Smart filter for an appliance

A filter assembly comprising

• a filter holder disposed to hold a filter in a fluid path;
• a filter disposed in the filter holder in the fluid path;
• at least one appliance coupling point configured to direct fluid from the fluid path downstream of the filter to an appliance configured to use the fluid;
• a source of information associated with one of the filter holder, the filter, and the fluid and configured for communication to the appliance in at least one message, wherein the information includes data comprising a separated cycle structure portion and having a description of an ordered collection of steps, actions to be taken by at least one component of the appliance during each step, and conditions under which a current step should transition into a next step in the ordered collection of steps;
• and
• a circuit with at least one control board having software architecture configured for communication on a network including other components connected to the circuit, including the at least one component in the appliance, the circuit being configured to retrieve the information from the source of information;
• whereby the circuit can communicate the information over the network when the filter assembly is coupled to the appliance and the appliance can build a cycle of operation based on the information, and perform the built operation cycle related to the one of the filter holder, the filter, and the fluid.

A filter for an appliance that performs a useful cycle of operation on a physical article and uses a resource that passes through the filter, comprising:

• at least one functionality from a universe of functionalities, the at least one functionality having a unique identifier, and
• a circuit with at least one control element having software architecture configured for communication on a network including other components connected to the circuit, including at least one component in an appliance, the circuit being configured to communicate the unique identifier over a network, and
• a memory containing information associated with the filter and configured for communication in at least one message over the network, wherein the information includes data comprising a separated cycle structure portion and having a description of an ordered collection of steps, actions to be taken by at least one component of the appliance during each step, and conditions under which a current step should transition into a next step in the ordered collection of steps;
• whereby the circuit can monitor events concerning the filter or the resource, and communicate the information from the memory, wherein the appliance can build the useful cycle of operation based on the information, and perform the built operation cycle related to the filter.