Refrigerator and home automation system having the same

A refrigerator, comprising:

• a communication device provided at the refrigerator to connect to a communication network;
• an object detection sensor provided at an outer surface of a refrigerator door to detect an object within a predetermined distance from the sensor;
• a camera at the refrigerator, and the camera exposed to outside the refrigerator when the refrigerator door is open;
• and
• a controller that controls the refrigerator to operate in a specific mode based on a user's setting,
• wherein in response to receiving an object sensing signal from the object detection sensor when the refrigerator is operating in the specific mode, the controller controls the refrigerator door to open, controls the camera to capture an image of outside the refrigerator while the refrigerator door is open, and controls the communication device to send the captured image to at least one of a plurality of mobile terminals through the communication network,
• wherein the object detection sensor detects any object that can move by itself,
• wherein the refrigerator and one of the plurality of mobile terminals are connected to an access point (AP) at home for communication through Wi-Fi access when a user of the one of the plurality of mobile terminals is at home, and the one of the plurality of mobile terminals is disconnected from the AP when the user of the one of the plurality of mobile terminals is not at home, so that whether the user of the one of the plurality of mobile terminals is at home is determined,
• wherein the controller is to perform a determination whether the one of the preset mobile terminals is connected to the access point at preset time intervals to continuously monitor whether the user of the one of the preset mobile terminals is at home, and
• wherein the object detection sensor includes:
• a first sensor spaced apart from a floor that senses an object located in a first area that is positioned on a front side of the refrigerator door and spaced apart from the floor;
• and
• a second sensor disposed below the first sensor and to be adjacent the floor, and the second sensor to sense an object located in a second area that is positioned on the front side of the refrigerator door and positioned below the first area,
• wherein when the second sensor senses an object while no object is sensed by the first sensor, the controller controls components such that a notification is not to be sent.