# US 12,110,628 B2 · Distributed networked laundry machine control and operation > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,110,628 B2 - Document ID: US12110628B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/657,585 - Filed: 2024-05-07 - Published: 2024-09-05 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2019-10-09 - Assignees: Clarified Inc. - Applicants: Clarified Inc. - Inventors: Tristan Scott Patterson; Jonathan Christensen; Stuart Sonatina - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12110628B2 ## CPC - D06F 33/30: Control of washing machines characterised by the purpose or target of the control (controlling processes of washer-dryers D06F33/50) - D06F 34/28: Arrangements for programme selection, e.g. control panels therefor; Arrangements for indicating programme parameters, e.g. the selected programme or its progress - D06F 31/00: Washing installations comprising an assembly of several washing machines or washing units, e.g. continuous flow assemblies - D06F 34/05: for wireless communication between components, e.g. for remote monitoring or control - D06F 39/14: Doors or covers; Securing means therefor - G05B 19/409: characterised by using manual data input [MDI] or by using control panel, e.g. controlling functions with the panel; characterised by control panel details or by setting parameters (G05B19/408, G05B19/4093 take precedence) - D06F 2101/00: User input for the control of domestic laundry washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers - D06F 2101/14: Time settings - D06F 2101/20: Operation modes, e.g. delicate laundry washing programmes, service modes or refreshment cycles - D06F 2105/44: Opening, closing or locking of doors - D06F 2105/58: Indications or alarms to the control system or to the user - G05B 2219/2633: Washing, laundry - D06F: LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES - G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G) ## Abstract Methods, system and apparatus for the controlling laundry machines in a laundry facility. A user device receives a list of machines for a laundry facility and displays them on a machine control user interface. The user may then make a selection of a machine, a selection of an operation type and a selection of one or more operational parameters associated with the selected operation type. The selection of the operation type and the one or more operational parameters may be made on the user device or on the selected machine. The machine control user interface may then display the user selections, an estimated duration and a cost. The estimated duration and cost may be based on the selected machine, selected operation type and the one or more selected operational parameters. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of controlling laundry machines, the method comprising the operations of: receiving, from a server, a list of a plurality of machines comprising a listing of washing machines and/or a listing of dryers; displaying, via a machine control user interface, a first group of one or more machines, wherein the machine control user interface displays the first group of one or more machines as available for use, and wherein the machine control user interface comprises a portion listing washing machines and/or a portion listing dryers; receiving an input, via the machine control user interface, for a selection of one of the machines indicated as available for use; and starting an operation of a first physical machine associated with the selected machine. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising the operations of: receiving a payment confirmation via the machine control user interface; and in response to receiving the payment confirmation, automatically starting the first physical machine. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising the operations of: receiving an input, via the machine control user interface, for a selection of another one of the machines; receiving a payment confirmation, via the machine control user interface, for the another selected machine; and starting an operation of a second physical machine associated with the another selected machine. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising the operations of: in response to an input, via the machine control user interface, retrieving status information from the server for machines started by a user; and displaying, via the machine control user interface, a listing of the started machines with a displayed machine identifier and a remaining amount of time for each of the listed started machines. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the machine control user interface displays a machine number for each of the displayed machines. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the machine control user interface portion listing washing machines comprises a vertically displayed listing of multiple washing machines indicated as available, and a vertically displayed listing multiple washing machines indicated as unavailable, wherein each of the displayed machines includes a displayed machine identifier. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the machine control user interface displays a second group of one or more machines as available for use. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving the input for a selection comprises: displaying, via the machine control user interface, a start button associated with an available machine; and receiving, as the input, the selection of the start button for the selected machine. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the indication of an available machine comprises displaying the word available. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising the operations of: displaying, via the machine control user interface, a second plurality of machines wherein the second plurality of machines are indicated as unavailable, wherein an unavailable machine includes a remaining time indicated for the unavailable machine. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising the operations of: displaying, on the machine control user interface, an amount of time remaining for the selected machine to complete the operation. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the machine control user interface is configured to alternate the displaying of the portion listing the washing machines and the displaying of the portion listing the dryers. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein starting the operation of the first physical machine comprises: receiving by the server, a request to start the operation on the selected machine; transmitting a request, from the server, to a machine controller connected to the first physical machine to lock the physical machine; and transmitting a request, from the server, to the machine controller connected to the first physical machine, to initiate the operation of the physical machine. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising the operations of: receiving, via the machine control user interface, a request to engage or disengage a locking mechanism of the selected machine; engaging or disengaging the locking mechanism of the physical machine based on the request; and changing a status for the physical machine from unavailable to available after the locking mechanism has disengaged. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising the operations of: generating a notification when the operation completes; and displaying, via the machine control user interface, the notification. ### Claim 16 A system comprising one or more processors, and a non-transitory computer-readable medium including one or more sequences of instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the system to: receive, from a server, a list of a plurality of machines comprising a listing of washing machines and/or a listing of dryers; display, via a machine control user interface, a first group of one or more machines, wherein the machine control user interface displays the first group of one or more machines as available for use, and wherein the machine control user interface comprises a portion listing washing machines and/or a portion listing dryers; receive an input, via the machine control user interface, for a selection of one of the machines indicated as available for use; and start an operation of a first physical machine associated with the selected machine. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, further, wherein the one or more processors, further cause the system to: receive a payment confirmation via the machine control user interface; and in response to receiving the payment confirmation, automatically starting the first physical machine. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the one or more processors, further cause the system to: receive an input, via the machine control user interface, for a selection of another one of the machines; receive a payment confirmation, via the machine control user interface, for the another selected machine; and start an operation of a second physical machine associated with the another selected machine. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the one or more processors, further cause the system to: in response to an input, via the machine control user interface, retrieve status information from the server for machines started by a user; and display, via the machine control user interface, a listing of the started machines with a displayed machine identifier and a remaining amount of time for each of the listed started machines. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the machine control user interface is configured to display a machine number for each of the displayed machines. ### Claim 21 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the machine control user interface portion listing washing machines comprises a vertically displayed listing of multiple washing machines indicated as available, and a vertically displayed listing multiple washing machines indicated as unavailable, wherein each of the displayed machines includes a displayed machine identifier. ### Claim 22 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the machine control user interface is configured to display a second group of one or more machines as available for use. ### Claim 23 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the receiving the input for a selection comprises: display, via the machine control user interface, a start button associated with an available machine; and receive, as the input, the selection of the start button for the selected machine. ### Claim 24 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the indication of an available machine comprises a display of the word available for the available machine. ### Claim 25 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the one or more processors, further cause the system to: display, via the machine control user interface, a second plurality of machines wherein the second plurality of machines are indicated as unavailable, wherein an unavailable machine includes a remaining time indicated for the unavailable machine. ### Claim 26 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the one or more processors, further cause the system to: display, on the machine control user interface, an amount of time remaining for the selected machine to complete the operation. ### Claim 27 (depends on 16) The system according to claim 16, wherein the machine control user interface is configured to alternate the display of the portion listing the washing machines and the display of the portion listing the dryers. ### Claim 28 (depends on 16) The system according to claim 16, wherein the start of the operation of the first physical machine comprises: receive by the server, a request to start the operation on the selected machine; transmit a request, from the server, to a machine controller connected to the first physical machine to lock the physical machine; and transmit a request, from the server, to the machine controller connected to the first physical machine, to initiate the operation of the physical machine. ### Claim 29 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the one or more processors, further cause the system to: receive, via the machine control user interface, a request to engage or disengage a locking mechanism of the selected machine; engage or disengage the locking mechanism of the physical machine based on the request; and change a status for the physical machine from unavailable to available after the locking mechanism has disengaged. ### Claim 30 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the one or more processors, further cause the system to: generate a notification when the operation completes; and display, via the machine control user interface, the notification.