Method and apparatus for remote service of an appliance

• US 8,040,234 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Issued: 10/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: McCoy, Richard A., Elston, Wallace J. III, Heilman, Layne E., Glotzbach, Mark E., Ebrom, Matthew P., Jenkins, Anthony E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu; Huy
• Assistant Examiner(s): RENNER, BRANDON M
• Application Number:
  US11/931,608
• Publication Number:
  US 20080287121A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,448 Days
• Field of Search: 700/198, 709/220, 726/14
• US Class Current: 340/531
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0063 using remote monitoring or controlling of the dishwasher operation, e.g. networking systems
• 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: G04G 7/02 by radio
• CPC Class Codes: G04R 20/26 the radio signal being a near-field communication signal
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3495 for systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/54 Interprogram communication
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2807 Exchanging configuration information on appliance services in a home automation network arrangements for maintenance or administration involving network analysis for automatically determining the actual topology of a network H04L41/12; hardware or software tools for network management using graphical user interfaces H04L41/22; address allocation H04L61/50
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2814 Exchanging control software or macros for controlling appliance services in a home automation network arrangements for maintenance or administration involving configuration of the network and network elements H04L41/08
• 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: H04L 12/2823 Reporting information sensed by appliance or service execution status of appliance services in a home automation network device-related reporting H04L43/065; arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom H04Q9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2825 Reporting to a device located outside the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with telemetering systems H04M11/002
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2827 Reporting to a device within the home network; wherein the reception of the information reported automatically triggers the execution of a home appliance functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2832 Interconnection of the control functionalities between home networks single bridge functionality H04L12/4625
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/285 Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/105 Multiple levels of security
• 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 69/26 : Special purpose or proprietary protocols or architectures network applications for proprietary or special purpose networking environments H04L67/12
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/688 : for thawing
• 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: Y02D 10/00 : Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

An appliance network has a service key accessory to facilitate remote diagnosis and service of an appliance.

Claims

1. An appliance, configured to perform a cycle of operation to complete a physical operation on an article, comprising:

a communication network having a plurality of interconnected nodes configured to communicate across the communication network;

a plurality of components, each component associated with at least one of the plurality of nodes;

a processor with control logic in communication with the plurality of components;

a software architecture configured to generate a plurality of messages on the communication network wherein the software architecture includes a first software operating layer configured to control operation of at least one of the plurality of components by way of the control logic 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 plurality of components in a second operational state in response to messages sent on the communications network, wherein the control logic by way of the first software operating layer is rendered ineffective unless invoked by way of the second software operating layer; and

a service accessory disposed and configured to communicate with the software architecture for directly controlling the at least one of the plurality of components bypassing the control logic, independently of the first software operating layer and independently of other components within the plurality of components in response to messages from the service accessory.

2. The appliance of claim 1 wherein the service accessory is configured to communicate with a remote service center so that the remote service center can be placed in communication with the service accessory to diagnose a component failure.

3. The appliance of claim 2 wherein the remote service center can assume control of the at least one of the plurality of components by way of the software architecture.

4. The appliance of claim 1 wherein one of the software architecture and the service accessory stores data representative of a failure of a component.

5. The appliance of claim 4 wherein the service accessory is configured to communicate with a remote service center so that the remote service center can be placed in communication with the service accessory to retrieve the data.

6. The appliance of claim 5 wherein the service accessory is configured to communicate with an automated service system that retrieves the data from the service accessory.

7. The appliance of claim 1 wherein the service accessory is a coupling mechanism for connecting the appliance to one of a computing device, a cellular phone, a personal computer, and personal digital assistant.

8. The appliance of claim 1 wherein the service accessory is a removable service module configured to store data representative of a failure of a component, and to connect to and upload the data to a remote client.

9. The appliance of claim 8 wherein the service module is configured to store and communicate to the software architecture testing scripts related to the component failure.

10. The appliance of claim 1 wherein the service accessory comprises a central collector configured to communicate with the plurality of components and monitor and record operational data associated with the plurality of components.

11. The appliance of claim 10 wherein the central collector is disposed within the appliance.

12. The appliance of claim 1 wherein the service accessory comprises a black box recorder constructed to survive a catastrophic event.

13. The appliance of claim 1 wherein the service accessory is interfaced with the electrical system of the appliance to monitor and record data related to power consumption by the plurality of components.

14. A method of remotely servicing the appliance of claim 5 comprising:

calling a remote service center;

advising the remote service center of malfunction in the appliance;

establishing communication between the remote service center and the service accessory;

downloading data from the service accessory;

analyzing the data to diagnose a component failure; and

communicating a response to the user.

15. A network comprising:

an appliance, configured to perform a cycle of operation to complete a physical domestic operation on an article, including;

a communication network having a plurality of interconnected nodes configured to communicate across the communication network;

a plurality of components, each component associated with at least one of the plurality of nodes; and

a processor with control logic in communication with the plurality of components;

a software architecture having a plurality of software elements and configured to generate a plurality of messages on the communication network wherein the software architecture includes a first software operating layer configured to control operation of at least one of the plurality of components by way of the control logic 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 plurality of components in a second operational state in response to messages sent on the communications network, wherein the control logic by way of the first software operating layer is rendered ineffective unless invoked by way of the second software operating layer; and

a remote service center configured to communicate with the software architecture for monitoring at the least one of the plurality of components, wherein the at least one of the plurality of components is directly controlled by the second software operating layer, bypassing the control logic, and independently of the first software operating layer and independently of other components within the plurality of components in response to messages from the remote service center.

16. The network of claim 15 wherein the remote service center can assume control of the at least one of the plurality of components by way of the software architecture.

17. A service accessory for an appliance having a communication network with a plurality of interconnected nodes configured to communicate across the communication network and a plurality of components, each component associated with at least one of the plurality of nodes, wherein the appliance has first and second software operating layers, the first software operating layer enabling the components to operate the appliance by way of control logic, the service accessory comprising:

means to communicate and exchange data with the communication network of the appliance;

memory for storing data retrieved from the appliance; and

a software component configured to transmit at least one command message to the second software operating layer via the communication network of the appliance based on the data, the execution of which directly controls at least one of the plurality of components, bypassing the control logic, wherein the first software operating layer is rendered ineffective unless invoked by way of the second software operating layer, and to monitor the execution with updated data retrieved from the appliance.

18. The service accessory of claim 17 further comprising a service logic configured to assume control of the appliance when the service accessory is in communication with the communication network of the appliance.

19. The service accessory of claim 17 further comprising means to communicate with a network external to the appliance, wherein the updated data can be transmitted to the external network.

20. The service accessory of claim 19 wherein the external network comprises one of a personal computer, the internet, and a telephone network.

21. The service accessory of claim 17 wherein the software component is configured to place the appliance into a development state wherein the service accessory assumes control of appliance components in order to remotely or locally execute diagnostic tests.