Software architecture system and method for operating an appliance in multiple operating modes
First Claim
1. A controller for controlling a plurality of devices in an appliance operable to perform a series of steps in a cycle of operation on a physical article, wherein the controller can communicate on a communications network, the controller comprising:
- a first software operating layer configured to control operation of at least one of the devices in a first operational state in response to messages sent on the communications network, anda second software operating layer configured to control 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 software operating layer provides a different level of intervention between the messages and the operation of the devices than the first software operating layer,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.
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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.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A controller for controlling a plurality of devices in an appliance operable to perform a series of steps in a cycle of operation on a physical article, wherein the controller can communicate on a communications network, the controller comprising:
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a first software operating layer configured to control 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 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 software operating layer provides a different level of intervention between the messages and the operation of the devices than the first software operating layer, 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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A control system for controlling a plurality of devices connected by a communications network to define an appliance operable to perform a series of steps in a cycle of operation on a physical article, the control system comprising:
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a user interface configured to receive input from a user for selection of a cycle of operation from multiple cycles of operation; a first software operating layer isolated from the communications network and configured to control the appliance to implement the selected cycle of operation to define a first control state; and a second software operating layer exposed to the communications network and configured to control a machine over the network to implement the selected cycle of operation to define a second control state. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A control system for controlling a plurality of devices connected by a communications network to define a machine operable to perform a series of steps in a cycle of operation, the control system comprising:
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a user interface configured to receive input from a user for selection of a cycle of operation from multiple cycles of operation; a first software operating layer isolated from the communications network and configured to control the machine to implement the selected cycle of operation to define a first control state; and a second software operating layer exposed to the communications network and configured to control the machine over the communications network to implement the selected cycle of operation to define a second control state, 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. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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Specification