Smart home system using portable device

A portable device comprising:

• a communication unit connected to a home network, the communication unit transmitting/receiving data to/from one or more other portable devices or one or more home appliances connected to the home network;
• a gateway to connect the home network with an external communication network;
• and
• a controller to determine whether to activate the gateway, based on device information of the portable device and the one or more other portable devices connected to the home network,
• wherein the controller receives a home appliance control command input from a user when the gateway is activated, and transfers the received home appliance control command to a corresponding one of the one or more home appliances.

A home appliance comprising:

• a communication unit connected to a home network, the communication unit transmitting/receiving data to/from one or more other home appliances connected to the home network;
• a gateway to connect the home network with an external communication network;
• and
• a controller to determine whether to activate the gateway, based on device information of the home appliance and the one or more other home appliances connected to the home network,
• wherein the controller receives a home appliance control command input from a user when the gateway is activated, and transfers the received home appliance control command to a corresponding one of the one or more other home appliances.

A control method of a smart home system, the smart home system comprising one or more portable devices and one or more home appliances, each of the one or more portable devices and one or more home appliances having a gateway to connect a home network with an external communication network, the method comprising:

• searching for the one or more home appliances to construct the home network;
• selecting a master device from among the one or more portable devices or the one or more home appliances connected to the home network;
• activating the gateway of the master device;
• connecting the home network with the external communication network through the master device;
• and
• transferring a home appliance control command input from a user to a corresponding one of the one or more home appliances through the master device.

A smart home system comprising:

• one or more first portable devices and one or more home appliances located in a home;
• a home network to interconnect the one or more first portable devices and the one or more home appliances;
• and
• a second portable device having a gateway, the second portable device being located in the home and connected to the home network and activating the gateway to connect the home network with an external communication network and transfer a home appliance control command input from a user to a corresponding one of the one or more home appliances.

A control method of a smart home system, the smart home system comprising one or more first portable devices and one or more home appliances located in a home, and a second portable device having a gateway, the second portable device being located in the home and receiving a home appliance control command input from a user, the method comprising:

• searching for the one or more home appliances to construct a home network;
• selecting the second portable device as a master device based on device information of the second portable device and one or more first portable devices connected to the home network;
• activating the gateway of the master device;
• connecting the home network with an external communication network through the master device;
• and
• transferring the home appliance control command input from the user to a corresponding one of the one or more home appliances through the master device.

A control method of a smart home system, the smart home system comprising at least one portable device located outside a home and a plurality of home appliances located in the home, the method comprising:

• searching for the home appliances to construct a home network;
• selecting one of the home appliances as a master device based on device information of the home appliances connected to the home network;
• activating the gateway of the master device;
• connecting the home network with an external server located outside the home through an external communication network located outside the home using the master device;
• connecting the at least one portable device to the master device through the external communication network;
• and
• transferring a home appliance control command input from a user through the at least one portable device to a corresponding one of the home appliances through the master device.