NETWORK FOR CHANGING RESOURCE CONSUMPTION IN AN APPLIANCE
First Claim
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1. A network comprising:
- a smart coupler having a processor, a memory with software, and a power source to energize the processor and the memory,an appliance configured to perform an operation on a physical article, wherein the appliance consumes at least some of a resource in performing the operation, anda source of information about the resource,wherein the smart coupler is in communication with the appliance and the source, and the processor and memory operate to request a change to the operation of the appliance in response to one of a resource parameter and a request communicated by the source.
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Abstract
A network includes a smart coupler having a processor, a memory with software, and a power source to energize the processor and the memory, and an appliance configured to perform an operation on a physical article. The appliance is one that consumes at least some of a resource in performing the operation. The network also includes a source of information about the resource. The smart coupler is in communication with the appliance and the source, and the processor and memory operate to request a change to the operation of the appliance in response to a resource parameter or a request communicated by the source.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A network comprising:
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a smart coupler having a processor, a memory with software, and a power source to energize the processor and the memory, an appliance configured to perform an operation on a physical article, wherein the appliance consumes at least some of a resource in performing the operation, and a source of information about the resource, wherein the smart coupler is in communication with the appliance and the source, and the processor and memory operate to request a change to the operation of the appliance in response to one of a resource parameter and a request communicated by the source. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 19)
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17. A network comprising:
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a smart coupler having a processor, a memory, and a power source to energize the processor and the memory, an appliance having a user interface and being configured to perform an operation on a physical article, wherein the appliance consumes at least some of a resource in performing the operation, and a source of information about the resource, wherein the smart coupler is in communication with the appliance and the source, and the processor and memory operate to send a message containing the information about the resource to the appliance for communication to a user by the user interface.
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18. A network comprising:
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an appliance having a user interface and being configured to perform an operation on a physical article, wherein the appliance consumes at least some of a resource in performing the operation, a source of information about the resource, a first smart coupler having a processor, a memory with software, and a power source to energize the processor and the memory, coupled to the source in a first network, a second smart coupler having a processor, a memory with software, and a power source to energize the processor and the memory, coupled to the first smart coupler in a second network, and also coupled to the appliance in a third network, wherein at least two networks are of different types, and wherein the software is configured to communicate the information across the three networks.
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20. A network comprising:
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an appliance having a user interface and being configured to perform an operation on a physical article, wherein the appliance consumes at least some of a resource in performing the operation, a source of information about the resource, a first smart coupler having a processor, a memory with software, and a power source to energize the processor and the memory, coupled to the source in a first network, and a second smart coupler having a processor, a memory with software, and a power source to energize the processor and the memory, coupled to the first smart coupler in a second network, and also coupled to the appliance in a third network, wherein at least two networks are of different types; wherein the communication across the second network includes converting at least one protocol to Boolean or binary code and converting the Boolean or binary code back into the at least one protocol or into a second protocol. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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Specification