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US 8,040,234 B2Granted
Method and apparatus for remote service of an appliance
AssigneeWhirlpool Corporation
InventorsMatthew P. Ebrom, Wallace J. Elston, III, Mark E. Glotzbach, Layne E. Heilman, Anthony E. Jenkins, Richard A. McCoy
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An appliance network has a service key accessory to facilitate remote diagnosis and service of an appliance.
Claims21
An appliance, configured to perform a cycle of operation to complete a physical operation on an article, comprising:
- a communication network having a plurality of interconnected nodes configured to communicate across the communication network;
- a plurality of components, each component associated with at least one of the plurality of nodes;
- a processor with control logic in communication with the plurality of components;
- a software architecture configured to generate a plurality of messages on the communication network wherein the software architecture includes a first software operating layer configured to control operation of at least one of the plurality of components by way of the control logic in a first operational state in response to messages sent on the communications network, and a second software operating layer configured to control the operation of the at least one of the plurality of components in a second operational state in response to messages sent on the communications network, wherein the control logic by way of the first software operating layer is rendered ineffective unless invoked by way of the second software operating layer;
- and
- a service accessory disposed and configured to communicate with the software architecture for directly controlling the at least one of the plurality of components bypassing the control logic, independently of the first software operating layer and independently of other components within the plurality of components in response to messages from the service accessory.
3 more elements
A network comprising:
- an appliance, configured to perform a cycle of operation to complete a physical domestic operation on an article, including:
- a communication network having a plurality of interconnected nodes configured to communicate across the communication network;
- a plurality of components, each component associated with at least one of the plurality of nodes;
- and
- a processor with control logic in communication with the plurality of components;
- a software architecture having a plurality of software elements and configured to generate a plurality of messages on the communication network wherein the software architecture includes a first software operating layer configured to control operation of at least one of the plurality of components by way of the control logic in a first operational state in response to messages sent on the communications network and a second software operating layer configured to control the operation of the at least one of the plurality of components in a second operational state in response to messages sent on the communications network, wherein the control logic by way of the first software operating layer is rendered ineffective unless invoked by way of the second software operating layer;
- and
- a remote service center configured to communicate with the software architecture for monitoring at the least one of the plurality of components, wherein the at least one of the plurality of components is directly controlled by the second software operating layer, bypassing the control logic, and independently of the first software operating layer and independently of other components within the plurality of components in response to messages from the remote service center.
5 more elements
A service accessory for an appliance having a communication network with a plurality of interconnected nodes configured to communicate across the communication network and a plurality of components, each component associated with at least one of the plurality of nodes, wherein the appliance has first and second software operating layers, the first software operating layer enabling the components to operate the appliance by way of control logic, the service accessory comprising:
- means to communicate and exchange data with the communication network of the appliance;
- memory for storing data retrieved from the appliance;
- and
- a software component configured to transmit at least one command message to the second software operating layer via the communication network of the appliance based on the data, the execution of which directly controls at least one of the plurality of components, bypassing the control logic, wherein the first software operating layer is rendered ineffective unless invoked by way of the second software operating layer, and to monitor the execution with updated data retrieved from the appliance.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.