating appliances, washing machines, tumble dryers, dishwashers, vacuum cleaners, hobs, microwaves, and toasters.

In the embodiments shown in Figure 1, the household appliance 100 comprises a door 140. Opening the door 140 allows an internal cavity (not shown) of the household appliance 100 to be accessed. The door 140 may be opened and closed using a door opening mechanism 145, e.g. a handle. In alternative embodiments, for example where the household appliance 100 comprises a hob or an air conditioning unit, the household appliance 100 does not include a door or a door opening mechanism.

The household appliance 100 comprises a display 110. The display 110 is an example of a user output device. The display 110 is operable to provide an output for a user, e.g. in the form of displayed content. Such displayed content may be associated with operation of the household appliance 100. In embodiments, the display 100 is configured to show appliance operation preferences, as will be discussed below. In embodiments, the display 110 comprises a liquid crystal display, LCD, such as a thin-film-transistor LCD, TFT LCD. The display 110 may comprise a touch sensitive display, thereby also providing a user input device. The user may provide user inputs to control the household appliance via the touch sensitive display. For example, this may be done by operating graphical controls and/or navigating menus displayed on the touch sensitive display. Alternatively, or additionally, the household appliance may comprise other user input devices such as buttons, soft keys and other types of physical controls, and sensors. In embodiments, the household appliance 100 comprises other user output devices additionally or alternatively to the display 110, such as a speaker, a haptic output device, etc.

Figure 2 shows a schematic diagram of a system 200, according to embodiments. The system 200 comprises the household appliance 100 described above with reference to Figure 1. The household appliance 100 is operable to send and/or receive data via a communications network 210 which may comprise one or more different communication networks. The communications network 210 may, for example, comprise a wireless communications network, such as a wireless local area network, WLAN, and one or more other networks, such as the Internet. The WLAN may be a home Wi-Fi network. The communications network may additionally or alternatively comprise a Wireless Personal Area Network, WPAN, such as a Bluetooth network. Specifically, but not exclusively, it may comprise a Bluetooth Low Energy, BLE, network.

In the embodiments shown in Figure 2, the household appliance 100 comprises a communication interface 205. In embodiments, the communication interface 205 comprises a wireless communications unit, such as a wireless transceiver. The transceiver may comprise a printed circuit board, PCB, including both a transmitter and a receiver, or may comprise separate transmitter and receiver PCBs. The household appliance 100 can send and/or receive data via the communications network 210 through use of the communication interface 205. That is, the household appliance 100 may be able to send data, receive data, or both send and receive data.

In embodiments, the communication interface 205 comprises a wireless network communication interface. That is, the communication interface 205 may comprise a communication interface for communicating via a wireless network. In embodiments, the communication interface 205 comprises a Wi-Fi unit operable to send and/or receive data via the Internet. For example, the communication interface 205 may be configured to communicate with a gateway, e.g. a Wi-Fi router. As mentioned above, the network 210 may comprise the Internet and/or a home network. In embodiments, the communication interface 205 comprises an Ultra Wide Band (UWB) communication interface. In embodiments, the communication interface 205 may alternatively or additionally comprise a short-range wireless communication unit such as a BLE communication unit. In such embodiments, the appliance 100 may be operable to communicate directly with a user device over a WPAN using the short-range wireless communications unit. In alternative embodiments, the household appliance 100 comprises a communication interface that is not configured to perform wireless communications. For example, such a communication interface may be configured to send and/or receive data via an Ethernet connection, or other wired communications mechanism. At least some of the methods described herein may also be implemented using such a communication interface.

The system 200 also comprises a server 220. The server 220 is remotely located from the household appliance 100. As such, the server 220 may be referred to as a “remote server” in some examples. The server 220 is operable to send and/or receive data via the communications network 210. In embodiments, the server 220 comprises a controller (not shown). The controller of the server 220 may be capable of controlling the household appliance 100. In alternative embodiments, the system 200 does not comprise a server.

In embodiments, the system 200 also comprises a user device 230. The user device 230 may be remotely located from the household appliance 100. The user device 230 may be referred to as a “personal device” of a user. The user device 230 may comprise a mobile phone, personal computer, smartwatch device, tablet computer, etc. In embodiments, the user device 230 comprises a radio frequency identification, RFID, tag. The user device 230 is operable to send and/or receive data via the communications network 210. For example, the user device 230 may be operable to receive data from the server 220 and/or directly or indirectly from the household appliance 100. Similarly, the user device 230 may be operable to send data to the server 220 and/or directly or indirectly to the household appliance 100. The user device 230 may be used to remotely monitor the household appliance 100, in some embodiments. Alternatively or additionally, the household appliance 100 may be monitored directly, e.g. via the display 110. The user device may be used to remotely control the household appliance 100, in some embodiments. As mentioned above, the household appliance 100 may alternatively or additionally be controlled directly, via the display 110 and/or via separate user input means on the appliance.

In embodiments, the household appliance 100 is configured to communicate with the user device 230 directly, additionally or alternatively to communicating via the server 220. For example, the household appliance 100 may be configured to communicate with the user device 230 via Bluetooth. For example, the household appliance 100 may communicate directly with the user device 230 using WLAN technology or WPAN technology and may communicate with the server 220, and indirectly with the user device 230, using WLAN technology and the Internet. In alternative embodiments, the system 100 does not comprise a user device.

In embodiments, the system 200 comprises a further household appliance 240. The further household appliance 240 may be configured to communicate with the first household appliance 100 via the network 210. Such communication may be provided via the server 220 or may be direct, i.e. without the server 220. The first household appliance 100 and the further household appliance 240 may comprise different types of household appliance. For example, the first household appliance 100 may comprise an oven and the further household appliance 240 may comprise a hob. The further household appliance 240 may comprise at least some of the same components and/or functionality as the first household appliance 100. In particular, the further household appliance 240 comprises a display 245. In embodiments, the further household appliance 240 comprises a controller (not shown) operable to control the first household appliance 100. In embodiments, the first household appliance 100 is configured to control the further household appliance 240. In particular, as will be discussed in more detail below, the further household appliance 240 may be controlled based on information (e.g. a user identity) obtained by the first household appliance 100, or vice-versa. In alternative embodiments, the system 200 does not comprise a further household appliance 240.

Figure 3 shows a schematic block diagram of the household appliance 100, according to embodiments.

