METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SETTING PROGRAMMABLE FEATURES OF A HOME APPLIANCE

• US 20110178618A1
• Filed: 03/30/2011
• Published: 07/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Jerry Iggulden, Kyle Fields
• Original Assignee: Jerry Iggulden, Kyle Fields
• Inventors: Iggulden, Jerry, Fields, Kyle
• Application Number:
  US13/076,299
• Publication Number:
  US 20110178618A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/94
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23306 Load program from host, remote load, non volatile card to volatile, ram
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network

Abstract

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

Claims

1. A transfer device comprising:

one or more microprocessors to assist the transfer device in;

receiving programming data for setting a programmable feature of a home appliance over a global computer network, and

transferring the received programming data to the at least one home appliance over a data link.

2. The transfer device of claim 1, wherein the data link between the transfer device and the at least one home appliance is wireless.

3. The transfer device of claim 1, wherein the home appliance is a heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system.

4. The transfer device of claim 1, wherein the home appliance is an audio and video entertainment system.

5. The transfer device of claim 1, wherein the home appliance is a home security system.

6. A home appliance comprising:

one or more microprocessors to assist the home appliance in;

receiving programming data for setting a programmable feature of the home appliance through a data link with a transfer device, the programming data originating from a computer connected to a global computer network;

utilizing the received programming data to set the programmable feature of the home appliance.

7. The home appliance of claim 6, wherein the data link is wireless.

8. The home appliance of claim 6, wherein the home appliance is a heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system.

9. The home appliance of claim 6, wherein the home appliance is an audio and video entertainment system.

10. The home appliance of claim 6, wherein the home appliance is a home security system.

11. A server comprising:

a computer storage medium having computer executable instructions for;

causing a device in global computer network communication with the server to display information about one or more programmable features of one or more home appliances;

receiving programming data over the global computer network from the device to set a programmable feature of the one or more home appliances; and

sending programming data over the global computer network to a transfer device, the transfer device being in communication with the one or more home appliances.

12. The server of claim 11, wherein the communication between the transfer device and the one or more home appliances is wireless.

13. A system comprising:

a server comprising a computer storage medium having computer executable instructions for;

causing a device in global computer network communication with the server to display information about at least one programmable feature of one or more home appliances,

receiving programming data over the global computer network for setting at least one programmable feature of one or more home appliances, and

sending programming data over the global computer network to a transfer device,

wherein the transfer device comprises one or more microprocessors to assist in;

receiving the programming data over the global computer network, and

transferring the programming data to the one or more home appliances over a data link.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the data link is wireless.

15. A method comprising:

using a computer to navigate over a global computer network to a remote site;

viewing information provided by the remote site relating to at least one programmable feature of at least one home appliance;

selecting the at least one programmable feature of the at least one home appliance; and

initiating the transfer of set-up data representing the at least one programmable feature of the least one home appliance from the remote site to a transfer device, the transfer device being in communication with the at least one home appliance.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the communication between the transfer device and the at least one home appliance is wireless.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the home appliance is a heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the home appliance is an audio and video entertainment system.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the home appliance is a home security system.

20. A method comprising:

providing a remote interactive site accessible over a global computer network via a computer, the interactive site relating to at least one programmable feature of at least one home appliance;

receiving a command over the global computer network to set a programmable feature of the at least one home appliance; and

in response to receiving the command, sending programming data representing the command to a transfer device, the transfer device being in communication with the at least one home appliance.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the transfer device is in wireless communication with the at least one home appliance.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the home appliance is a heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the home appliance is an audio and video entertainment system.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the home appliance is a home security system.

25. A transfer device comprising:

a data receiver configured to receive programming data for setting a programmable feature of a home appliance over a global computer network from a computer; and

a data transferor configured to transfer the received programming data to the at least one home appliance over a data link.

26. The transfer device of claim 25, wherein the data link is wireless.

27. The transfer device of claim 25, wherein the home appliance is a heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system.

28. The transfer device of claim 25, wherein the home appliance is an audio and video entertainment system.

29. The transfer device of claim 25, wherein the home appliance is a home security system.

30. A home appliance comprising:

a data receiver configured to receive programming data through a data link with a transfer device, the programming data originating from a computer connected to a global computer network; and

a data processor configured to utilize the received programming data to set a programmable feature of the home appliance.

31. The home appliance of claim 30, wherein the data link between the data receiver and the transfer device is wireless.

32. The home appliance of claim 30, wherein the home appliance is a heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system.

33. The home appliance of claim 30, wherein the home appliance is an audio and video entertainment system.

34. The home appliance of claim 30, wherein the appliance is a home security system.

35. A server comprising:

a storage medium having executable instructions for;

causing a device in global computer network communication with the server to present a graphical user interface depicting one or more programmable features of one or more home appliances;

receiving data over the global computer network from the device to set a programmable feature of the one or more home appliances; and

sending programming data over the global computer network to a transfer device, the transfer device being in communication with the one or more home appliances.

36. The server of claim 35, wherein the communication between the transfer device and the one or more home appliances is wireless.

37. A system comprising:

a server comprising a storage medium having executable instructions for;

causing a device in global computer network communication with the server to present a graphical user interface depicting at least one programmable feature of one or more home appliances,

receiving data over the global computer network for setting at least one programmable feature of one or more home appliances, and

sending programming data over the global computer network to a transfer device,

wherein the transfer device comprises;

a data receiver configured to receive the programming data over the global computer network, and

a data transferor configured to transfer the programming data to the one or more home appliances over a data link.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein the data link between the data transferor and the one or more home appliances is wireless.

39. A method comprising:

providing a remote interactive site accessible over a global computer network via a computer, the interactive site relating to at least one programmable feature of an appliance;

receiving a command over the global computer network to set a programmable feature of the appliance; and

in response to receiving the command, sending programming data representing the command to the appliance.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the appliance is a home master control system.

41. The method of claim 39, wherein the appliance is a security system.

42. The method of claim 39, wherein the appliance is a heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system.

43. A system comprising:

a server comprising a computer storage medium having computer executable instructions for;

causing a device in global computer network communication with the server to display information about at least one programmable feature of a home master control system,

receiving programming data over the global computer network for setting at least one programmable feature of the home master control system, and

sending programming data over the global computer network to the home master control system,

wherein the home master control system comprises one or more microprocessors to assist in;

receiving the programming data over the global computer network, and

setting the at least one programmable feature of the home master control system.

44. A server comprising a computer storage medium having computer executable instructions for:

causing a device in global computer network communication with the server to display information about at least one programmable feature of a home master control system;

receiving programming data over the global computer network for setting at least one programmable feature of the home master control system; and

sending programming data over the global computer network to the home master control system.