The disclosure relates to a method including capturing and/or obtaining a reservoir information item at a dispensing module for a detergent and/or cleaning agent, with the reservoir information item representative of at least one property of a reservoir for the detergent and/or cleaning agent, an application specification for the detergent and/or cleaning agent contained in the reservoir, and/or a property of the detergent and/or cleaning agent contained in the reservoir, and the reservoir is connected or connectable to the dispensing module. The method further includes determining and/or causing the determination of a dispensing control information item depending at least in part on the reservoir information item, with the dispensing control information item configured to at least partly control the dispensing of the detergent and/or cleaning agent by the dispensing module.

A clothing treatment apparatus including a refresher having a third case disposed at least on one side of a washing machine and a dryer and having an inner space for receiving laundry, and a third door for opening and closing the third case, in which a display is disposed on a front surface of the third door, and displays an operation screen having a plurality of menu buttons for operating the washing machine, the dryer, and the refresher, and arrangement positions of the plurality of menu buttons on the operation screen vary according to a physical arrangement of the washing machine, the dryer and the refresher.

A clothing treatment apparatus including a refresher having a third case disposed at least on one side of a washing machine and a dryer and having an inner space for receiving laundry, and a third door for opening and closing the third case, in which a display is disposed on a front surface of the third door, and displays an operation screen having a plurality of menu buttons for operating the washing machine, the dryer, and the refresher, and arrangement positions of the plurality of menu buttons on the operation screen vary according to a physical arrangement of the washing machine, the dryer and the refresher.

Disclosed is an artificial intelligence (AI) apparatus comprising: a short-range communication module configured for sensing a plurality of laundry treatment apparatuses positioned around the AI apparatus; and a processor configured for: acquiring laundry information about laundry and characteristic information of each of the detected laundry treatment apparatuses; determining a laundry group corresponding to the laundry, based on the acquired laundry information; comparing characteristic information of the determined laundry group and characteristic information of each of the plurality of laundry treatment apparatuses with each other; and determining a laundry treatment apparatus for washing the laundry among the plurality of laundry treatment apparatuses based on the comparison result.

Disclosed is an artificial intelligence (AI) apparatus comprising: a short-range communication module configured for sensing a plurality of laundry treatment apparatuses positioned around the AI apparatus; and a processor configured for: acquiring laundry information about laundry and characteristic information of each of the detected laundry treatment apparatuses; determining a laundry group corresponding to the laundry, based on the acquired laundry information; comparing characteristic information of the determined laundry group and characteristic information of each of the plurality of laundry treatment apparatuses with each other; and determining a laundry treatment apparatus for washing the laundry among the plurality of laundry treatment apparatuses based on the comparison result.

Disclosed herein is an artificial intelligence-based laundry treating apparatus. The artificial intelligence-based laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention receives big data about information of an external environment capable of affecting laundry and life log data including activity information of a user wearing the laundry and automatically sets an optimal laundry management course for the laundry based on input factors including the big data and the life log data. Further, the artificial intelligence-based laundry treating apparatus may operate based on the optimal laundry management course to clean the laundry. A washing machine of the present invention may be associated with an artificial intelligence module, a drone (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, UAV), a robot, an augmented reality (AR) device, a virtual reality (VR) device, a device related to a 5G service, and the like.

Sensor units that includes a power source, a communication interface, and a sensor coupled to the power source and the communication interface. The sensor is calibrated to connect the power source to the communication interface upon an occurrence of a condition in an appliance. The sensor, thereby, permits the communication interface to transmit data indicating the condition to a computing device. Methods, systems, and apparatus, for monitoring such sensor units.

A washing machine includes a cabinet, a door, a tub provided within the cabinet, a wireless communication module provided within the cabinet, and a controller in operative communication with the wireless communication module. The controller is configured to perform a series of operations, including receiving an initiation signal for a laundry operation to be performed by the washing machine appliance; sending a wake-up signal to a mobile electronic device via the wireless communication module in response to receiving the initiation signal; emitting a laundry operation trigger prior to initiating the laundry operation; determining that the mobile device is within a predetermined distance from the washing machine appliance in response to generating the laundry operation trigger; and receiving a confirmation signal before beginning the laundry operation.

A washing machine includes a cabinet, a door, a tub provided within the cabinet, a wireless communication module provided within the cabinet, and a controller in operative communication with the wireless communication module. The controller is configured to perform a series of operations, including receiving an initiation signal for a laundry operation to be performed by the washing machine appliance; sending a wake-up signal to a mobile electronic device via the wireless communication module in response to receiving the initiation signal; emitting a laundry operation trigger prior to initiating the laundry operation; determining that the mobile device is within a predetermined distance from the washing machine appliance in response to generating the laundry operation trigger; and receiving a confirmation signal before beginning the laundry operation.

Provided is a method for preventing an accident related to children or pets that may occur by a home appliance using artificial intelligence. According to the present disclosure, the method for preventing the accident comprises comparing a distance between the home appliance and a generation position of the voice signal and a reference distance when the generation position of the voice signal is outside of the home appliance. Then, the present disclosure enables switching a door of the home appliance to a lock state when a distance between the home appliance and the generation position of the voice signal is less than the reference distance. Thus, the present disclosure may enable controlling the home appliance to prevent children or pets from entering an inside of the home appliance.