The household appliance 100 comprises a controller 310. The controller 310 is operable to perform various data processing and/or control functions according to embodiments, as will be described in more detail below. The controller 310 may comprise one or more components. The one or more components may be implemented in hardware and/or software. The one or more components may be co-located or may be located remotely from each other in the household appliance 100. The controller 310 may be embodied as one or more software functions and/or hardware modules. In embodiments, the controller 310 comprises one or more processors configured to process instructions and/or data. Operations performed by the one or more processors may be carried out by hardware and/or software. The controller 310 may be configured to implement the methods described herein. In embodiments, the controller 310 is operable to output control signals for controlling one or more components of the household appliance 100. In embodiments, the controller 310 is operable to receive signals from one or more components of the household appliance 100, and to control one or more components of the household appliance 100 based on such received signals.

The household appliance 100 also comprises a display 110, as described with reference to Figure 1 above. The controller 310 is operable to control the display 110, e.g. to cause the display 110 to display an output for a user. In embodiments, the controller 310 is operable to control the content shown on the display 110. For example, the controller 310 may be operable to cause predetermined content to be shown or not shown on the display 110, and/or to adjust the content shown on the display 110. When the display comprises a touch sensitive display, the controller 310 may be operable to receive signals from the touch sensitive display, generated when a user touches the display, and to control one or more components of the household appliances based on the signals received via the touch sensitive display. Accordingly, a user can control the appliance by selecting regions of the touch sensitive display. For example, the user can control the appliance by selecting graphical representations of options and/or menu items displayed in different regions of the touch sensitive display. The controller 310 may alternatively or additionally be operable to receive signals from other user input devices comprised in the appliance (some of which are discussed in more detail below) and control one or more components of the household appliance based on those signals.

In embodiments, the household appliance 100 comprises a sensor 320. The sensor 320 is configured to sense a characteristic of a user intending to use the household appliance 100, and to produce a signal corresponding to the characteristic. Such a signal may be used to determine that a given user is intending to use the household appliance 100 and/or to determine the identity of a user intending to use the household appliance 100, as will be discussed in more detail below. In embodiments, the sensor 320 comprises a biometric sensor. In embodiments, the sensor 320 comprises a fingerprint sensor. Such a fingerprint sensor may be configured to sense at least a portion of a user’s fingerprint. In embodiments, the sensor 320 comprises a microphone. Such a sensor may be configured to sense a user’s voice. In embodiments, the sensor 320 comprises a camera, e.g. comprising one or more image sensors. Such a sensor may be configured to sense at least a portion of a user’s face.

In embodiments, the sensor 320 comprises a Bluetooth sensor or other sensor based on detecting short-range wireless communication signals. The sensor 320 may comprise one or more processors. The sensor 320 may be configured to sense the presence of a user device by receiving a wireless signal from the user device, e.g. via a Bluetooth Low Energy, BLE, signal. Such a sensed presence of the user device may be used to identify a user associated with the user device. In alternative embodiments, the sensor 320 is configured to detect signals generated by a wireless communications unit such as a Wi-Fi communications unit or an Ultra Wide Band (UWB) communications unit. Such signals may be used to identify a user intending to use the appliance 100. For example, a Wi-Fi unit may be operable to detect who is currently at home based on the user device(s) that are currently connected to the home network, and this information may be fed to the appliance 100. In another example, a UWB unit may be operable to both detect the presence of a given user device (having a corresponding UWB unit) and to determine a distance to the user device. This information may be used to determine whether a given user is located in close proximity to the appliance 100 (and is therefore likely to be intending to use the appliance 100), and/or which user of a plurality of possible users is located closest to the appliance 100. In embodiments, the appliance 100 comprises a Wi-Fi communication unit or UWB communication unit operable to detect and communicate with user devices. Additionally or alternatively, the appliance 100 is operable to communicate with a Wi-Fi communication unit or a UWB communication unit that is located separately from the appliance 100 and that is in communication with user devices.

In embodiments, the household appliance 100 comprises a plurality of sensors. For example, the household appliance 100 may comprise both a biometric sensor and a microphone. Accordingly, the household appliance 100 may be able to establish the identity of a user in multiple different ways (e.g. based on multiple different characteristics of a user, such as a user’s fingerprint and a user’s voice). In embodiments, data generated by the sensor 320 may be combined with data from one or more sensors in another household appliance (not shown). This may allow the identity of a user to be determined more accurately and/or efficiently, based on signals from more than one sensor and/or from sensors in more than one appliance.

In embodiments, the sensor 320 is configured to output signals to the controller 310, to enable the controller 310 to control the household appliance 100 on the basis of such signals. As such, the controller 310 is operable to receive signals from the sensor 320. In embodiments, the controller 310 is operable to control the sensor 320, e.g. via one or more control signals generated by the controller 310. The household appliance 100 may comprise one or more other sensors in addition to the sensor 320. The one or more other sensors may be arranged to sense performance and/or operation of the household appliance 100, for example.

In alternative embodiments, the household appliance 100 does not comprise the sensor 320. For example, the sensor 320 may be comprised in a further household appliance 240 or other device. In some such embodiments, the household appliance 100 may receive signals from the sensor 320 (e.g. from the further household appliance 240). Such data may be received via wireless communication, for example.

In embodiments, the household appliance 100 comprises a communication interface 205, as described with reference to Figure 2 above. The controller 310 is operable to control the household appliance 100 in response to signals received via the communication interface 205. Such signals may be received via a network 210, for example. In embodiments, such signals may be received from one or more of: a server 220, a user device 230, or a further household appliance 240. In embodiments, the controller 310 is operable to control the communication interface 205. In particular, the controller 310 may be operable to cause the communication interface 205 to transmit signals via a network. In the embodiments mentioned above wherein the sensor 320 comprises a sensor based on detecting short-range wireless communication signals, that sensor may be provided by the communication interface 205. In embodiments, the household appliance 100 comprises a heating element 330. The heating element 330 may, for example, be operable to convert electrical energy into heat. The heating element 330 may be controlled by a user of the household appliance, e.g. by activating the heating element 330 and/or setting a desired operating temperature of the household appliance 100. In embodiments, the controller 310 is operable to control the heating element. For example, the controller 310 may be operable to apply energy (e.g. electrical energy) to the heating element 330, e.g. via one or more control signals generated by the controller 310.

In embodiments, the household appliance 100 comprises a timer 340. The timer 340 may be controlled by a user of the household appliance 100, e.g. to set a desired time after which an alarm may sound and/or operation of the household appliance 100 may start or stop. In embodiments, the controller 310 is operable to control the timer 340.

