Software architecture system and method for operating an appliance in multiple operating modes

• US 7,813,831 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2006
• Issued: 10/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: Glotzbach, Mark E., Glotzbach, Patrick J., Whipple, Andrew D., Ebrom, Matthew P., McCoy, Richard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): DeCady; Albert
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stevens; Thomas H
• Application Number:
  US11/571,454
• Publication Number:
  US 20070156864A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,383 Days
• Field of Search: 709/220, 710/267, 717/124, 700/198, 726/14
• US Class Current: 700/198
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/545 where tasks reside in different layers, e.g. user- and kernel-space
• 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: H04L 2012/285 Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/26 Special purpose or proprietary protocols or architectures network applications for proprietary or special purpose networking environments H04L67/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/32 Architecture of open systems interconnection [OSI] 7-layer type protocol stacks, e.g. the interfaces between the data link level and the physical level
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/325 in the network layer [OSI layer 3], e.g. X.25 H04L69/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/326 in the transport layer [OSI layer 4] H04L69/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

In one embodiment, a system for controlling a plurality of devices having at least two operating modes comprises a first software operating layer configured to control the operation of at least one of the devices in a first operational mode and a second software operating layer configured to control the operation of at least one of the devices in a second operational mode. In another embodiment, a control system for controlling a plurality of devices connected by a communications network comprises a user interface configured to receive the selection of a cycle of operation; a first system element isolated from the network and configured to implement the selected cycle of operation to define a first control state; and a second system element exposed to the network and configured to implement the selected cycle of operation to define a second control state.

Claims

1. A controller for controlling a plurality of devices in a machine operable to perform a series of steps in a cycle of operation, wherein the controller can communicate on a communications network, the controller comprising:

a first software operating layer configured to control the operation of at least one of the devices in a first operational state in response to messages sent on the communications network, wherein the first software operating layer only permits the at least one of the devices to operate in a manner to perform a predetermined cycle of operation, and

a second software operating layer configured to control the operation of the at least one of the devices in a second operational state in response to messages sent on the communications network, where the second operating layer provides a different level of intervention between the messages and the operation of the devices than the first software operating layer, wherein the second software operating layer permits the at least one of the devices to operate in at least one additional cycle of operation,

wherein the additional cycle of operation is at least one of;

a demonstration cycle;

a development cycle;

an error detection cycle;

a diagnostic cycle;

a cycle that reduces the length of time of at least one timed step of one of the predetermined cycles of operation;

a cycle that bypasses at least one operational step of one of the predetermined cycles of operation;

a cycle that substitutes a timed step for a step that responds to an event of one of the predetermined cycles of operation; and

a cycle that exposes a low level API to the communications network,

whereby the at least one of the devices can be controlled by the second software operating layer independently of the first software operating layer and independently of other devices within the plurality of devices.

2. The controller according to claim 1, wherein the first and second software operating layers permit different levels of control of the devices by the messages to provide the different level of intervention.

3. The controller according to claim 1, wherein the second software operating layer permits operation of at least one of the devices under circumstances where the first operating layer prevents operation of that device.

4. The controller according to claim 3 wherein the first software operating layer does not permit direct control of at least one of the plurality of devices when the second software operating layer permits direct control of that device.

5. The controller according to claim 1, and further comprising at least one of an internal and external client configured to generate a message for changing between the first and second operational states.

6. The controller according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second software operating layers effect cooperative operation of the devices to accomplish a series of related steps to accomplish a predetermined operation.

7. The controller according to claim 6, wherein the devices are selected from a list comprising at least one of a sensor, a dispenser, a filter, a motor, a heater, and a chiller.

8. The controller according to claim 6, wherein at least a subset of the plurality devices are all found within an appliance.

9. The controller according to claim 6, wherein the plurality of devices comprise a plurality of networked appliances.

10. The controller according to claim 1, wherein the communications network comprises at least one of an internal network and an external network.

11. The controller according to claim 10, wherein the second operational state exposes the first software operating layer to an external network.

12. A controller for controlling a plurality of devices in a machine operable to perform a series of steps in a cycle of operation, wherein the controller can communicate on a communications network, the controller comprising:

a first software operating layer configured to control the operation of at least one of the devices in a first operational state in response to messages sent on the communications network, and

a second software operating layer configured to control the operation of the at least one of the devices in a second operational state in response to messages sent on the communications network, where the second operating layer provides a different level of intervention between the messages and the operation of the devices than the first software operating layer,

wherein one of the first and second operating states comprises a local operating state and the other of the first and second operating states comprises a remote operating state

whereby the at least one of the devices can be controlled by the second software operating layer independently of the first software operating layer and independently of other devices within the plurality of devices.

13. The control system according to claim 12, wherein the communications network comprises an internal network having a plurality of nodes, with at least one node having one or more functional units, and each function unit representing a group of common functionality.

14. The control system according to claim 13, wherein at least one of the functional units effects control of at least one of low-level electrical inputs and outputs of at least one of the plurality of devices.

15. The control system according to claim 12, wherein the second software operating layer comprises a software engine residing on at least one of the devices and which exposes a network message sent over the communications network to effect one of the operating states.

16. The control system according to claim 15, wherein the software engine exposes commands encapsulated in a network message, with the commands used to effect the one of the operating states.

17. The control system according to claim 12, wherein at least one of validation and security checks is bypassed to provide the second software operating layer with control of low-level functionality for at least some of the devices.

18. The control system according to claim 12, wherein the machine can be removed from the one of the operating states by a network message.