Abstract:
An appliance network comprising a networked appliance and capable of communicating with a consumable such that information related to the consumable is communicated to the networked appliance.
Abstract:
A refrigerator is provided with a container for storing a substance and that has a sensing and reporting system configured to determine an amount of the substance within the container. The sensing and reporting system includes a sensor configured to sense the amount of the substance, a transmitter, and a processor in communication with the sensor and the transmitter.
Abstract:
A meal planning system that facilitates planning at least one meal includes at least one appliance configured to complete a physical cycle of operation on an article, memory in a non-transitory computer readable medium having appliance user domain data related to at least two user participants in the at least one meal, and control system domain data related to available cycles of operation for a set of appliances to complete a physical domestic operation on an article. A meal planner module configured to query the appliance user domain data and the control system domain data and select the at least one meal.
Abstract:
A refrigerator is provided with a container for storing a substance and that has a sensing and reporting system configured to determine an attribute of the substance within the container. The sensing and reporting system includes a sensor configured to sense the attribute of the substance, a transmitter, and a processor in communication with the sensor and the transmitter.
Abstract:
A method of initiating a cycle of operation based on a consumable includes providing a consumable reader having a software architecture configured to image data, communicate over a network, and identify functionalities of appliances based on a unique identifier associated with each instance of a functionality, imaging data about the consumable using the consumable reader; retrieving cycle data associated with the consumable based on the imaged data; ascertaining in the software architecture at least one functionality associated with the cycle data; selecting from the plurality of appliances an appliance having the at least one functionality using the unique identifier associated with an instance of the at least one functionality; and communicating the cycle data to the selected appliance over the network of appliances wherein the selected appliance can conduct a cycle of operation associated with the consumable using the cycle data.
Abstract:
Example methods and apparatus for communicatively coupling internal components and accessories appliances, and appliances with external components and accessories are disclosed herein. A disclosed example method of operating a domestic appliance having at least one of an internal communications network and/or an external communications network among at least two components includes identifying the components, communicating the capabilities of each identified component, communicating the status of each identified component, providing a command interface for operating the components, facilitating communication between the components, and operating the appliance using the command interface and the facilitated communication.
Abstract:
A client having at least one memory location is provided for use with an appliance network. The client includes an arbitrary software component for performing a useful function, a software architecture or a software architecture driver configured to generate or enable transmission of messages, and means to communicate by message over a network. Thus, the client can have full capability to act as an accessory to an appliance to communicate with and to enhance or alter the operation of the appliance.
Abstract:
An appliance is configured to establish a communications link through the appliance between a user and a service representative as part of installing, diagnosing and servicing the appliance.
Abstract:
An eService connector system includes an eService consumer for receiving an eService from an eService source. The eService may, for example, be any wave form of illumination, acoustic or thermal service. A service switch is provided for selectively transferring the eService from the eService source to the eService consumer. The service switch is activated to transfer an eService from the eService source to the eService consumer in response to a proximity sensor engaging a proximity target.