The household appliance 100 also comprises a memory 360. The memory 360 is operable to store various data according to embodiments. In particular, but not exclusively, the memory 360 may be operable to store appliance operation preferences for the household appliance 100. The memory may comprise at least one volatile memory, at least one nonvolatile memory, and/or at least one data storage unit. The volatile memory, non-volatile memory and/or data storage unit may be configured to store computer-readable information and/or instructions for use/execution by the controller 310.

The household appliance 100 may comprise more, fewer and/or different components in alternative embodiments. In particular, at least some of the components of the household appliance 100 shown in Figures 1, 2 and/or 3 may be omitted (e.g. may not be required) in some embodiments. For example, at least one of the door 140, door opening mechanism 145, communication interface 205, sensor 320, heating element 330, timer 340, and memory 360 may be omitted in some embodiments. In some embodiments, the household appliance 100 does not comprise the controller 310. For example, the controller 310 may be comprised in a further entity (e.g. a server or a further household appliance) that is capable of communicating with and controlling the household appliance 100. The household appliance 100 may also comprise other components, in addition to or instead of for example the heating element, for realising the function(s) of the household appliance 100, such as one or more of the following components: a pump arrangement, a drum drive arrangement, a heat-pump arrangement, condensers, compressors, fans and/or ionisers. As mentioned above, in some embodiments, the household appliance 100 also comprises user input devices such as buttons, soft keys and other types of physical controls (not shown in Figure 3) for allowing a user to control the appliance. Figure 4 shows a method 400 of operating a household appliance, according to embodiments. The method 400 may be used to operate the household appliance 100 described above with reference to Figures 1 to 3. The household appliance 100 comprises a display 110. The display 110 is configured to show appliance operation preferences. In embodiments, the method 400 is performed at least in part by the controller 310. That is, the controller 310 is configured to perform at least some of the steps of the method 400.

A first step 410 comprises retrieving a set of appliance operation preferences based on an identity of a user intending to use the appliance 100.

A second step 420 comprises causing the retrieved set of appliance operation preferences to be shown on the display 110.

As such, the appliance operation preferences that are retrieved and shown on the display 110 of the household appliance 100 are dependent on the identity of the user intending to use the household appliance 100. This provides an improved user experience. In particular, the user may be provided with displayed content that is appropriate to (and tailored to) the user. In other words, the display 110 of the appliance 100 is adapted to the user. In particular, the user may be shown appliance operation preferences that are associated with (i.e. that ‘belong to’) that specific user, rather than other users. Appliance operation preferences are preferences, for a given user (e.g. selected by or for a user) for operating the appliance 100. Specifically, they may be preferences suitable for operating an appliance of the same or similar type and/or model as the appliance 100. This enables the user to operate the household appliance 100 more easily and/or efficiently, e.g. based on the appliance operation preferences that are retrieved and shown on the display 110. For example, the appliance operation preferences may be selected using touch screen functionality of the display or via another user input device. Different users (or potential users) of the appliance 100 may be shown different appliance operation preferences, and the appliance 100 may thus adapt to the different users. The set of appliance operation preferences for a given user may be associated with a particular tailored ‘user profile’ for using the appliance 100.

In embodiments, the retrieved set of appliance operation preferences relate to previous uses of the household appliance 100 by the user. However, the retrieved set of appliance operation preferences can alternatively or additionally relate to previous uses of another household appliance by the user. For example, when a user visits their parents, a household appliance, such as the parent’s oven, located in the parent’s home may retrieve a set of appliance operation preferences that relate to previous uses of the corresponding household appliance, such as the user’s own oven, in the user’s home. In embodiments, the appliance operation preferences comprise modes of operation of the household appliance 100, or a corresponding household appliance used by the user, most commonly invoked by the user. The corresponding household appliance may “correspond” to the household appliance 100 in that it may be of the same or similar type and/or model as the household appliance. For example, the two corresponding appliances may both be ovens used by the user, but located in different locations. As such, when it is determined that a particular user intends to use the appliance 100, the user is shown the modes of operation of the appliance 100 that have been most commonly invoked by the user in the past, since these modes of operation are most likely to be desired by the user presently. Different modes of operation may be preferred (and thus used most commonly) by different users. As such, in embodiments, the appliance operation preferences represent personalised “shortcuts” to allow the user to more easily and quickly select their preferred operating modes of the appliance 100. This avoids the user having to manually search for their preferred operating modes, since the user is instead presented with their preferred operating modes automatically when it is determined that the user intends to use the appliance 100. In embodiments where the appliance 100 is a cooking appliance, the modes of operation may comprise cooking programs. Similarly, in embodiments where the appliance 100 is a cleaning appliance such as a washing machine, the modes of operation may comprise cleaning programs. For example, where the appliance 100 comprises a washing machine, and the modes of operation most commonly invoked by the user are a 40 degree cotton wash program and a 30 degree synthetics wash program, these modes of operation may be shown to the user when it is determined that the user intends to use the washing machine. This enables the user to operate the appliance 100 more easily and/or efficiently. In embodiments, a given mode of operation comprises a delay start. For example, where a user commonly chooses to delay the start time of a washing cycle, a shortcut to the menu for allowing the user to choose a time by which to delay the start time of a washing cycle may be shown to the user on the display as an appliance operation preference. As another example, where a user commonly invokes a delay start of 3 hours (whereby the appliance 100 performs a given operation after a delay of 3 hours), such a delay start may be shown to the user on the display 110 as an appliance operation preference. In embodiments, the appliance operation preferences comprise modes of operation of the household appliance 100 most recently invoked by the user. In embodiments, the appliance operation preferences comprise suggestions for how to operate the appliance 100, e.g. suggested cooking modes. Such suggestions may be based on the user’s previous uses of the appliance 100, and/or a corresponding appliance, and/or based on the user’s previously declared preferences.

In embodiments, the appliance operation preferences comprise user notification preferences. Such user notification preferences may comprise, for example, a preference as to whether the user wishes to receive notifications relating to operation of the appliance 100 on the user’s personal device. Accordingly, different users may have different user notification preferences. Such notification preferences may be stored, and when a user intends to use the appliance 100 the preferences are retrieved, and a short-cut for setting the notification preferences again may be displayed for selection by the user. As another example, the notification preferences may be automatically set, thereby avoiding the user having to manually re-affirm or re-configure such preferences each time the user uses the appliance 100.

