Software Architecture System And Method For Communication With, And Management Of, Components Within An Appliance Utilizing Functionality Identifiers

• US 20090103535A1
• Filed: 12/29/2006
• Published: 04/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: Feldbruegge, Robert J., Kmet, David J., Ebrom, Matthew P., McCoy, Richard A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,345,686 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/392
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0063 using remote monitoring or controlling of the dishwasher operation, e.g. networking systems
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/04 Signal transfer or data transmission arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/28 Arrangements for program selection, e.g. control panels therefor; Arrangements for indicating program parameters, e.g. the selected program or its progress
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 7/02 by radio
• CPC Class Codes: G04R 20/26 the radio signal being a near-field communication signal
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3495 for systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/54 Interprogram communication
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2807 Exchanging configuration information on appliance services in a home automation network arrangements for maintenance or administration involving network analysis for automatically determining the actual topology of a network H04L41/12; hardware or software tools for network management using graphical user interfaces H04L41/22; address allocation H04L61/50
• 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: H04L 12/2818 from a device located outside both the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless eletrical link G08C17/00; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with remote control systems H04M11/007
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/282 based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2823 Reporting information sensed by appliance or service execution status of appliance services in a home automation network device-related reporting H04L43/065; arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom H04Q9/00
• 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 12/2827 Reporting to a device within the home network; wherein the reception of the information reported automatically triggers the execution of a home appliance functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2832 Interconnection of the control functionalities between home networks single bridge functionality H04L12/4625
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/285 Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/105 Multiple levels of security
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/26 : Special purpose or proprietary protocols or architectures network applications for proprietary or special purpose networking environments H04L67/12
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/688 : for thawing
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 40/00 : Technologies aiming at improving the efficiency of home appliances, e.g. induction cooking or efficient technologies for refrigerators, freezers or dish washers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 : Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

A network system comprising a system of devices having a plurality of nodes defining a communications network. At least one identifier from a pre-determined group of identifiers is associated with each of the nodes and identifies the functionalities that are applicable to that node or device associated with that node. In one embodiment, at least one of the nodes can transmit the at least one identifier by a message sent over the communications network for receipt by at least one of the nodes to thereby publish the functionalities over the communications network.

Claims

1. A network system comprising:

a plurality of interconnected nodes defining a communications network, with at least one of the nodes configured to send messages over the communications network and at least one of the nodes configured to receive messages over the communications network; and

at least one identifier from a pre-determined group of identifiers is associated with each of the nodes and identifies only those functionalities that are applicable to that node;

wherein at least one of the nodes transmits the at least one identifier by a message sent over the communications network for receipt by at least one of the nodes to thereby publish the functionalities over the communications network.

2. The network system of claim 1 wherein the nodes comprise components selected from a list consisting of a sensor, dispenser, light, filter, motor, defroster, heater, evaporator, solenoid, relay, chiller, motor controller, key pad controllers, and a user interface.

3. The network system of claim 1 wherein the communications network is configured to communicate with other networks.

4. The network system of claim 1 wherein the pre-determined group of identifiers is configurable.

5. The network system of claim 1 wherein the functionality applicable to an identifier is configurable.

6. The network system of claim 5 wherein the functionality is configurable by assigning the identifier a new function.

7. The network system of claim 5 wherein the functionality is dynamically configurable.

8. The network system of claim 1 wherein the identifier indicates a meaning in addition to a functionality.

9. The network system of claim 8 wherein the meaning can be reassigned.

10. The network system of claim 8 wherein the meaning can vary depending on the network.

11. The network system of claim 8 wherein the meaning of the identifier varies between nodes.

12. The network system of claim 1 wherein at least one node determines its own identity via an array of identifiers published on the network.

13. The network system of claim 12 wherein the array of identifiers is stored in a memory associated with the at least one node.

14. The network system of claim 1 wherein at least some of the identifiers include unique information about the identifier.

15. The network system of claim 14 wherein the unique information uniquely identifies the identifier throughout the network.

16. The network system of claim 14 wherein the unique information uniquely identifies the node throughout the network.

17. The network system of claim 14 wherein the unique information uniquely identifies the identifier throughout the group of identifiers.

18. The network system of claim 1 and further comprising multiple instances of an identifier on the same node, with each instance comprising unique information to uniquely identify each instance.

19. The network system of claim 18 wherein the additional identifier is one of generated and assigned.

20. The network system of claim 1 wherein an identifier associated with a functionality of a node configured to receive messages is used to address the node for receipt of a message.

21. The network system of claim 1 wherein the message is chosen from a list consisting of a command to use a functionality, a request for information relating to a functionality, a response to a request message, and an acknowledgement of receipt of command.

22. The network system of claim 21 wherein the request for information comprises a request message requesting identifiers.

23. The network system of claim 22 further comprising a response message in response to the request message acknowledging the relevance of at least one identifier to at least one node.

24. The network system of claim 23 wherein the response message containing the requested identifiers includes the number of instances of the requested identifier.

25. The network system of claim 20 wherein the request for information seeks at least one of an acknowledgement of the relevance of a specified identifier, an identification of multiple identifiers relevant to at least one node, and an identification of all identifiers relevant to a specific node.

26. A network system for a system of devices operable to cooperatively perform a useful cycle of operation, the network system comprising:

a plurality of nodes, each of the nodes being associated with at least one of the devices, at least two of the nodes being adapted to send messages, and at least two of the nodes being adapted to receive messages;

a pre-determined universe of identifiers; and

at least one of the identifiers associated with each of the nodes identifying which functionalities are applicable to the devices associated with that node from the pre-determined universe of identifiers.

27. The network system of claim 26 wherein the collection of a plurality of devices comprises an appliance.

28. The network system of claim 26 wherein the collection of a plurality of devices comprises a plurality of networked appliances.