Method and apparatus for setting programmable features of an appliance
First Claim
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1. A method for setting programmable features of an appliance comprising the steps of:
- 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 optical sensor;
establishing a connection with the interactive site using a computer with a display screen;
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;
positioning the transfer device in proximity to the display screen;
modulating the display screen to transfer the set-up data to the transfer device via the optical sensor;
transporting the transfer device to the real appliance; and
transferring the set-up data from the transfer device to the real appliance.
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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.
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. A method for setting programmable features of an appliance comprising the steps of:
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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 optical sensor;
establishing a connection with the interactive site using a computer with a display screen;
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;
positioning the transfer device in proximity to the display screen;
modulating the display screen to transfer the set-up data to the transfer device via the optical sensor;
transporting the transfer device to the real appliance; and
transferring the set-up data from the transfer device to the real appliance. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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Specification