In embodiments, the appliance operation preferences comprise a preferred display theme for the appliance 100. Such a preferred display theme may comprise a background colour, a text colour, a text size, etc. Different users may have different preferred display themes for the appliances they operate. Showing the set of appliance operation preferences may comprise controlling the display 110 to display content in accordance with the preferred display theme. Accordingly, the preferred display theme for a given user may be stored, and when that user intends to use the appliance 100 the preferred display theme is retrieved, thereby avoiding the user having to manually re-affirm or re-configure the preferred display theme each time the user uses an appliance they have used before or a new appliance.

In embodiments, the household appliance 100 is a cooker and the appliance operation preferences comprise one or more cooking programs associated with one or more food items. For example, a cooking program associated with cooking pizza may be prioritised over a cooking program associated with cooking baked potatoes, for a particular user. In other examples, where the food item is a pizza, the appliance operation preferences may comprise a user’s specific cooking preferences for pizza, such as whether the user prefers crispy pizza or extra crispy pizza. Additionally or alternatively, the appliance operation preferences may comprise a user’s preferred cooking temperature or time for the one or more food items. In embodiments, the appliance 100 is a cooker and the appliance operation preferences comprise one or more food items and/or one or more dishes and/or one or more recipes that the user commonly cooks with the relevant type of appliance or has most recently cooked with the relevant type of appliance 100. In embodiments, retrieving a set of appliance operation preferences comprises retrieving the set of appliance operation preferences from a memory of the household appliance 100. For example, the set of appliance operation preferences may be retrieved from the memory 360 described above with reference to Figure 3. As such, the set of appliance operation preferences may be stored locally on the household appliance 100. This allows the set of appliance operation preferences to be retrieved more efficiently than cases in which the set of appliance operation preferences are received from another entity, and allows the set of appliance operation preferences to be retrieved without the use of a communication interface, such as a Wi-Fi or BLE communication unit.

In embodiments, retrieving a set of appliance operation preferences comprises retrieving the set of appliance operation preferences from a remote server. For example, the household appliance may comprise a communication interface, such as the communication interface 205 described above with reference to Figure 2, for communicating with the remote server. The set of appliance operation preferences may be retrieved via the communication interface. As such, the remote server may store the set of appliance operation preferences of a given user, and the household appliance 100 may retrieve those appliance operation preferences when it is determined that the given user is intending to use the household appliance 100. The appliance operation preferences are thus not required to be stored on the household appliance 100. The remote server may store appliance operation preferences for a given user for two or more different types of appliances and the household appliance 100 may retrieve those appliance operation preferences that are appropriate for the household appliance. The remote server may do this based on an identifier associated with the appliance. The identifier could be a unique identifier for the appliance or an identifier indicating the type and/or model of the appliance. Some appliance operation preferences for different types of appliances may be the same, such as preferred display theme, whereas other appliance operation preferences may be different, such as an option to control the appliance, when it is an oven, to cook lasagna or, when it is a washing machine, to start a cotton wash. The server may retrieve the correct appliance operation preferences based on a user ID and a type of the appliance and transmit them to the appliance. The type of the appliance may be communicated to the server, to initiate retrieval of the appliance operation preferences, or it may be stored by the appliance and retrieved based on a unique identifier of the appliance communicated to the server, to initiate retrieval of the appliance, and/or stored by the server. In embodiments, the retrieved set of appliance operation preferences comprises a default set of appliance operation preferences when the user intending to use the appliance is an unknown user. A set of appliance operation preferences may then be configured for the user, based on the use of the appliance 100 by the user. For example, if the (initially unknown) user selects a particular operating mode of the appliance 100, that operating mode may be stored as an appliance operation preference for the user, and may be shown to the user on subsequent occasions when the user intends to use the same appliance or another corresponding appliance.

In embodiments, the method 400 comprises a step (not shown) comprising determining that the user is intending to use the appliance 100. That is, the household appliance 100 (e.g. the controller 310 of the household appliance 100) may determine that the user is intending to use the appliance 100. In alternative embodiments, a determination that the user is intending to use the household appliance 100 may be performed by a further entity. For example, the determination may be performed by a remote server and/or by a further household appliance.

In embodiments, the determination that the user is intending to use the appliance 100 comprises determining that the user is interacting with the appliance 100, e.g. through use of one or more sensors. For example, it may be determined that the user it interacting with a touchscreen display of the appliance 100, or is opening a door 140 of the appliance 100, etc. In embodiments, the determination that the user is intending to use the appliance 100 comprises determining that the user is ‘waking up’ the appliance 100, i.e. interacting with the appliance 100 so as to cause the appliance 100 to transition from a ‘low power’ state to an ‘in use’ state. Additionally or alternatively, determining that the user is intending to use the appliance 100 may comprise determining that the user is performing an action to prepare to use the appliance 100. That is, the user may not yet be using or interacting with the appliance 100, but may be preparing to do so. For example, the user may be approaching or entering the vicinity of the appliance 100. Such an action, which may be detected using one or more sensors (e.g. image sensors or microphones) may be inferred to be an action that is in preparation to use the appliance 100, and thus the user may be determined to be intending to use the appliance 100. Similarly, the user may be using a different appliance that is associated with the appliance 100, and it may be inferred that the user is preparing to use the appliance 100 based on the user’s interactions with the different appliance. For example, where the appliance 100 comprises a cooker and the different appliance comprises a refrigerator, it may be determined based on sensed user interactions with the refrigerator (e.g. by opening the refrigerator door and/or removing food items from the refrigerator) that the user is intending to use the cooker. Accordingly, the intention of the user to use the appliance 100 may be determined and/or predicted based on the actions of the user to interact with the appliance 100 and/or to prepare to do so.

In embodiments, the household appliance 100 comprises a sensor configured to sense a characteristic of the user or a user device associated with the user intending to use the appliance and to produce a signal corresponding to the characteristic. In some such embodiments, the determination that the user is intending to use the appliance comprises determining that the sensor has started producing the signal. As such, the household appliance 100 is able to act efficiently (i.e. by retrieving and showing the set of appliance operation preferences) as soon as the sensor senses the characteristic of the user.

