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An apparatus, a method for controlling one or more outdoor devices, and an air conditioning system are provided. A freezing prevention function for an outdoor device may be activated or deactivated based on weather information received from an external weather information providing server or weather

An apparatus, a method for controlling one or more outdoor devices, and an air conditioning system are provided. A freezing prevention function for an outdoor device may be activated or deactivated based on weather information received from an external weather information providing server or weather information input by a user, and freezing prevention may be performed using state and operation information of the outdoor device as necessary. Thus, user convenience may be improved, stability of the outdoor device and an air conditioning system having the same enhanced, and operation efficiency improved.

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1. An apparatus in communication with and configured to control one or more outdoor devices, wherein the apparatus comprises: a first communication module connected to an external weather information providing server and configured to receive a weather information of an area in which the one or more

1. An apparatus in communication with and configured to control one or more outdoor devices, wherein the apparatus comprises: a first communication module connected to an external weather information providing server and configured to receive a weather information of an area in which the one or more outdoor devices are installed;a comparison module configured to compare the weather information with pre-set weather conditions and generate a signal for activating or deactivating the freeze prevention function of the one or more outdoor devices based on comparing the weather information with the pre-set weather condition; anda second communication module configured to transmit the signal to the one or more outdoor devices, wherein the apparatus activates or deactivates a freeze prevention function of the one or more outdoor devices on the basis of the signal for activating or deactivating the freeze prevention function, wherein when the freeze prevention function of the one or more outdoor devices is activated, the apparatus compares state information and operation information of the corresponding one or more outdoor devices with pre-set operation conditions in order to start or terminate the freeze prevention function of the corresponding one or more outdoor devices, and starts or terminates the freeze prevention function of the corresponding outdoor device based on the comparing of the state information and the operation information with the pre-set operation conditions, wherein the state information and the operation information are received from each of the one or more outdoor devices, wherein the one or more outdoor devices, for which the freeze prevention function is started, drive a fan of the corresponding one or more outdoor devices at a predetermined speed for a predetermined period of time, and wherein the weather information includes information related to temperature, humidity, rainfall probability, an amount of rainfall, a probability of precipitation, and/or an amount of precipitation. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, further including: an input module configured to receive the weather information or receive a control command for activating or deactivating the freeze prevention function. 3. The apparatus of claim 2, further including: a storage module configured to store the weather information received via the first communication module or received via the input module. 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to communicate with the external weather information providing server either wirelessly or through a wireline. 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to communicate with the one or more outdoor devices either wirelessly or through a wireline. 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes a remote control apparatus in communication with and configured to remotely control the one or more outdoor devices. 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pre-set operation conditions include one or more weather conditions with respect to the corresponding one or more outdoor devices. 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the one or more weather conditions do not correspond to the weather information. 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein when the freeze prevention function of the corresponding one or more outdoor devices is deactivated, the apparatus does not start the freeze prevention function of the corresponding one or more outdoor devices. 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein if the apparatus determines that the state information and the operation information meet the pre-set operation conditions, the corresponding one or more outdoor devices do not drive the fan according to the freeze prevention function when the freeze prevention function of the corresponding one or more outdoor devices is deactivated. 11. An air conditioning system, comprising: one or more outdoor devices installed at an outer side of a building and configured to perform air conditioning for the building, andan apparatus connected to an external weather information providing server, the apparatus being configured to receive weather information of an area in which the one or more outdoor devices are installed and activate or deactivate a freeze prevention function of the one or more outdoor devices on the basis of the weather information, wherein the apparatus includes: a first communication module configured to receive the weather information from the external weather information providing server;a comparison module configured to compare the weather information with pre-set weather conditions and generate a signal for activating or deactivating the freeze prevention function of the one or more outdoor devices based on comparing the weather information with the pre-set weather conditions; anda second communication module configured to transmit the signal to the one or more outdoor devices, wherein when the freeze prevention function of the one or more outdoor devices is activated, the apparatus compares state information and operation information of the corresponding one or more outdoor devices with pre-set operation conditions in order to start or terminate the freeze prevention function of the corresponding one or more outdoor devices, and starts or terminates the freeze prevention function of the corresponding outdoor device based on the comparing of the state information and the operation information with the pre-set operation conditions, wherein the state information and the operation information are received from each of the one or more outdoor devices, wherein the one or more outdoor devices, for which the freeze prevention function is started, drive a fan of the corresponding one or more outdoor devices at a predetermined speed for a predetermined period of time, and wherein the weather information includes information related to temperature, humidity, rainfall probability, an amount of rainfall, a probability of precipitation, and/or an amount of precipitation. 