# US 2019/0246346 A1 · Method of connecting to network for home appliance, home appliance, and method of connecting to network for home appliance system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0246346 A1 - Document ID: US20190246346A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/341,887 - Filed: 2017-10-12 - Published: 2019-08-08 - Earliest claimed: 2016-10-12 - Assignees: Qingdao Haier Washing Machine Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Qingdao Haier Washing Machine Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Zhenxing HUANG; Sheng XU - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190246346A1 ## CPC - H04L 12/2838: {Distribution of signals within a home automation network, e.g. involving splitting/multiplexing signals to/from different paths (adaptations of television systems for transmission by electric cable for domestic distribution H04N7/106; hybrid transport H04L12/6418; home network arrangements specially adapted for distribution of digital video signals H04N7/24)} - H04W 48/18: Selecting a network or a communication service - H04L 12/28: characterised by path configuration, e.g. LAN [Local Area Networks] or WAN [Wide Area Networks] (wireless communication networks H04W {; arrangements for dividing the transmission path H04W40/00}) - H04W 48/10: using broadcasted information - H04W 48/12: using downlink control channel - H04W 48/16: Discovering, processing access restriction or access information - H04W 48/20: Selecting an access point - H04L 2012/2841: {Wireless} - H04W 84/12: WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks] - H04W 88/02: Terminal devices - H04W 88/06: adapted for operation in multiple networks {or having at least two operational modes}, e.g. multi-mode terminals - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract Disclosed are a method of connecting to a network for a home appliance, a home appliance, and a method of connecting to a network for a home appliance system. The method of connecting to a network for a home appliance includes: in response to a network connection failure of a WiFi module in the home appliance when the WiFi module is in a monitoring mode for network connection, entering, by the WiFi module, a hotspot mode for network connection. This method provides favorable compatibility, is simple in operation, high in network connection efficiency, and provides favorable user experience. A home appliance employing the network connection method can easily communicate with a network, enabling simple remote control of the home appliance. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for connecting a home appliance to a network, comprising: receiving, by a WiFi module in the home appliance, a network connection trigger message; entering, by the WiFi module, a monitoring mode according to the network connection trigger message; in response to successfully receiving and parsing a network configuration information broadcast packet under the monitoring mode, connecting, by the home appliance, to the network; in response to the home appliance failing to connect to the network, entering, by the WiFi module, a hotspot mode according to the network connection trigger message; and in response to the WiFi module successfully receiving network configuration information under the hotspot mode, connecting, by the home appliance, to the network. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the home appliance failing to connect to the network comprises: the WiFi module failing to receive the network configuration information broadcast packet within a first preset period of time T1, or the WiFi module failing to parse the network configuration information broadcast packet within a second preset period of time T2. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: in response to the WiFi module failing to receive the network configuration information within a third preset period of time T3, or in response to the WiFi module receiving the network configuration information within a fourth preset period of time T4 but the home appliance fails to connect to the network, it is determined that the network connection fails and is ceased. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, further comprising, subsequent to that the network connection fails and is ceased: automatically driving the WiFi module to enter the monitoring mode or the hotspot mode or to switch between the monitoring mode and the hotspot mode for connecting to the network within a preset time, by using the home appliance; or manually driving the WiFi module to enter the monitoring mode or the hotspot mode or to switch between the monitoring mode and the hotspot mode for connecting to the network within a preset time, by touching a button on the home appliance. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein a duration of the first preset period of time T1 is less than or equal to that of the second preset period of time T2; and a duration of the third preset period of time T3 is less than or equal to that of the fourth preset period of time T4. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the network connection trigger message comprises: in response to touching a button on the home appliance to send the network connection trigger message to the WiFi module, receiving, by the WiFi module, the network connection trigger message; or automatically receiving, by the WiFi module, the network connection trigger message after being turned on in the case where the home appliance has not connected to a network or has not successfully connected to a network after being shipped from a factory. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the network configuration information broadcast packet or the network configuration information comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of a service set identifier (SSID) and password information of a router, and a unique identification code of a mobile client. ### Claim 8 A home appliance, comprising: a processor, a memory and a WiFi module; wherein the memory is configured to store a software program, a computer-executable program and module; and the processor is configured to execute a plurality of functional applications and perform data processing by running the software program, instructions, and the module, enabling the WiFi module to connect to a network by using a method for connecting the home appliance to the network, the method comprising: receiving, by the WiFi module in the home appliance, a network connection trigger message; entering, by the WiFi module, a monitoring mode according to the network connection trigger message; in response to successfully receiving and parsing a network configuration information broadcast packet under the monitoring mode, connecting, by the home appliance, to the network: in response to the home appliance failing to connect to the network, entering, by the WiFi module, a hotspot mode according to the network connection trigger message; and in response to the WiFi module successfully receiving network configuration information under the hotspot mode, connecting, by the home appliance, to the network. ### Claim 9 (canceled) ### Claim 10 (canceled) ### Claim 11 A home appliance system, comprising a home appliance, a router, a server and a mobile terminal; wherein the home appliance comprises a WiFi module configured to connect the home appliance to the router, wherein the home appliance connects to the server via the router; wherein the WiFi module is configured to receive network connection trigger message, and enter a monitoring mode according to the network connection trigger message, and in response to successfully receiving and parsing a network configuration information broadcast packet under the monitoring mode, the home appliance connects to a network; and in response to the home appliance failing to connect to the network, the WiFi module enters a hotspot mode according to the network connection trigger message, and in response to successfully receiving network configuration information under the hotspot mode, the home appliance connects to the network; wherein the server is configured to provide home appliance management platform services, including registration and management of a user account, binding and management of the home appliance and the user account, sending a control command to the home appliance, and receiving information reported by the home appliance; and wherein the mobile terminal is in communication with the router and the server. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions, the computer-executable instructions being configured for executing the method of claim 1. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The home appliance of claim 8, wherein the home appliance failing to connect to the network comprises: the WiFi module failing to receive the network configuration information broadcast packet within a first preset period of time T1, or the WiFi module failing to parse the network configuration information broadcast packet within a second preset period of time T2. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The home appliance of claim 8, wherein the method further comprises: in response to the WiFi module failing to receive the network configuration information within a third preset period of time T3, or in response to the WiFi module receiving the network configuration information within a fourth preset period of time T4 but the home appliance fails to connect to the network, it is determined that the network connection fails and is ceased. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The home appliance of claim 14, wherein the method further comprises, subsequent to that the network connection fails and is ceased: automatically driving the WiFi module to enter the monitoring mode or the hotspot mode or to switch between the monitoring mode and the hotspot mode for connecting to the network within a preset time, by using the home appliance; or manually driving the WiFi module to enter the monitoring mode or the hotspot mode or to switch between the monitoring mode and the hotspot mode for connecting to the network within a preset time, by touching a button on the home appliance. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The home appliance of claim 14, wherein a duration of the first preset period of time T1 is less than or equal to that of the second preset period of time T2; and a duration of the third preset period of time T3 is less than or equal to that of the fourth preset period of time T4. ### Claim 17 (depends on 8) The home appliance of claim 8, wherein receiving the network connection trigger message comprises: in response to touching a button on the home appliance to send the network connection trigger message to the WiFi module, receiving, by the WiFi module, the network connection trigger message; or automatically receiving, by the WiFi module, the network connection trigger message after being turned on in the case where the home appliance has not connected to a network or has not successfully connected to a network after being shipped from a factory. ### Claim 18 (depends on 8) The home appliance of claim 8, wherein the network configuration information broadcast packet or the network configuration information comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of a service set identifier (SSID) and password information of a router, and a unique identification code of a mobile client.