In embodiments, the retrieved set of appliance operation preferences is based on a comparison between the sensed characteristic and one or more stored user characteristics. The stored user characteristics may be stored on the household appliance 100 (e.g. in the memory 360) or in a further entity, such as a remote server. In embodiments, the stored user characteristics correspond to a plurality of known users. As such, the set of appliance operation preferences for a given user may be retrieved based on a comparison between a sensed characteristic of the given user and the stored characteristics of multiple users. Each of the multiple users may have a corresponding retrievable set of appliance operation preferences. In embodiments, if the sensed characteristic does not correspond to any of the one or more stored user characteristics, it is determined that the user is an unknown user. As mentioned above, a default set of appliance operation preferences may be retrieved if the user is an unknown user.

In embodiments, the sensor comprises a biometric sensor. In embodiments, the sensor comprises a fingerprint sensor, and the characteristic of the user comprises at least a portion of the user’s fingerprint. The user’s fingerprint (or a portion thereof) may be compared with one or more stored fingerprints corresponding to one or more users, in order to identify and/or authenticate the user that is intending to use the appliance 100. If the user’s fingerprint does not correspond to any of the stored fingerprints, it may be determined that the user is an unknown user, and a default set of appliance operation preferences may be retrieved and displayed accordingly.

In embodiments, the sensor comprises a microphone, and the characteristic of the user comprises the user’s voice. As such, the user intending to use the appliance 100 may be identified without the user having to touch or physically interact with the appliance 100. A sample of the user’s voice may be compared with one or more stored voice samples corresponding to one or more users, in order to identify and/or authenticate the user that is intending to use the appliance 100. If the user’s voice does not correspond to any of the stored voice samples, it may be determined that the user is an unknown user, and a default set of appliance operation preferences may be retrieved and displayed accordingly.

In embodiments, the sensor comprises a camera, and the characteristic comprises at least a portion of the user’s face. A captured image of the user’s face (or a portion thereof) may be compared with one or more stored facial images corresponding to one or more users, in order to identify and/or authenticate the user that is intending to use the appliance 100. The intending to use the appliance 100 may thus be identified without the user having to touch or physically interact with the appliance 100. If the user’s face does not correspond to any of the stored facial images, it may be determined that the user is an unknown user, and a default set of appliance operation preferences may be retrieved and displayed accordingly.

In embodiments, the display 110 is touch sensitive. In some such embodiments, the method 400 comprises determining that a user is intending to use the appliance 100 by determining that the user is touching the display 110. The user may be touching the display 110 in order to control operation of the appliance 100, e.g. to ‘wake up’ the appliance 100 from a low power state, for example. In alternative embodiments, the display 110 is not touch sensitive.

In embodiments, the method 400 comprises causing the display 110 to show, in response to determining that a user is intending to use the appliance 100, one or more user profiles. In some such embodiments, retrieving a set of appliance operation preferences comprises receiving a user selection of one of the profiles via the touch sensitive display. Each of the one or more displayed user profiles may correspond to a different set of appliance operation preferences. Accordingly, the user may select their specific profile from amongst the displayed profiles, which enables the appliance 100 to obtain the set of appliance operation preferences for the user. In embodiments, one of the one or more user profiles shown on the display 110 may be configured as a default user profile. The default user profile may be associated with a user that is designated as a primary user of the household appliance, for example. In embodiments, if the user fails to select one of the displayed user profiles, a default set of appliance operation preferences may be retrieved and displayed.

In embodiments, receiving a user selection of one of the profiles comprises the user providing authentication details associated with the selected profile. This provides an improved user experience and/or security, e.g. by ensuring that only a given user can access and/or modify the appliance operation preferences of that given user. In embodiments, the authentication details comprise a password associated with the selected profile. Alternatively, the authentication details may comprise a personal identification number, PIN, biometric information, etc.

In embodiments, the household appliance 100 further comprises a wireless network communication interface for receiving a signal from a user device of the user. The wireless network communication interface is an example of a communication interface, such as the communication interface 205 described above with reference to Figure 2. In some such embodiments, the method 400 comprises determining that a user is intending to use the appliance 100 by determining that the wireless network communication interface is receiving a signal, with a signal strength above a predetermined signal strength threshold, from the user device. If the wireless network communication interface is receiving a signal from the user device that has a signal strength above a predetermined signal strength threshold, it may be inferred that the user to which the user device belongs is located in the vicinity of the household appliance 100, and therefore is intending to use the household appliance 100 (e.g. is interacting with or is preparing to interact with the appliance 100). That is, the signal strength being above the predetermined signal strength threshold indicates that the user device is within a predetermined distance of the household appliance 100. The wireless network communication interface may comprise a BLE communication interface, for example. In such embodiments, the household appliance 100 may measure the signal strength of received BLE signals from recognised user devices and infer the relative location of the known user devices from the signal strengths. Identification data, included in the BLE signals from nearby devices, can be matched against known identification data stored in the appliance 100 or in a server to identify known devices, such as devices registered in the server as belonging to the owner or users of the appliance 100. The identification data may for example comprise a media access control, MAC, address or other suitable identifier of the user devices.

In embodiments, the method 400 comprises, in response to a determination that an additional user is intending to use the appliance 100, retrieving an additional set of appliance operation preferences based on the identity of the additional user. The additional set of appliance operation preferences may be retrieved from a memory, or may be received from a remote server, for example. In some such embodiments, the method 400 comprises causing the additional set of appliance operation preferences to be shown on the display 110 contemporaneously with the set of appliance operation preferences corresponding to the initial user. As such, both users may view their respective appliance operation preferences at the same time. This facilitates both users being able to use, or at least prepare to use, the appliance 100 simultaneously. In embodiments, the initial set of appliance operation preferences comprises modes of operation of the household appliance 100 most commonly invoked by the initial user, and the additional set of appliance operation preferences comprises modes of operation of the household appliance 100 most commonly invoked by the additional user. In alternative embodiments, the two sets of appliance operation preferences are shown sequentially.

In embodiments, the two sets of appliance operation preferences are shown in different colours on the display 110. This provides an improved user experience, by allowing the users to readily identify which set of appliance operation preferences is associated with each user. In alternative embodiments, the two sets of appliance operation preferences may be shown in the same colour, but may be otherwise visually distinguished from one another. For example, the two sets of appliance operation preferences may be shown in different regions of the display 110. In some embodiments, each set of appliance operation preferences is shown along with the identity of the user to which the set of appliance operation preferences corresponds. This allows a given user to readily identify which set of appliance operation preferences corresponds to the given user.

In embodiments, the household appliance 100 comprises one or more of: a cooker, a washing machine, a microwave, a dishwasher, a refrigerator, a freezer, a dehumidifier, and a fan. The household appliance 100 may comprise different types of appliance in other embodiments.

