METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SETTING PROGRAMMABLE FEATURES OF AN APPLIANCE

• US 20010043686A1
• Filed: 01/22/1999
• Published: 11/22/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pointset Corporation
• Original Assignee: Pointset Corporation
• Inventors: LGGULDEN, JERRY
• Granted Patent: US 6,415,023 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/102.03
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/007 with remote control systems remote control in general G08C

Abstract

An interactive interface facilitates the setting of preferences and other programmable parameters of an appliance. The interface is hosted by a server on a global computer network. The appliance owner initiates a connection to the server and is presented with a graphical user interface for setting the preferences and features of the appliance. Once the desired settings have been made, they are downloaded to the appliance either directly from the server or the appliance owner'"'"'s computer or indirectly using a portable transfer device.

Claims

1. A method for setting programmable features of an appliance comprising the steps of:

providing an interactive site on a global computer network;

providing a transfer device having an input port and an output port;

establishing a connection with the interactive site;

interactively setting programmable features of a virtual appliance at the interactive site;

downloading set-up data from the interactive site to the input port of the transfer device;

downloading the set-up data from the output port of the transfer device to a real appliance corresponding to the virtual appliance.

2. The method of

claim 1

wherein the input port of the transfer device comprises an optical sensor.

3. The method of

claim 2

wherein the step of downloading set-up data from the interactive site to the input port of the transfer device comprises modulating a portion of a computer display and sensing such modulation with the optical sensor.

4. The method of

claim 1

wherein the input port of the transfer device comprises a telephonic connection.

5. The method of

claim 4

wherein the step of downloading set-up data from the interactive site to the input port of the transfer device comprises establishing a telephonic connection between the interactive site and the transfer device and sending data telephonically.

6. The method of

claim 1

wherein the step of downloading set-up data from the interactive site to the input port of the transfer device comprises downloading the set-up data to a computer coupled to the input port of the transfer device.

7. The method of

claim 6

wherein the input port of the transfer device comprises a serial port.

8. The method of

claim 1

wherein the output port of the transfer device comprises an infra-red transmitter.

9. The method of

claim 1

further comprising the step of creating a record of the set-up data.

10. The method of

claim 1

further comprising the step, prior to the step of setting programmable features, of entering a serial number of the real appliance.

11. The method of

claim 1

further comprising the steps of extracting information from the set-up data and sending said information to a manufacturer of the real appliance.

12. A method for setting programmable features of an appliance comprising the steps of:

providing an interactive site on a global computer network;

providing a transfer device having an input port for a telephonic connection, a data decoder for decoding data transmitted telephonically and an output port;

establishing a connection with the interactive site;

interactively setting programmable features of a virtual appliance at the interactive site;

establishing a telephonic connection between the interactive site and the transfer device;

telephonically downloading set-up data from the interactive site to the input port of the transfer device;

downloading the set-up data from the output port of the transfer device to a real appliance corresponding to the virtual appliance.

13. The method of

claim 12

wherein the transfer device comprises a telephone handset.

14. The method of

claim 12

wherein the transfer device is detachably coupled to a telephone.

15. The method of

claim 12

wherein the output port of the transfer device comprises an infra-red transmitter.

16. A method for setting programmable features of an appliance comprising the steps of:

providing an interactive site on a global computer network;

establishing a connection with the interactive site;

interactively setting programmable features of a virtual appliance at the interactive site;

establishing a communication link between the interactive site and a real appliance corresponding to the virtual appliance;

downloading set-up data from the interactive site to the real appliance.

17. The method of

claim 16

wherein the communication link is telephonic.

18. The method of

claim 16

wherein the communication link comprises a radio frequency link.

19. The method of

claim 18

wherein the appliance comprises a paging receiver.

20. A method for setting programmable features of a telephone comprising the steps of:

providing an interactive site on a global computer network;

providing a telephone having a data decoder for decoding data transmitted telephonically;

establishing a connection with the interactive site;

interactively setting programmable features of a virtual telephone at the interactive site;

the interactive site establishing a telephonic connection with a real telephone corresponding to the virtual telephone;

telephonically downloading set-up data from the interactive site to the real telephone.

21. An interface device for communicating data to an appliance comprising:

means for coupling the interface device to a global computer network to receive modulated data;

a data demodulator;

a data memory coupled to the data demodulator;

a data output port coupled to the data memory;

control means for initiating transfer of data from the data memory to an appliance via the output port.

22. The apparatus of

claim 21

wherein the means for coupling the interface device to the global computer network comprises a local computer.

23. The apparatus of

claim 22

wherein the means for coupling further comprises means for modulating a display screen of the local computer.

24. The apparatus of

claim 21

wherein the means for coupling the interface device to the global computer network comprises a telephonic connection.

25. The apparatus of

claim 21

wherein the data output port comprises an infra-red transmitter.

26. The apparatus of

claim 21

wherein the interface device is a removable module of the appliance.

27. The apparatus of

claim 26

wherein the interface device comprises electronics for controlling the appliance during operation thereof.