An appliance, a method and system for controlling the same, a server, an appliance controlling apparatus are provided. The method for controlling an appliance includes: receiving a parameter acquiring request transmitted by the appliance or an appliance controlling apparatus, the parameter acquiring request including an identifier of the appliance; acquiring a recommended parameter configuration list corresponding to the identifier of the appliance according to the parameter acquiring request; and transmitting the recommended parameter configuration list to the appliance or the appliance controlling apparatus enables the appliance to run according to the recommended parameter configuration list or enable the appliance controlling apparatus to control running of the appliance according to the recommended parameter configuration list.

A voice controlled device comprises a plurality of microphones, a communication interface, and a controller. The plurality of microphones are configured to receive voice inputs from one or more users for operation of the voice controlled device. The communication interface is configured to receive sensor data from an external device, the sensor data describing an environment of the voice controlled device. The controller is configured to operate a first subset of the plurality of microphones in response to first sensor data and a second subset of the plurality of microphones in response to second sensor data.

Embodiments of the disclosure enable contextual user experiences to be provided. A computing system receives sensor data from an appliance associated with a first user account, and analyzes the sensor data to identify a product and one or more second user accounts associated with the product. The second user accounts are used to aggregate product data associated with the product, and the product data is used to generate catalog data associated with the product. The catalog data includes one or more portions associated with the second user accounts and is transmitted to a client device associated with the first user account to prompt a first user to enter into a transaction associated with the product. Each portion of the catalog data is selectable to facilitate the transaction between the first user and a respective second user associated with the second user accounts.

The present disclosure relates to a method for controlling for configuring a scenario mode for smart devices. The method include: acquiring a user account bound with a first smart device and a second smart device; identifying a predefined scenario mode template according to device information of the first smart device and the second smart device, wherein the predefined scenario template corresponds to a predefined scenario mode which associates at least one startup condition for the first smart device to trigger the scenario mode with at least one task to be performed by the second smart device when the scenario mode is triggered; bounding the predefined scenario mode template with the user account to enable the predefined scenario mode for the first smart device and the second smart device.

An integrated control management system includes an input output device. The input output device includes a database, a memory module, a first processing module, and a second processing module. The memory module receives and stores a plurality of integrated control commands, and one of the integrated control commands is generated based on a hardware control command for setting a hardware control transmitted by another input and output device. The first processing module reads the integrated control command from the memory module and obtains the hardware control data from the integrated control command. The first processing module updates the hardware control data to the database. The second processing module reads the database and updates the hardware control data stored in the database to another database in another input output device. The second processing module sets the hardware control based on the hardware control data stored in the database.

An apparatus for aggregation of water condition at household appliances comprises a communication interface and a controller. The communication interface is configured to send a reporting message indicative of data collected by at least one appliance to a central server. The controller is configured to receive an analysis message from the central server. The analysis message indicates a condition of water from the at least one appliance or a condition of water in a geographic area associated with the at least one appliance. The controller is configured to provide an alert in response to the analysis message.

An apparatus comprises a light source array, a communication interface, and a controller. The light source array comprises one or more directional light sources. The communication interface is configured to receive user data from at least one appliance, the user data indicative of an identity of a user. The controller is configured to analyze the identity of the user and activate the one or more directional light sources in response to the identity of the user.

An apparatus for aggregation of water condition at household appliances comprises a communication interface and a controller. The communication interface is configured to send a reporting message indicative of data collected by at least one appliance to a central server. The controller is configured to receive an analysis message from the central server. The analysis message indicates a condition of water from the at least one appliance or a condition of water in a geographic area associated with the at least one appliance. The controller is configured to provide an alert in response to the analysis message.

Apparatus comprising: a transmitter for controlling one or more luminaires which illuminate at least part of an environment occupied by a user; and a controller configured to provide control functionality for controlling the luminaires via the transmitter; wherein the controller is configured to receive an altitude measurement from an altimeter disposed about the user's person, and based thereon to provide said control functionality in dependence on an altitude of the user relative to an altitude of each of the luminaires.

A voice controlled device comprises a plurality of microphones, a communication interface, and a controller. The plurality of microphones are configured to receive voice inputs from one or more users for operation of the voice controlled device. The communication interface is configured to receive sensor data from an external device, the sensor data describing an environment of the voice controlled device. The controller is configured to operate a first subset of the plurality of microphones in response to first sensor data and a second subset of the plurality of microphones in response to second sensor data.