In embodiments, the set of appliance operation preferences are modified based on the use of appliance 100 by the user. For example, if the user selects a particular operating mode of the appliance 100, the appliance operation preferences for the user may be modified (i.e. updated) such that the selected operating mode is shown to the user on subsequent occasions when the user intends to use the appliance 100 or an appliance of the same or similar type and/or model. This provides an improved user experience, by tailoring the appliance operation preferences over time to suit the user.

In embodiments, the method 400 comprises a step (not shown) of sending data indicating the identity of the user to a further entity. For example, the data indicating the identity of the user may be sent to a remote server 220, or directly or indirectly to a further household appliance 240. This may allow a set of appliance operation preferences for the further household appliance 240 to be retrieved based on the identity of the user, without the user having to be separately identified by the further household appliance 240, thereby improving the efficiency of operating the further household appliance 240 and providing an improved user experience. This is discussed in more detail below with reference to Figure 5.

Figure 5 shows a method 500 of operating a household appliance, according to embodiments. The method 500 may be used to operate the further household appliance 240 described above with reference to Figure 2. The further household appliance 240 comprises a display 245. The further household appliance 240 is associated with the first household appliance 100 and is in communication with the first household appliance 100 via one or more communication networks. In embodiments, the method 500 is performed at least in part by a controller of the further household appliance 240.

At item 510, the further household appliance 240 receives, via the one or more communication networks, the identity of a user intending to use the first household appliance 100. In embodiments, the further household appliance 240 receives the identity of the user from a remote server 220, or directly or indirectly from the first household appliance 100. As such, the first household appliance 100 or the remote server 220 may determine the identity of a user intending to use the first household appliance 100, and the further household appliance 240 may then be informed of the identity of the user.

At item 520, a set of appliance operation preferences for the further household appliance 240 is retrieved based on the identity of the user intending to use the first household appliance 100. The set of appliance operation preferences for the further household appliance 240 may be at least partly different from the set of appliance operation preferences for the first household appliance 100 (described with reference to Figure 4 above). For example, the first household appliance 100 may comprise a cooker and the set of appliance operation preferences for the cooker may comprise one or more preferred cooking modes, and the further household appliance 100 may comprise a washing machine and the set appliance operation preferences for the washing machine may comprise one or more preferred washing modes. In embodiments, the set of appliance operation preferences for the first household appliance 100 and the set of appliance operation preferences for the further household appliance 240 have at least one appliance operation preference in common. For example, both sets of appliance operation preferences may include a user notification preference indicating that the user wishes to receive notifications relating to the operation of either of the appliances 100, 240 via the user’s personal device. Retrieving the set of appliance operation preferences for the further household appliance 240 may comprise retrieving the set of appliance operation preferences from a memory of the further household appliance 240. In alternative embodiments, retrieving the set of appliance operation preferences for the further household appliance 240 comprises receiving the set of appliance operation preferences from a further entity. For example, the set of appliance operation preferences for the further household appliance 240 may be received from a remote server 220, or directly or indirectly from the first household appliance 100.

At item 530, the retrieved set of appliance operation preferences for the further household appliance 240 is displayed on the display 245 of the further household appliance 240.

As such, the further household appliance 240 is able to retrieve appliance operation preferences for the further household appliance 240 based on the identity of a user intending to use the first household appliance 100. In an example in which the first household appliance 100 comprises a cooker and the second household appliance 100 comprises a washing machine, the cooker may initially identify the user (e.g. using a biometric sensor, camera, touch-screen display, etc.) and retrieve a set of appliance operation preferences for the cooker and display such preferences to the user. The cooker (or a remote server 220) may then send data indicating the identity of the user to the washing machine, to cause the washing machine to retrieve and display its own appliance operation preferences corresponding to the user. Accordingly, the user is only identified and/or authenticated once (i.e. at one appliance), but this can cause appliance operation parameters for multiple appliances to be retrieved and displayed to the user. This provides an improved user experience, e.g. in terms of efficiency, compared to a case in which a user is required to identify and/or authenticate themselves at every appliance separately.

In alternative embodiments, the further household appliance 240 does not receive the identity of the user intending to use the first household appliance 100. In some such embodiments, the further household appliance 240 is configured to receive a set of appliance operation preferences for the further household appliance 240 based on the identity of the user intending to use the first household appliance 100. For example, the identity of the user may be determined by the first household appliance 100 or by a remote server 220, and the first household appliance 100 or the remote server 220 may retrieve the set of appliance operation preferences for the further household appliance 240 based on the determined user identity and transmit the set of appliance operation preferences to the further household appliance 240. As such, the further household appliance 240 may be unaware of the identity of the user in some embodiments, but may nevertheless be able to retrieve and display the appropriate appliance operation preferences for that user.

The further household appliance 240 may be “associated with” the first household appliance 100 in that, if the user is intending to use the first appliance 100, it is likely that the user may also intend to use the further appliance 240. The two appliances 100, 240 may be located in the same environment, e.g. the same room. Alternatively or additionally, they may belong to the same user domain. Data about the location of the appliance or the appliances belonging to a user domain may be stored in the appliances or in a remote server. As such, the first appliance may determine appliances that are associated appliances from the data in memory and send the user identity to the further appliances. Alternatively, the remote server may retrieve and send the set of appliance operation preferences to the further household appliance based on that the further household appliance is associated with the first household appliance, for example because records stored by the server indicate that they belong to the same user domain and/or are located in the same location. As such, in a given environment, a user is only identified once in order to ‘log in’ to multiple appliances in the environment, whereby the user’s appliance operation preferences for the multiple appliances are retrieved and displayed. The two appliances 100, 240 may have similar functions (e.g. both appliances 100, 240 may be cooking appliances) or may have different functions (e.g. the first appliance 100 may be a cooking appliance and the further appliance 240 may be a cleaning appliance).

Figure 6 shows a method 600 of operating a household appliance, according to embodiments. The method 600 may be performed by a system comprising at least the household appliance 100 and a user device, such as the user device 230 described above with reference to Figure 2. In some embodiments, the system also comprises a remote server 220.

At item 610, at the household appliance 100, the display 110 of the household appliance 100 is caused to display data corresponding to an identifier associated with the household appliance 100. The identifier associated with the household appliance may be a unique identifier for the appliance.

At item 620, at the user device 230, the displayed identifier is obtained and the identifier and the identity of a user intending to use the household appliance 100 are sent to a remote server 220.