12. The air conditioning system of claim 11, wherein the apparatus further includes: an input module configured to receive the weather information or receive a command for activating or deactivating the freeze prevention function, and wherein the comparison module compares the weather information received via the first communication module or the weather information received via the input module with the pre-set weather conditions. 13. The air conditioning system of claim 11, wherein the apparatus further includes: a storage module configured to store the weather information received via the first communication module or received via the input module. 14. The air conditioning system of claim 11, wherein the second communication module receives the state information and the operation information from each of the one or more outdoor devices, and the comparison module compares the state information and the operation information with the pre-set operation conditions in order to start or terminate the freeze prevention function for the corresponding outdoor device. 15. The air conditioning system of claim 14, further including: one or more gateways connected between the apparatus and the one or more outdoor devices, wherein the one or more gateways receive the state information and the operation information of the one or more outdoor devices from the one or more outdoor devices, transmit the received state information and the received operation information to the apparatus, and deliver the signal to the one or more outdoor devices. 16. The air conditioning system of claim 15, wherein the apparatus and the one or more gateways are connected through the Internet. 17. The air conditioning system of claim 15, wherein the one or more gateways and the one or more outdoor devices are connected through one or more communication schemes among wireless communication, serial communication, pipe communication, power line communication, and LAN. 18. The air conditioning system of claim 15, wherein when the freeze prevention function has been activated according to the signal, the one or more outdoor devices compare their respective state information and operation information with the pre-set operation conditions for starting or terminating the freeze prevention function. 19. The air conditioning system of claim 11, wherein the apparatus is configured to communicate with the external weather information providing server either wirelessly or through a wireline. 20. The air conditioning system of claim 11, wherein the apparatus is configured to communicate with the one or more outdoor devices either wirelessly or through a wireline. 21. The air conditioning system of claim 11, wherein the apparatus includes a remote control apparatus in communication with and configured to remotely control the one or more outdoor devices. 22. A method for controlling one or more outdoor devices using an apparatus connected to the one or more outdoor devices, the method comprising: receiving weather information of an area in which the one or more outdoor devices are installed;comparing the weather information with pre-set weather conditions;activating or deactivating a freeze prevention function on the basis of the comparison results based on the comparing of the weather information with pre-set weather conditions; andwhen the freeze prevention function of the one or more outdoor devices is activated, receiving state information and operation information from the corresponding one or more outdoor devices, comparing the state information and the operation information with pre-set operation conditions to perform the freeze prevention function of the corresponding one or more outdoor devices, and starting or terminating the freeze prevention function of the corresponding one or more outdoor devices based on the comparing of the state information and the operation information with the pre-set operation conditions, wherein the one or more outdoor devices, for which the freeze prevention function is started, drive a fan of the corresponding one or more outdoor devices at a predetermined speed for a predetermined period of time, wherein, in the receiving the weather information, the apparatus is connected to the external weather information providing server, either wirelessly or through a wireline, to receive the weather information, or receives the weather information directly from a user, and wherein the weather information includes information related to temperature, humidity, rainfall probability, an amount of rainfall, a probability of precipitation, and/or an amount of precipitation. 23. The method of claim 22, wherein the method include a method for remotely controlling the one or more outdoor devices using a remote control apparatus connected to the one or more outdoor devices. 24. An apparatus in communication with one or more outdoor devices, the apparatus including: a processor configured to receive weather information of an area in which the one or more outdoor devices are installed, generate a signal for activating or deactivating a freeze prevention function of the one or more outdoor devices on the basis of the weather information, and transmit the signal to the one or more outdoor devices, wherein when the freeze prevention function of the one or more outdoor devices is activated, the apparatus compares state information and operation information of the corresponding one or more outdoor devices with pre-set operation conditions in order to start or terminate the freeze prevention function of the corresponding one or more outdoor devices, and starts or terminates the freeze prevention function for the corresponding outdoor device based on the comparing of the state information and the operation information with the pre-set operation conditions, wherein the state information and the operation information are received from each of the one or more outdoor devices, wherein the one or more outdoor devices, for which the freeze prevention function is started, drive a fan of the corresponding one or more outdoor devices at a predetermined speed for a predetermined period of time, wherein the apparatus is configured to communicate with the weather information providing server either wirelessly or through a wireline to obtain the weather information of an area in which the one or more outdoor devices are installed, and wherein the weather information includes information related to temperature, humidity, rainfall probability, an amount of rainfall, a probability of precipitation, and/or an amount of precipitation. 25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the processor compares the weather information with pre-set weather conditions and generates the signal for activating or deactivating the freeze prevention function of the one or more outdoor devices based on the comparing of the weather information with the pre-set weather conditions. 26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the processor is configured to receive via an input module the weather information or a control command for activating or deactivating the freeze prevention function. 27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the processor is configured to store the received weather information. 28. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the apparatus is configured to communicate with the one or more outdoor devices either wirelessly or through a wireline. 29. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the apparatus further includes a remote control apparatus in communication with and configured to remotely control the one or more outdoor devices.