Appliance monitoring systems

• US 10,366,372 B2
• Filed: 06/06/2018
• Issued: 07/30/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: Jones, Martin Kelly, Horstemeyer, Scott Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Toan N
• Application Number:
  US16/001,530
• Publication Number:
  US 20180285834A1
• Time in Patent Office: 419 Days
• Field of Search: 34053914, 3405391, 340 31, 340 343, 455 6711
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/20 Administration of product repair or maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0631 Item recommendations
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2825 Reporting to a device located outside the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with telemetering systems H04M11/002
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network

Abstract

Systems for monitoring appliances at a site, such as a household or business office. The appliances can include, for example but not limited to, an electric oven, dishwasher, refrigerator, laundry washer, freezer, pool controller, light bulb, microwave oven, computer, motor vehicle, television, telephone, etc. In many of the embodiments, the appliance has a computer based architecture or a controller that enables communication of data concerning the electronic appliance. In some embodiments the appliance is an apparatus with a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag or other passive device that can be interrogated for information concerning the appliance.

Claims

1. A computer system communicatively coupled to one or more appliances at a site, the computer system comprising:

means for monitoring health data concerning an appliance or an appliance part to define monitored health data;

means for determining that the appliance or the appliance part exhibits a maintenance issue based upon the monitored health data;

means for accessing a remote computer system over the internet;

means for receiving one or more suggestions on where to order, purchase, or seek repair for the appliance or the appliance part from the remote computer system;

means for producing a notification regarding the maintenance issue, the notification including the one or more suggestions and price information pertaining to each of the suggestions; and

means for enabling a user to select and purchase the one or more suggestions, based at least in part upon price.

2. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the notification is a message sent to a personal communication device (PCD) associated with the user or a remote computer system designated by the user and wherein the message includes an identification of the appliance or the appliance part and detail concerning the maintenance issue.

3. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the monitored health data is a battery condition associated with a battery that provides power to the appliance or the appliance part.

4. The computer system of claim 1, further comprising:

means for initiating a notification communication session with a personal communication device (PCD); and

means for communicating a report during the notification communication session indicative of the maintenance issue.

5. The computer system of claim 4, wherein the PCD is associated with any of the following:

a vendor, a repair service entity, a replacement service entity, a manufacturer, or an information provider.

6. The computer system of claim 1, further comprising:

means for maintaining a database having maintenance information pertaining to a plurality of appliances or appliance parts;

means for storing in the database a first type of maintenance information pertaining to a first type of appliance or appliance part; and

means for storing in the database a second type of maintenance information pertaining to a second type of appliance or appliance part, the second type being different than the first type.

7. The computer system of claim 1, further comprising means for automatically, by operation of the computer system, turning off the appliance or the appliance part or disabling one or more functions associated with the appliance or part, after determining that the maintenance issue exists and is a hazard.

8. The computer system of claim 1, further comprising means for providing a user interface to enable the user to input maintenance information pertaining to the appliance or the appliance part, the maintenance information used, at least in part, in determining when the appliance or the appliance part exhibits the maintenance issue.

9. The computer system of claim 1, further comprising:

means for engaging in a communication session over the Internet with a computer system associated with a repair or replacement service business; and

means for, during the communication session, requesting service in connection with the appliance or the appliance part.

10. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the means for determining the maintenance issue comprises:

means for accessing reference data, the reference data comprising a first numerical array, the first numerical array comprising a first collection of related successive signal sample values that represent a first time varying environmental signal;

means for receiving appliance condition data, the appliance condition data comprising a second numerical array, the second numerical array comprising a second collection of related successive signal sample values derived from a second time varying environmental signal sensed by a transducer means at the site; and

means for comparing the first and second numerical arrays in a time domain, frequency domain, or both and wherein the maintenance issue is determined at least in part upon the comparing.

11. A computer system communicatively coupled with one or more appliances at a site, the computer system comprising:

means for determining that an appliance or an appliance part exhibits a maintenance issue; and

means for initiating a communication session with a remote computer system associated with a manufacturer, vendor, or insurance company and communicates claim information in connection with an insurance policy or warranty associated with the appliance or the appliance part.

12. The computer system of claim 11, further comprising:

means for receiving appliance identification information from the appliance or the appliance part; and

means for initiating a communication session with the remote computer system associated with the manufacturer, vendor, or insurance company and communicates the information so that a claim can be later made in connection with the insurance policy or warranty associated with the appliance or the appliance part.

13. The computer system of claim 11, wherein the remote computer system is a personal communication device (PCD).

14. The computer system of claim 11 wherein the means for determining the maintenance issue comprises:

means for accessing reference data, the reference data comprising a first numerical array, the first numerical array comprising a first collection of related successive signal sample values that represent a first time varying environmental signal;

means for receiving appliance condition data, the appliance condition data comprising a second numerical array, the second numerical array comprising a second collection of related successive signal sample values derived from a second time varying environmental signal sensed by a transducer means at the site; and

means for comparing the first and second numerical arrays in a time domain, frequency domain, or both and wherein the maintenance issue is determined at least in part upon the comparing.

15. The computer system of claim 11, further comprising means for automatically, by operation of the computer system, turning off the appliance or the appliance part or disabling one or more functions associated with the appliance or part, after determining that the maintenance issue exists and is a hazard.

16. The computer system of claim 11, further comprising means for providing a user interface to enable the user to input maintenance information pertaining to the appliance or the appliance part, the maintenance information used, at least in part, in determining when the appliance or the appliance part exhibits the maintenance issue.

17. The computer system of claim 11, further comprising:

means for engaging in a communication session over the internet with a computer system associated with a repair or replacement service business; and

means for, during the communication session, requesting service in connection with the appliance or the appliance part.

18. A computer system communicatively coupled with one or more appliances at a site, the computer system comprising:

means for receiving appliance identification information from an appliance or an appliance part; and

means for initiating a communication session with a remote computer system associated with the manufacturer, vendor, or insurance company and communicates the information so that a claim can be later made in connection with the insurance policy or warranty associated with the appliance or the appliance part.

19. The computer system of claim 18, further comprising:

means for receiving an insurance or warranty registration request from the appliance or the appliance part and that prompts the communication session with the remote computer system.

20. The computer system of claim 18 wherein the means for determining the maintenance issue comprises:

means for accessing reference data, the reference data comprising a first numerical array, the first numerical array comprising a first collection of related successive signal sample values that represent a first time varying environmental signal;

means for receiving appliance condition data, the appliance condition data comprising a second numerical array, the second numerical array comprising a second collection of related successive signal sample values derived from a second time varying environmental signal sensed by a transducer means at the site; and

means for comparing the first and second numerical arrays in a time domain, frequency domain, or both and wherein the maintenance issue is determined at least in part upon the comparing.