At item 630, at the household appliance 100, a set of appliance operation preferences is retrieved from the remote server 220. The set of appliance operation preferences may be received directly from the remote server 220 or may be received indirectly, e.g. via the user device 230. For example, the user device 230 and the appliance 100 may be operable to communicate with one another via a short-range wireless communication network such as a BLE network, via which the user device 230 may forward the appliance operation preferences, received from the remote server 220, to the appliance 100.

In embodiments, the remote server 220 is configured to store the appliance operation preferences. In embodiments, the remote server 220 is configured to receive the appliance identifier and the identity of the user from the user device 230. In embodiments, the server 220 may then select the appropriate set of appliance operation preferences based on the identity of the user and the appliance identifier. The server may store appliance operation preferences for the user for a number of different types and/or models of appliances and the appliance identifier allows the server to locate the appliance operation preferences for the user which are appropriate for the particular type and/or model of appliance. In embodiments, the appliance identifier may comprise one or more identifier parts for uniquely identifying the appliance. This could be one or more of a serial number, a model number and a network address. In embodiments, the remote server 220 is configured to transmit the set of appliance operation preferences to the household appliance 100. The remote server 220 may be configured to transmit the set of appliance operation preferences to the appliance 100 directly, or indirectly, e.g. via the user device 230. In at least the embodiments when the remote server is configured to transmit the set of appliance operation preferences directly to the appliance 100, the appliance identifier also allows the server to identify the appliance to which to send the appliance operation preferences. For example, it may send the appliance operation preferences to a network address indicated or associated with the appliance identifier. For example, it may store data linking unique appliance identifiers with their network addresses and send the appliance operation preferences to a network address retrieved from memory based on data, including the appliance identifier, received from the user device 230. Alternatively, the appliance identifier received from the user device may include a network address.

In embodiments, the data corresponding to the identifier comprises a quick response, QR, code encoding the identifier. Such a QR code may be scanned using a camera on the user device 230, such that the user device 230 obtains the appliance identifier. In alternatively embodiments, it could include another type of visual code such as a barcode. In yet alternative embodiments, the data corresponding to the identifier comprises a network address. In embodiments, the user device 230 comprises one or more of: a smartphone, a radio frequency identifier, RFID, tag, and a smart watch.

The embodiments of Figure 6 may be used, for example, when a user with existing appliance operation preferences for a given type and/or model of appliance (or for appliances having a given manufacturer) enters a new environment that comprises the same or a similar type and/or model of appliance (or appliances having the same manufacturer). In the new environment, the user navigates to a login screen on the household appliance 100, which displays a QR code encoding an identifier for the appliance 100. The user scans the QR code using their smartphone, e.g. using a mobile application associated with the appliance 100 or with the manufacturer of the appliance 100. The smartphone then sends the identifier of the appliance 100, along with the user’s identity, to a remote server 220, which transmits the user’s existing appliance operation preferences to the appliance 100 (optionally via the user device 230) for display to the user. As such, a user’s profile (e.g. comprising the user’s appliance operation preferences for one or more household appliances) may be transferred to different environments and/or different appliances in such environments. This provides an improved user experience, e.g. in terms of continuity and/or efficiency in operating household appliances in various environments.

It is to be understood that any feature described in relation to any one embodiment and/or aspect may be used alone, or in combination with other features described, and may also be used in combination with one or more features of any other of the embodiments and/or aspects, or any combination of any other of the embodiments and/or aspects.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the household appliance 100 comprises a controller 310. The controller 310 is configured to perform various methods described herein. In embodiments, the controller comprises a processing system. Such a processing system may comprise one or more processors and/or memory. Each device, component, or function as described in relation to any of the examples described herein, for example the server 220, user device 230, further household appliance 240, sensor 320, display 110 and communication interface 205, may similarly comprise a processor or may be comprised in apparatus comprising a processor. One or more aspects of the embodiments described herein comprise processes performed by apparatus. In some examples, the apparatus comprises one or more processors configured to carry out these processes. In this regard, embodiments may be implemented at least in part by computer software stored in (non-transitory) memory and executable by the processor, or by hardware, or by a combination of tangibly stored software and hardware (and tangibly stored firmware). Embodiments also extend to computer programs, particularly computer programs on or in a carrier, adapted for putting the above described embodiments into practice.

The one or more processors of processing systems may comprise a central processing unit, CPU. The one or more processors may comprise a graphics processing unit, GPU. The one or more processors may comprise one or more of a field programmable gate array, FPGA, a programmable logic device, PLD, or a complex programmable logic device, CPLD. The one or more processors may comprise an application specific integrated circuit, ASIC. It will be appreciated by the skilled person that many other types of device, in addition to the examples provided, may be used to provide the one or more processors. The one or more processors may comprise multiple co-located processors or multiple disparately located processors. Operations performed by the one or more processors may be carried out by one or more of hardware, firmware, and software. It will be appreciated that processing systems may comprise more, fewer and/or different components from those described.

The techniques described herein may be implemented in software or hardware, or may be implemented using a combination of software and hardware. They may include configuring an apparatus to carry out and/or support any or all of techniques described herein. Although at least some aspects of the examples described herein with reference to the drawings comprise computer processes performed in processing systems or processors, examples described herein also extend to computer programs, for example computer programs on or in a carrier, adapted for putting the examples into practice. The carrier may be any entity or device capable of carrying the program. The carrier may comprise a computer readable storage media. Examples of tangible computer-readable storage media include, but are not limited to, an optical medium (e.g., CD-ROM, DVD-ROM or Blu-ray), flash memory card, floppy or hard disk or any other medium capable of storing computer-readable instructions such as firmware or microcode in at least one ROM or RAM or Programmable ROM, PROM, chips.

Where in the foregoing description, integers or elements are mentioned which have known, obvious or foreseeable equivalents, then such equivalents are herein incorporated as if individually set forth. Reference should be made to the claims for determining the true scope of the present disclosure, which should be construed so as to encompass any such equivalents. It will also be appreciated by the reader that integers or features of the present disclosure that are described as preferable, advantageous, convenient or the like are optional and do not limit the scope of the independent claims. Moreover, it is to be understood that such optional integers or features, whilst of possible benefit in some embodiments of the present disclosure, may not be desirable, and may therefore be absent, in other embodiments.

Claims

1. A household appliance, comprising: a display configured to show appliance operation preferences; and a controller configured to: retrieve a set of appliance operation preferences based on an identity of a user intending to use the appliance; and cause the retrieved set of appliance operation preferences to be shown on the display.

