SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING SMART APPLIANCES

• US 20120226764A1
• Filed: 10/28/2011
• Published: 09/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Transform Sr Brands, LLC (ESL Investments, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Sears Brands LLC (Sears Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Glassman, Ellen Tave, Wood, Lori, Saubert, Michael, Philip, Philip K., DeSalvo, Tom, Owens, Betsy, Timmons, John, Monnie, Samuel, Kozlowski, Michael, Short, Terrilynn Million, Dcosta, Mikeil, Silverstein, Jason, Jones, Heather, Lash, John, Salatino, Christopher
• Granted Patent: US 9,225,766 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/208
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/18 Network protocols supporting networked applications, e.g. including control of end-device applications over a network

Abstract

A method and system for networking a plurality of appliances. The method and system include providing an appliance on a network, controlling operation of the appliance with a microcontroller, storing on a memory coupled with the microcontroller, computer executable instructions for operating the appliance, sensing the operation of the appliance, displaying information regarding the operation of the appliance, and communicating the operational data on a network. Network connectivity includes communication directly with a network, and with another appliance. A host system is connected to the network and adapted to receive the usage data and to transmit data to the appliance to influence operation of the appliance.

Claims

1. A system for networking an appliance comprising:

an appliance comprising;

a microcontroller;

a memory coupled with the microcontroller and having stored thereon computer executable instructions for operating the appliance;

at least one sensor coupled to the microcontroller to monitor the usage of the appliance, wherein at least one sensor data indicative of usage of the appliance is stored in the memory;

a user interface coupled to the microcontroller and having provided thereon user interface elements to provide information regarding the usage of the appliance;

a communicator coupled to the microcontroller, the communicator adapted to provide network connectivity, wherein the appliance is adapted to communicate directly with a network, and to communicate with another appliance, wherein the communicator is configured to transmit at least one sensor data indicative of usage of the appliance to at least one of the network or the another appliance; and

a host system connected to the network and adapted to receive the at least one sensor data indicative of usage of the appliance and to transmit computer readable instructions to the appliance that when executed by the microcontroller cause the microcontroller to modify the operation of the appliance.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the appliance further comprises a secure protocol coupled to the user interface.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the appliance further comprises a common access port.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the common access port is separate from the communicator.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the appliance further comprises a secure protocol coupled to at least one of the user interface and the common access port.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the appliance is further adapted to communicate with a smart meter.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the appliance is further adapted to receive computer data from the smart meter that when received by the microcontroller, the data causes the microcontroller to modify the operation of the appliance.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the host system comprises an application server to provide at least one application to the appliance.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the host system comprises an upgrade server to provide at least one set of computer executable instructions to modify the computer executable instructions stored in the memory.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the host system includes an service server to provide data to the appliance to at least one of maintain or repair the appliance.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the service server data is displayed on the user interface.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the user interface is adapted to display a web browser.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the communicator is a modem.

14. A method of networking a plurality of appliances comprising:

providing an appliance on a network;

controlling operation of the appliance with a microcontroller;

storing on a memory coupled with the microcontroller, computer executable instructions for operating the appliance;

sensing the operation of the appliance, wherein at least one sensor data indicative of the operation of the appliance is stored in the memory;

displaying on a user interface coupled to the microcontroller, a user interface element to provide information regarding the operation of the appliance;

communicating through a communicator coupled to the microcontroller, the communicator adapted to provide network connectivity, wherein the appliance is adapted to communicate directly with a network, and to communicate with another appliance, wherein the communicator is configured to transmit at least one sensor data indicative of operation of the appliance to at least one of the network or the another appliance; and

providing a host system connected to the network and adapted to receive the at least one sensor data indicative of usage of the appliance and to transmit data to the microcontroller to influence operation of the appliance.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising securing access to the user interface through a secure protocol.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising providing access to the microcontroller through a common access port coupled to the microcontroller.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising securing at least one of the user interface and the common access port through a secure protocol.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising communicating the at least one sensor data indicative of the operation of the appliance with a smart meter.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the appliance receives computer data from the smart meter that when received by the microcontroller, the data causes the microcontroller to modify the operation of the appliance.