System and method for authorizing appliance access
AssigneeHaier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
InventorsRyan James Scheckelhoff, Richard Dean Suel, II, John Gilman Chapman, JR.
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Abstract
An appliance includes an external communication port, such as an RJ45 port, and a wireless communication module in wireless communication with a remote server through an external network. A controller is configured to receive, using the wireless communication module, a secure unlock command from a remote server, the secure unlock command being generated when a remote service device transmits appliance identification data to the remote server, and unlock the external communication port to permit the remote service device to access operating software through the external communication port.
Claims20
An appliance comprising:
- a cabinet;
- an external communication port positioned on the cabinet;
- a wireless communication module in wireless communication with a remote server through an external network;
- and
- a controller in operative communication with the external communication port and the wireless communication module, the controller being configured to:
- receive, using the wireless communication module, a secure unlock command from a remote server, the secure unlock command being generated when a remote service device transmits appliance identification data to the remote server;
- and
- unlock the external communication port to permit the remote service device to access operating software through the external communication port.
A method of operating an appliance, the appliance comprising an external communication port, a wireless communication module in wireless communication with a remote server through an external network, and a controller in operative communication with the external communication port and the wireless communication module, the method comprising:
- receiving, using the wireless communication module, a secure unlock command from the remote server, the secure unlock command being generated when a remote service device transmits appliance identification data to the remote server;
- and
- unlocking the external communication port to permit the remote service device to access operating software through the external communication port.
A method of using a remote server to authenticate access to an external communication port of an appliance, the method comprising:
- receiving a request to access operating software of the appliance, the request including appliance identification data from a remote service device;
- verifying the authenticity of the remote service device;
- and
- transmitting a secure unlock command to the appliance through a wireless communication module, the secure unlock command requesting that the appliance unlock an external communication port to permit the remote service device to access the operating software.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.