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

A washing machine comprising:

• a storage unit that stores washing machine specifying information for specifying the washing machine, wherein the washing machine specified information comprises washing machine model information;
• an operation unit that accepts operation input, wherein laundry operation instructions has been previously installed in the operation unit for controlling operations of the washing machine at the time of manufacture;
• a communication unit that communicates with a communication device using wireless communication;
• and
• a control unit which, when receiving request for the washing machine specifying information from the communication device, 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 information consisting of only a selected detergent name selected from a detergent name list comprising a plurality of detergent names according to the washing machine specifying information is forwarded by the communication device from a server to the communication unit, the received information consisting of only the selected detergent name is to be utilized by the control unit to control water volume in a laundry operation of the washing machine.

A communication device comprising:

• at least a processor and a plurality of communication units, wherein the processor executes program codes stored in a memory, configures the communication device to perform communication steps in the following sequence, comprising:
• an operation unit that selects a detergent name;
• wherein prior to communication to a remote server:
• a first communication unit that first communicates with a washing machine using wireless communication to request washing machine specifying information be sent back to the communication device, wherein the washing machine specified information comprises washing machine model information, and wherein laundry operation instructions has been previously installed in the washing machine for controlling operations of the washing machine at the time of manufacture;
• a second communication unit of the communication device that afterwards communicates with a server using a network to transmit the received washing machine specifying information to the server for receiving information consisting of only a detergent name list for displaying a plurality of detergent names comprised in the detergent name list to be used in the washing machine according to the washing machine specified information on the communication device;
• a display unit of the communication device displays the detergent name list corresponding to a plurality of detergent names to be used in the washing machine;
• an accepting unit of the communication device that accepts input selection of only a detergent name from the detergent name list;
• and
• a control unit of the communication device controls a display screen to display information, wherein
• the second communication unit of the communication device transmits the received washing machine specifying information to the server and receives, from the server, information consisting of only a detergent name list for,
• the control unit of the communication device displays the detergent name list,
• the accepting unit of the communication device accepts a detergent name selected by the user from the plurality of detergent names displayed in the detergent name list,
• the second communication unit of the communication device next transmits only a selected detergent name to the server and receives, from the server, information consisting of only the selected detergent name according to the washing machine specifying information, and
• the first communication unit of the communication device then transmits the information consisting of only the selected detergent name received from the server to the washing machine;
• wherein the washing machine is configured to operate with a volume of water according to the received information consisting of only the selected detergent name.

A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium which stores a communication program, wherein when executed by a processor in a communication device, the communication program causes the communication device to perform communication steps in the following sequence, comprising:

• prior to communication to a remote server:
• controlling a first communication unit to first communicate with a washing machine using wireless communication;
• controlling a second communication unit to afterwards communicate with a server using a network;
• and
• controlling a display unit to display a detergent name list displaying a detergent name corresponding to a plurality of detergent names to be used in the washing machine, wherein
• the first communication unit transmits to the washing machine, a request for specifying the washing machine and receives the washing machine specifying information from the washing machine, wherein the washing machine specified information comprises washing machine model information, and wherein laundry operation instructions has been previously installed in the washing machine for controlling operations of the washing machine at the time of manufacture,
• afterwards, controlling the second communication unit to transmit the received washing machine specifying information to the server and receives from the server, information consisting of only a detergent name list for display,
• wherein the display unit displays the detergent name list,
• the second communication unit next transmits to the server, only a selected detergent name from among the plurality of detergent names displayed in the detergent name list and receives from the server, information consisting of only the selected detergent name, and
• the first communication unit then transmits the received information of only the selected detergent name from the server to the washing machine to configure the washing machine to operate with a volume of water according to the received information of only the selected detergent name.