# US 12,602,951 B2 · Appliance having a customizable user profile > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,602,951 B2 - Document ID: US12602951B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/756,594 - Filed: 2024-06-27 - Published: 2024-10-17 - Granted: 2026-04-14 - Earliest claimed: 2019-10-18 - Assignees: Whirlpool Corporation - Applicants: Whirlpool Corporation - Inventors: Mayuresh Prashant Arankalle; Gregory A. Ferro; Ameya S. Kshirsagar - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12602951B2 ## CPC - G06F 21/35: communicating wirelessly - G06V 40/172: {Classification, e.g. identification} - G06F 16/2379: {Updates performed during online database operations; commit processing} - G06F 21/32: using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints - G06Q 20/0855: {involving a third party} - G06Q 20/102: {Bill distribution or payments} - G06Q 20/3821: {Electronic credentials} - G06V 40/161: {Detection; Localisation; Normalisation} - G10L 15/22: Procedures used during a speech recognition process, e.g. man-machine dialogue - G10L 2015/223: {Execution procedure of a spoken command} - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G06V: IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G10L: SPEECH ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES OR SPEECH SYNTHESIS; SPEECH RECOGNITION; SPEECH OR VOICE PROCESSING TECHNIQUES; SPEECH OR AUDIO CODING OR DECODING ## Abstract An appliance includes a body, an interface panel, a scanning device, and a controller. The interface panel is coupled to the body. The scanning device is coupled to the interface panel and is configured to conduct a facial scan and gather a facial data set. The controller is communicatively coupled to the scanning device, wherein the controller is configured to receive the facial data set and compare the facial data set to a stored verification data set. The controller is configured to activate a routine based on the comparison of the facial data set and the stored verification data set. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A commercial laundry system, comprising: multiple laundry appliances each configured to perform laundry cycles, wherein each laundry appliance includes: a body defining an opening for receiving laundry items for the laundry cycles; a scanning device coupled with the body, wherein the scanning device includes an imager for obtaining facial data points of a user; and a controller communicatively coupled with the scanning device; and a network database having user profiles stored in a memory storage, wherein each user profile includes a stored data set, and wherein the controllers are configured to: receive the facial data points from a respective one of the scanning devices; compare the facial data points of the user with the stored data sets in the user profiles; determine if the facial data points match one of the stored data sets to identify a matching data set; present a mode of operation for performing at least one of the laundry cycles for a respective one of the multiple laundry appliances based on the user profile for a matching stored data set; send a payment request for a selected mode of operation; and initiate the selected mode of operation to perform at least one of the laundry cycles. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The commercial laundry system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to: initiate the selected mode of operation upon receipt of payment. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The commercial laundry system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to: prompt registration to create a new user profile when the facial data points are free of the matching stored data set. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The commercial laundry system of claim 3, wherein the facial data points are stored in the network database as a new facial data set for the new user profile upon registration. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The commercial laundry system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to: prompt use of a password override when the facial data points are free of the matching stored data set. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The commercial laundry system of claim 1, further comprising: a microphone configured to receive voice commands, wherein the controller is configured to receive the voice commands for changing the mode of operation and selecting the selected mode of operation. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The commercial laundry system of claim 1, wherein the controller includes an onboard memory storing a profile database, and wherein the controller is configured to compare the facial data points with the profile database. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The commercial laundry system of claim 1, wherein each of the multiple laundry appliances includes: a human-machine interface coupled with the body; and a proximity sensor coupled with the human-machine interface, wherein the human-machine interface is configured to be activated in response to a signal from the proximity sensor. ### Claim 9 A laundry system, comprising: multiple laundry appliances each configured to perform laundry cycles, wherein each laundry appliance includes: a body defining an opening for receiving laundry items for the laundry cycles; and a controller; at least one scanning device communicatively coupled with the controller and configured to obtain a set of data points for a user; and a database communicatively coupled with the controllers, wherein the database includes user profiles each including a stored data set, and wherein the controllers are configured to: receive the set of data points from the at least one scanning device; compare the set of data points of the user with the stored data sets in the user profiles; determine if the set of data points matches one of the stored data sets to identify a matching data set or if the database is free of a matching stored data set for the set of data points; present modes of operation for performing at least one of the laundry cycles for a respective one of the multiple laundry appliances based on the user profile for the matching stored data set; prompt registration of a new user profile when the database is free of the matching data set for the set of data points; and initiate a selected one of the laundry cycles based on a user command. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The laundry system of claim 9, wherein the controllers are configured to: receive a new data set from the at least one scanning device when the facial data set is free of the matching stored data set. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The laundry system of claim 9, wherein the at least one scanning device includes multiple scanning devices, and wherein each laundry appliance includes one of the multiple scanning devices coupled to the respective body. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The laundry system of claim 9, wherein the at least one scanning device is included in a portable electronic device. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The laundry system of claim 9, wherein each laundry appliance includes at least one of a human-machine interface and a microphone for receiving the user command. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The laundry system of claim 9, wherein the controller is configured to: send a payment request for the selected one of the laundry cycles; and initiate the selected one of the laundry cycles after receipt of payment in response to the payment request. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The laundry system of claim 9, wherein the database is a network database separate from the multiple laundry appliances. ### Claim 16 A laundry system, comprising: at least one laundry appliance configured to perform laundry cycles, wherein the at least one laundry appliance includes: a body defining an opening for receiving laundry items for the laundry cycles; and a controller; at least one scanning device communicatively coupled with the controller and configured to obtain a set of data points for a user; and a database communicatively coupled with the controller, wherein the database includes user profiles including stored data sets, and wherein the controller is configured to: receive the set of data points from the at least one scanning device; match the set of data points with the stored data set in one of the user profiles to identify a matching profile; present modes of operation for performing at least one of the laundry cycles based on the matching profile; and initiate a selected mode of operation based on a user command. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The laundry system of claim 16, wherein the database is a network database separate from the at least one laundry appliance. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The laundry system of claim 16, wherein the at least one laundry appliance includes multiple laundry appliances. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The laundry system of claim 16, wherein the database is stored in an onboard memory of the controller. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The laundry system of claim 16, wherein the controller is configured to: send a payment request for the selected mode of operation.