2. A household appliance according to claim 1, further comprising a memory for storing appliance operation preferences, wherein retrieving a set of appliance operation preferences comprises retrieving the set of appliance operation preferences from the memory.

3. A household appliance according to claim 1, further comprising a communication interface for communicating with a remote server, wherein retrieving a set of appliance operation preferences comprises retrieving the set of appliance operation preferences from the remote server.

4. A household appliance according to any preceding claim, wherein the retrieved set of appliance operation preferences comprises a default set of appliance operation preferences when the user intending to use the appliance is an unknown user.

5. A household appliance according to any preceding claim, wherein the controller is configured to determine that the user is intending to use the appliance.

6. A household appliance according to claim 5, wherein the determination that the user is intending to use the appliance comprises determining that the user is interacting with the appliance.

7. A household appliance according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the determination that the user is intending to use the appliance comprises determining that the user is performing an action to prepare to use the appliance.

8. A household appliance according to any of claims 5 to 7, further comprising a sensor configured to sense a characteristic of the user intending to use the appliance and to produce a signal corresponding to the characteristic, wherein the determination that the user is intending to use the appliance comprises determining that the sensor has started producing the signal.

9. A household appliance according to claim 8, wherein the retrieved set of appliance operation preferences is based on a comparison between the sensed characteristic and one or more stored user characteristics.

10. A household appliance according to claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the sensor comprises a biometric sensor.

11. A household appliance according to claim 10, wherein the sensor comprises a fingerprint sensor and the characteristic of the user comprises at least a portion of the user’ s fingerprint.

12. A household appliance according to claim 10 or claim 11, wherein the sensor comprises a microphone and the characteristic of the user comprises the user’s voice.

13. A household appliance according to any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the sensor comprises a camera and the characteristic of the user comprises at least a portion of the user’s face.

14. A household appliance according to any of claims 5 to 7, wherein the display is touch sensitive and the controller is configured to determine that a user is intending to use the appliance by determining that the user is touching the display.

15. A household appliance according claim 14, wherein: in response to determining that a user is intending to use the appliance, the controller is configured to cause the display to show one or more user profiles; and retrieving a set of appliance operation preferences comprises receiving a user selection of one of the profiles via the touch sensitive display.

16. A household appliance according to claim 15, wherein receiving a user selection of one of the profiles comprises the user providing authentication details associated with the selected profile.

17. A household appliance according to claim 16, wherein the authentication details comprise a password associated with the selected profile.

18. A household appliance according to any of claims 5 to 7, further comprising a wireless network communication interface for receiving a signal from a user device of the user, wherein the controller is configured to determine that a user is intending to use the appliance by determining that the wireless network communication interface is receiving a signal, with a signal strength above a predetermined signal strength threshold, from the user device.

19. A household appliance according to any preceding claim, wherein the controller is configured to: in response to a determination that an additional user is intending to use the appliance, retrieve an additional set of appliance operation preferences based on the identity of the additional user; and cause the additional set of appliance operation preferences to be shown on the display contemporaneously with the set of appliance operation preferences corresponding to the initial user.

20. A household appliance according to claim 19, wherein the two sets of appliance operation preferences are shown in different colours on the display.

21. A household appliance according to any preceding claim, wherein the household appliance comprises one or more of: a cooker, a washing machine, a microwave, a dishwasher, a refrigerator, a freezer, a dehumidifier, and a fan.

22. A household appliance according to any preceding claim, wherein the appliance operation preferences comprise modes of operation of the household appliance most commonly invoked by the user.

23. A household appliance according to any preceding claim, wherein the appliance operation preferences comprise user notification preferences.

24. A household appliance according to any preceding claim, wherein the household appliance is a cooker and the appliance operation preferences comprise one or more cooking programs associated with one or more food items.

25. A system comprising a first household appliance and a second household appliance associated with the first household appliance, at least the first household appliance being according to any preceding claim, wherein the first and second household appliances are in communication with each other via one or more communication networks.

26. A system according to claim 25, wherein the second household appliance is configured to receive, via the one or more communication networks, a set of appliance operation preferences for the second household appliance based on the identity of the user intending to use the first appliance, and to display the received set of appliance operation preferences for the second household appliance on a display of the second household appliance.

27. A system according to claim 25, wherein the second household appliance is configured to: receive, via the one or more communication networks, the identity of the user intending to use the first household appliance; retrieve a set of appliance operation preferences for the second household appliance based on the identity of the user intending to use the first appliance; and display the retrieved set of appliance operation preferences for the second household appliance on a display of the second household appliance.

28. A system, comprising: a household appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 24; and a user device, wherein the controller of the household appliance is configured to cause the display of the household appliance to display data corresponding to an identifier associated with the household appliance, wherein the user device is configured to obtain the displayed identifier and send the displayed identifier along with the identity of the user to a remote server, and wherein the controller of the household appliance is configured to retrieve the set of appliance operation preferences from the remote server.

29. A system according to claim 28, further comprising a remote server, wherein the remote server is configured to: store the set of appliance operation preferences; receive the appliance identifier and the identity of the user from the user device; and transmit the set of appliance operation preferences to the household appliance.

30. A system according to claim 28 or claim 29, wherein the data corresponding to the identifier comprises a quick response, QR, code encoding the identifier, or comprises a network address.

31. A system according to any one of claims 28 to 30, wherein the user device comprises one or more of: a smartphone; a radio frequency identification, RFID, tag; and a smart watch.

32. A system, comprising: a household appliance; a display configured to show appliance operation preferences to a user of the appliance; and one or more controllers, the one or more controllers configured to: in response to a determination that a user is intending to use the household appliance, retrieve a set of appliance operation preferences based on the identity of the user intending to use the household appliance; and cause the retrieved set of appliance operation preferences to be shown on the display.

33. A method of operating a household appliance, the household appliance comprising a display configured to show appliance operation preferences, the method comprising: retrieving a set of appliance operation preferences based on an identity of a user intending to use the appliance; and causing the retrieved set of appliance operation preferences to be shown on the display.

34. A computer program comprising a set of instructions which, when executed by a computerised device, cause the computerised device to perform a method of operating a household appliance, the household appliance comprising a display configured to show appliance operation preferences, the method comprising: retrieving a set of appliance operation preferences based on an identity of a user intending to use the appliance; and causing the retrieved set of appliance operation preferences to be shown on the display.