Laundry system, communication device, communication method, communication program and washing machine

A communication method comprising:

• a first transmitting step in which a first communication unit that communicates with a washing machine using wireless communication requests washing machine specifying information for specifying a washing machine from the washing machine;
• a first receiving step in which the first communication unit receives the washing machine specifying information from the washing machine;
• a second transmitting step in which a second communication unit that communicates with a server using a network transmits the received washing machine specifying information to the server;
• a second receiving step in which the second communication unit receives, from the server, detergent name list information for displaying a detergent name list that displays a detergent name corresponding to at least one detergent to be used in the washing machine;
• a first displaying step in which the detergent name list is displayed based on the received detergent name list information;
• a first accepting step in which a detergent name selected by a user among one or more detergent names displayed in the detergent name list is accepted;
• a third transmitting step in which the second communication unit transmits detergent name specifying information for specifying the selected detergent name to the server;
• a third receiving step in which the second communication unit receives, from the server, detergent information related to a detergent specified based on the detergent name specifying information and the washing machine specifying information;
• and
• a fourth transmitting step in which the first communication unit transmits the received detergent information to the washing machine.

A washing machine comprising:

• a storage unit that stores washing machine specifying information for specifying the washing machine;
• a communication unit that communicates with a communication device using wireless communication;
• and
• a control unit which, when request information that requests the washing machine specifying information from the communication device is received by the communication unit, reads out the washing machine specifying information from the storage unit and controls the communication unit so as to transmit the read-out washing machine specifying information to the communication device, and when detergent information related to a detergent specified based on detergent name specifying information for specifying a detergent name selected by a user and the washing machine specifying information is received by the communication unit, controls a laundry operation based on the received detergent information.

A communication device comprising:

• a first communication unit that communicates with a washing machine using wireless communication;
• a second communication unit that communicates with a server using a network;
• a display unit that displays a detergent name list displaying a detergent name corresponding to at least one detergent to be used in the washing machine;
• an accepting unit that accepts input by a user;
• and
• a control unit that controls a display screen to be displayed on the display unit, wherein
• the first communication unit transmits, to the washing machine, request information that requests washing machine specifying information for specifying the washing machine and receives the washing machine specifying information from the washing machine,
• the second communication unit transmits the received washing machine specifying information to the server and receives, from the server, detergent name list information for causing the detergent name list to be displayed,
• the control unit causes the display unit to display the detergent name list based on the received detergent name list information,
• the accepting unit accepts a detergent name selected by the user from the detergent names displayed in the detergent name list,
• the second communication unit transmits detergent name specifying information for specifying the selected detergent name to the server and receives, from the server, detergent information related to a detergent specified based on the detergent name specifying information and the washing machine specifying information, and
• the first communication unit transmits the received detergent information to the washing machine.

A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing a communication program for causing a computer to function as at least:

• a first communication control unit which controls a first communication unit that communicates with a washing machine using wireless communication;
• a second communication control unit which controls a second communication unit that communicates with a server using a network;
• and
• a display control unit which controls a display unit that displays a detergent name list displaying a detergent name corresponding to at least one detergent to be used in the washing machine, wherein
• the first communication control unit controls the first communication unit so as to transmit, to the washing machine, request information that requests washing machine specifying information for specifying the washing machine and controls the first communication unit so as to receive the washing machine specifying information from the washing machine,
• the second communication control unit controls the second communication unit so as to transmit the received washing machine specifying information to the server and controls the second communication unit so as to receive, from the server, detergent name list information for causing the detergent name list to be displayed,
• the display control unit controls the display unit so as to display the detergent name list based on the received detergent name list information,
• the second communication control unit controls the second communication unit so as to transmit, to the server, detergent name specifying information for specifying a detergent name selected by a user from detergent names displayed in the detergent name list and controls the second communication unit so as to receive, from the server, detergent information related to a detergent specified based on the detergent name specifying information and the washing machine specifying information, and
• the first communication control unit controls the first communication unit so as to transmit the received detergent information to the washing machine.