EP 2 384 680 A, for example, discloses using wireless communication with a mobile domestic appliance in the form of a robotic vacuum cleaner. This document proposes a battery-powered operating apparatus in the form of a remote control which can be carried by a user and by means of which certain pieces of status information, for example the operating time of the robotic vacuum cleaner or the number of filter cleaning cycles, as well as a charge state of the battery carried by the robotic vacuum cleaner, can be retrieved and displayed. US 2002/0060542 A proposes the use of a commercially available personal computer as an interface for wireless communication with a robotic vacuum cleaner with the intention of making it possible to operate the robotic vacuum cleaner via the internet to which the personal computer is connected.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,459,955 B describes an approach which is intended to allow the position of a robotic vacuum cleaner in a room to be determined by means of signal sources located in the room, the signal sources constantly emitting a radio signal which is picked up by the robotic vacuum cleaner by means of a movable antenna, and an angular position with respect to each signal source then being determined on the basis of the respective antenna position.
In the above prior art, at least one additional appliance (operating apparatus, personal computer, signal sources constantly sending out signals) is required in each case either to contact the robotic vacuum cleaner or so that the robotic vacuum cleaner can perform functions such as navigating the room.