Appliance communication system

• US 6,873,255 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2002
• Issued: 03/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Andrew C. Gallagher
• Original Assignee: Andrew C. Gallagher
• Inventors: Gallagher, Andrew C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Phung
• Application Number:
  US10/243,703
• Publication Number:
  US 20040051636A1
• Time in Patent Office: 927 Days
• Field of Search: 340/531, 340/500, 340/539.1, 340/309.16, 340/679, 340/5.7, 340/539.22, 340/539.26, 340/539.18, 340/5.8, 379/102.01, 379/106.01, 700/1
• US Class Current: 340/531
• 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: G08B 1/08 using electric transmission ; transformation of alarm signals to electrical signals from a different medium, e.g. transmission of an electric alarm signal upon detection of an audible alarm signal

Abstract

An appliance capable of performing a task initiated by a human operator, including an input device for receiving operator contact information for sending a message to the human operator; a computer for processing the operator contact information; and a transmitter that uses the operator contact information to communicate a message from the appliance to the human operator.

Claims

1. An appliance capable of performing a task initiated by a human operator, comprising

a. an input device for receiving operating contact information for sending a message to a human operator wherein the operator contact information is supplied by the human operator prior to the initiation of the appliance'"'"'s task, and for receiving an operator identification number;

b. a database for storing and associating the operator contact information and the operator identification number;

c. a computer for retrieving the operator contact information associated with the operator identification number;

d. a transmitter that uses the operator contact information to communicate a message at a predetermined time relative to the duration of the appliance'"'"'s task from the appliance to the human operator; and

e. a locking door that unlocks when a first operator identification number acquired before the appliance'"'"'s task is initiated is matched with a second operator identification number, wherein the second operator identification number is supplied by the human operator to the input device after the initiation of the appliance'"'"'s task.

2. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the input device is magnetic card reader and the operator identification number is stored on a magnetic card.

3. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the input device is a keypad.

4. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the predetermined time is 1 to 10 minutes before the appliance'"'"'s task is complete or at the conclusion of the appliance'"'"'s task.

5. The appliance of claim 1, further including a portable communication device for receiving the message communicated by the transmitter.

6. The appliance of claim 5, wherein the portable communication device is a cellular telephone.

7. The appliance of claim 6, wherein the message is a pre-recorded or computer synthesized voice.

8. The appliance claim 1, wherein the operator contact information is an email address and the communicates the message via an email message.

9. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the operator contact information is a telephone number, and the appliance is a clothes washer or dryer.