Method and apparatus for setting programmable features of an appliance

• US 20050031099A1
• Filed: 09/09/2004
• Published: 02/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: XCSR, LLC
• Original Assignee: Jerry Iggulden, Kyle Fields
• Inventors: Iggulden, Jerry, Fields, Kyle
• Granted Patent: US 7,215,746 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/102.30
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2814 Exchanging control software or macros for controlling appliance services in a home automation network arrangements for maintenance or administration involving configuration of the network and network elements H04L41/08
• 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

1-11. -11. (Canceled).

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

providing an interactive site on a global computer network;

providing a graphical user interface at the interactive site, said graphical user interface having a virtual appliance that graphically depicts programmable features of a corresponding real appliance, said real appliance including a removable transfer device having an input port;

establishing a connection with the interactive site using a computer;

interactively setting programmable features of the virtual appliance using the graphical user interface at the interactive site;

downloading set-up data for the programmable features from the interactive site to the computer;

removing the transfer device from the real appliance;

coupling the input port of the transfer device to the computer;

transferring the set-up data from the computer to the transfer device;

returning the transfer device to the real appliance; and

using the set-up data to set the programmable features of the real appliance.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising inserting the transfer device into a docking port in the real appliance.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the output port of the transfer device and the docking port have cooperating electrical contacts.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the interactive site is accessed via the World Wide Web.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein the input port of the transfer device is coupled to a serial port of the computer.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the input port of the transfer device is plugged into the serial port.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the input port of the transfer device is coupled to the serial port by a cable.

19. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

setting programmable features of the real appliance by user input at the real appliance;

coupling the input port of the transfer device to the computer; and

transferring the user-input settings to the computer.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising;

establishing a connection with the interactive site using the computer; and

uploading the user-input settings to the interactive site.

21. The method of claim 12 wherein the programmable features comprise internal software of the real appliance.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the internal software comprises operating system software.

23. The method of claim 12 wherein the programmable features comprise a control having a user-assigned function.

24-34. -34. (Canceled).

35. A method for setting programmable features of an appliance comprising:

providing an interactive site on a global computer network;

providing a graphical user interface at the interactive site, said graphical user interface having a virtual appliance that graphically depicts programmable features of a corresponding real appliance;

establishing a connection between a user'"'"'s computer and the interactive site;

entering data with the user'"'"'s computer to set programmable features of the virtual appliance at the interactive site;

providing a portable transfer device separate from the user'"'"'s computer having an input port and an output port;

downloading set-up data for the programmable features from the interactive site to the user'"'"'s computer;

coupling the input port of the transfer device to the computer;

transferring the set-up data from the computer to the transfer device;

coupling the output port of the transfer device to the appliance; and

transferring the set-up data from the transfer device to the real appliance.

36. The method of claim 35 further comprising inserting the transfer device into a docking port in the real appliance.

37. The method of claim 36 wherein the output port of the transfer device and the docking port have cooperating electrical contacts.

38. The method of claim 35 wherein the interactive site is accessed via the World Wide Web.

39. The method of claim 35 wherein the input port of the transfer device is coupled to a serial port of the computer.

40. The method of claim 39 wherein the input port of the transfer device is plugged into the serial port.

41. The method of claim 39 wherein the input port of the transfer device is coupled to the serial port by a cable.

42. The method of claim 35 further comprising:

setting programmable features of the real appliance by user input at the real appliance;

coupling the transfer device to the computer; and

transferring the user-input settings to the computer.

43. The method of claim 42 further comprising;

establishing a connection with the interactive site using the computer; and

uploading the user-input settings to the interactive site.

44. The method of claim 35 wherein the transfer device comprises a key to operate the real appliance.

45. The method of claim 35 wherein the programmable features comprise internal software of the real appliance.

46. The method of claim 45 wherein the internal software comprises operating system software.

47. The method of claim 35 wherein the programmable features comprise a control having a user-assigned function.

48. A method for setting programmable features of an appliance comprising:

providing an interactive computer program with a graphical user interface having a virtual appliance that graphically depicts programmable features of a corresponding real appliance;

setting programmable features of the virtual appliance at a user'"'"'s computer;

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

coupling the input port of the transfer device to the user'"'"'s computer;

downloading set-up data for the programmable features from the user'"'"'s computer to the transfer device;

coupling the output port of the transfer device to the appliance;

transferring the set-up data from the transfer device to the real appliance; and

wherein the transfer device comprises a key for the real appliance.

49. The method of claim 48 wherein the transfer device enables operation of the real appliance.

50. The method of claim 48 wherein the transfer device provides access to the real appliance.

51. The method of claim 48 wherein the transfer device provides access to a space containing the real appliance.

52. The method of claim 48 wherein the real appliance comprises an automobile.

53-59. -59. (Canceled).

60. A method for setting programmable features of an appliance comprising:

operating a graphical user interface using a computer, said graphical user interface having a virtual appliance that graphically depicts programmable features of a corresponding real appliance, said real appliance including a removable transfer device having an input port;

interactively setting programmable features of the virtual appliance using the graphical user interface to generate set-up data;

removing the transfer device from the real appliance;

coupling the input port of the transfer device to the computer;

transferring the set-up data from the computer to the transfer device;

returning the transfer device to the real appliance; and

using the set-up data to set the programmable features of the real appliance.

61. The method of claim 60 further comprising inserting the transfer device into a docking port in the real appliance.

62. The method of claim 61 wherein the output port of the transfer device and the docking port have cooperating electrical contacts.

63. The method of claim 60 wherein the input port of the transfer device is coupled to a serial port of the computer.

64. The method of claim 63 wherein the input port of the transfer device is plugged into the serial port.

65. The method of claim 63 wherein the input port of the transfer device is coupled to the serial port by a cable.

66. The method of claim 60 further comprising:

setting programmable features of the real appliance by user input at the real appliance;

coupling the input port of the transfer device to the computer; and

transferring the user-input settings to the computer.

67. The method of claim 60 wherein the programmable features comprise internal software of the real appliance.

68. The method of claim 67 wherein the internal software comprises operating system software.

69. The method of claim 60 wherein the programmable features comprise a control having a user-assigned function.

70. A method for setting programmable features of an appliance comprising:

operating a graphical user interface using a user'"'"'s computer, said graphical user interface having a virtual appliance that graphically depicts programmable features of a corresponding real appliance;

entering data with the user'"'"'s computer to set programmable features of the virtual appliance to generate set-up data;

providing a portable transfer device separate from the user'"'"'s computer having an input port and an output port;

coupling the input port of the transfer device to the computer;

transferring the set-up data from the computer to the transfer device;

coupling the output port of the transfer device to the appliance; and

transferring the set-up data from the transfer device to the real appliance.

71. The method of claim 70 further comprising inserting the transfer device into a docking port in the real appliance.

72. The method of claim 71 wherein the output port of the transfer device and the docking port have cooperating electrical contacts.

73. The method of claim 70 wherein the input port of the transfer device is coupled to a serial port of the computer.

74. The method of claim 73 wherein the input port of the transfer device is plugged into the serial port.

75. The method of claim 73 wherein the input port of the transfer device is coupled to the serial port by a cable.

76. The method of claim 70 further comprising:

setting programmable features of the real appliance by user input at the real appliance;

coupling the transfer device to the computer; and

transferring the user-input settings to the computer.

77. The method of claim 70 wherein the transfer device comprises a key to operate the real appliance.

78. The method of claim 70 wherein the programmable features comprise internal software of the real appliance.

79. The method of claim 78 wherein the internal software comprises operating system software.

80. The method of claim 70 wherein the programmable features comprise a control having a user-assigned function.