Home appliance, method for upgrading home appliance, management server, method by which management server upgrades home appliance, and system for upgrading home appliance

A home appliance, comprising;

• a function performance unit configured to perform unique functions;
• a communication unit configured to communicate with a management server to upgrade all or part of the unique functions;
• a storage unit configured to store information on firmware needed to perform the unique functions and a package ID (Package ID);
• a user interface unit configured to provide operation information on the unique functions, and information on an upgrade;
• and
• a home appliance control unit configured to connect to the communication unit through a local bus, and to control entire operations,
• wherein the communication unit transmits the package ID to the management server, automatically downloads and receives software data from the management server, transitions to an upgrade preparation state in a case where dependency of a content ID (Content ID) included in the software data on the package ID is satisfied and then the communication unit receives a preparation instruction from the management server, and notifies the preparation state to the user interface unit or an app (App) of the user terminal and then upgrades an individual function selected by the user interface unit or the user terminal among the software data.

A method by which a management server upgrades a home appliance, comprising;

• receiving a package ID (Package ID) from a home appliance by a server communication unit;
• storing the received package ID by a server storage unit;
• receiving software data having a content ID (Content ID) and being uploaded through an upgrade management web page by a server control unit;
• automatically downloading the software data to the home appliance by the server communication unit;
• determining dependency of the received package ID and the content ID by the server control unit;
• transmitting an instruction for a transition to an upgrade preparation state to the home appliance by the server control unit in a case where the dependency is satisfied;
• and
• transmitting a message notifying that there is an individual function selection upgrade of the home appliance to the home appliance and a user terminal by the server control unit.

A method for upgrading a home appliance, comprising:

• transmitting a package ID (Package ID) to a management server by a communication unit;
• automatically downloading and receiving software data from the management server by the communication unit;
• transmitting a download completion message to the management server by the communication unit;
• receiving an upgrade preparation instruction from the management server by the communication unit as dependency of a content ID (Content ID) included in the software data on the package ID is satisfied;
• transitioning to an upgrade preparation state by the communication unit;
• transmitting the upgrade preparation message to a user interface unit or a user terminal by the communication unit;
• receiving an upgrade request message in relation to an individual function corresponding to a content ID selected among the software data from the user interface unit or the user terminal by the communication unit;
• and
• upgrading an individual function corresponding to the selected content ID by the communication unit.

A system for upgrading a home appliance, comprising:

• a management server configured to provide software data;
• a home appliance configured to transmit a package ID in relation to a firmware combination to the management server;
• and
• a user terminal configured to receive an upgrade preparation message in relation to the software data from the management server, to output the upgrade preparation message to an app (App), and to transmit an upgrade request message to the management server based on a selection input in relation to the software data,
• wherein the management server stores the package ID received from the home appliance, and when receiving software data having a content ID and being uploaded through an upgrade management web page, automatically downloads the software data to the home appliance,
• in the home appliance, a communication unit automatically downloads and receives the software data from the management server, and stores the software data in a memory, and transmits a download completion message to the management server,
• when receiving the download completion message, the management server determines dependency of the received package ID and the content ID, and when the dependency is satisfied, transmits a preparation instruction message instructing a transition to an upgrade preparation state to the home appliance,
• the home appliance transitions to an upgrade preparation state, based on the received preparation instruction message, and transmits an upgrade notification message on a screen or to a user terminal, and
• the home appliance upgrades an individual function input through the screen or selected by the user terminal, among the software data.

A method for upgrading a home appliance, comprising:

• providing firmware configuration information from a home appliance;
• in a case where software assisting with a new function of the home appliance is registered with a server and dependency of information on the firmware configuration information and on content of the software is satisfied, transitioning the software to an upgrade preparation state;
• and
• selecting software in the upgrade preparation state and upgrading the software to the home appliance.