Communications, particularly in the domestic environment

• US 6,557,756 B1
• Filed: 09/02/1999
• Issued: 05/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (Huawei Investment & Holding Co., Ltd.), Saros Licensing LLC (IP Edge LLC)
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Inventors: Smith, Graeme
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Michael G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FRANKLIN, JAMARA ALZAIDA
• Application Number:
  US09/388,806
• Time in Patent Office: 1,342 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/380, 235/381, 235/379, 235/492, 219/678, 219/679, 219/714, 219/702, 705/1, 705/15-27, 705/35-43, 993/24--50, 126/39.BA
• US Class Current: 235/379
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2600/07 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/00 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/26 Speech to text systems G10L15/08 takes precedence
• 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: H05B 6/6435 Aspects relating to the user interface of the microwave heating apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/6441 allowing the input of coded operation instructions, e.g. bar code reader
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/668 Microwave heating devices connected to a telecommunication network
• 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: Y10S 345/905 Display device with housing structure

Abstract

A domestic appliance (1) such as a microwave oven is adapted for interaction with a communications network (75) such as the Internet by the addition of a substantially self-contained discrete communications module (12) connectable to the communications network (75), the communications module (12) including display means (20) and command entry means that optionally interact with the appliance (1). The appliance (1) is provided with mounting hardware (6) and an adaptor (7) including means for attachment to the mounting hardware (6) and means (10, 13-16) for mounting the communications module (12) to the appliance (1) via the adaptor (7). The communications module (12) is adapted for connection to broadband cable or xDSL networks. Thus equipped, the appliance (1) becomes an element of a communications system (1, 72, 73) providing multiple functionality including television and Internet browsing functions within the home. Other elements of the communications system are a broadband online connection (72) and a broadband portal (73).

Claims

1. Apparatus, comprising

a) a domestic appliance (1) effective to process food,

b) communication means (12) adapted for interaction with a communication network (75), the communication means (12) including display means (20) and a command entry means, the appliance (1) further including a smartcard reader.

2. Apparatus of claim 1, and being configured to download electronic cash from the communications network (75) onto a smartcard in data communication with the smartcard reader.

3. Apparatus of claim 1, and being configured to upload electronic cash to the communications network (75) from a smartcard in data communication with the smartcard reader.

4. Apparatus of claim 1, wherein a smartcard in data communication with the smartcard reader identifies the user to the communications network (75) for security purposes, or to configure, limit or otherwise define the service offered from the communications network (75) to the user.

5. Apparatus of claim 4, wherein the service is offered by the communications network (75) reflects the user'"'"'s preferences stored on the smartcard.

6. Apparatus of claim 4, wherein the service is offered by the communications network (75) is limited in accordance with the user'"'"'s age.

7. Apparatus of claim 4, wherein the service is offered by the communications network (75) is limited in accordance with the user'"'"'s level of subscription payment.

8. Apparatus of claim 1 and being configured such that a smartcard in data communication with the smartcard reader configures the communication means (12).

9. Apparatus of claim 1, wherein the smartcard reader is adapted to retain the smartcard during a transaction and includes means for preventing removal of the smartcard before the transaction is complete.

10. Apparatus of claim 9, wherein the smartcard reader is adapted to retain the smartcard after a transaction is complete.

11. Apparatus of claim 1, and being a microwave oven having a door (3) on the front of a cabinet (2), wherein the smartcard reader is positioned on a fixed control and display surface (4) on the front of the cabinet (2) beside the door (3).

12. A method of downloading electronic cash from a communications network (75) onto a smartcard, comprising bringing the smartcard into data communication with a smartcard reader on a domestic appliance effective to process food and (1) having communication means (12) adapted for interaction with the communication network (75).

13. The method of claim 12 comprising retaining the smartcard in the smartcard reader during a transaction and preventing removal of the smartcard from the smartcard reader before the transaction is complete.

14. The method of claim 12, comprising retaining the smartcard after a transaction is complete.

15. A method of uploading electronic cash to a communications network (75) from a smartcard, comprising bringing the smartcard into data communication with a smartcard reader on a domestic appliance having food processing capability and (1) having communication means (12) adapted for interaction with the communication network (75).

16. A method of identifying a user to a communication network (75), comprising bringing a user-identifying smartcard into data communication with a smartcard reader on a domestic appliance adapted to processing food and (1) having communication means (12) adapted for interaction with the communications network (75).

17. The method of claim 16, wherein identification of the user is for security purposes.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein identification of the user is used in configuring, limiting or otherwise defining the service offered from the communications network (75) to the user.

19. The method of claim 18, comprising adapting the service offered by the communications network (75) to reflect the user'"'"'s preferences stored on the smartcard.

20. The method of claim 18, comprising limiting the service offered by the communications network (75) in accordance with the user'"'"'s age.

21. The method of claim 18, comprising limiting the service offered by the communications network (75) in accordance with the user'"'"'s level of subscription payment.

22. The method of claim 16, comprising configuring the communications means of the appliance (1) in accordance with the user identity stored on the smartcard.