Product service system and method

• US 9,103,061 B2
• Filed: 09/09/2008
• Issued: 08/11/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: Jeffery, Randell L., McCoy, Richard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kira
• Application Number:
  US12/206,766
• Publication Number:
  US 20090006970A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,527 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1.1, 705/302, 705/304, 705/305, 705/346, 705/500
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2101/20 Operation modes, e.g. delicate laundry washing programs, service modes or refreshment cycles
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/58 Indications or alarms to the control system or to the user
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/60 Audible signals
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 33/47 Responding to irregular working conditions, e.g. malfunctioning of pumps safety arrangements D06F37/42
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/05 for wireless communication between components, e.g. for remote monitoring or control
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/32 characterised by graphical features, e.g. touchscreens
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0063 where the network is a peer-to-peer network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems

Abstract

An appliance is configured to establish a communications link through the appliance between a user and a service representative as part of installing, diagnosing and servicing the appliance.

Claims

1. A method of servicing an appliance configured to perform a cycle of operation on a physical article, and having a processor with control logic in communication with at least one observable component in the appliance to effect the cycle of operation by way of a first software operating layer in a first operating state and an alternate logic for communication with the at least one observable component in the appliance by way of a second software operating layer in a second operating state, and a software architecture that enables communication with the at least one observable component over a network external to the appliance, and wherein the network includes a multimedia controller with a first user interface, the method comprising:

establishing an audio-video conference link via the multimedia controller between a service representative and a user of the appliance to enable interaction between the service representative via a second user interface and the user via the first user interface;

establishing two way communication between the at least one observable component and the service representative over the network via the software architecture wherein the control logic of the first software operating layer is rendered ineffective unless invoked by way of the second software operating layer;

communicating information between the user and the service representative via the audio-video conference link;

selecting by the service representative a diagnostic test having at least one command message and expected results;

transmitting the at least one command message over the network to the at least one observable component;

executing the at least one command message by way of the second software operating layer in the second operating state either by way of the second software operating layer operating the control logic of the first software operating layer or by way of the alternate logic of the second software operating layer and directly commanding the at least one observable component in the second operating state independently of the first software operating layer;

observing on the second user interface any state change in the at least one observable component based on the execution of the at least one command message; and

comparing the expected results to the observation.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of collecting data about the at least one component.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the audio-video conference link includes at least one of a still picture of the service representative, a video of the service representative, a voice signal from the service representative, a voice signal from the user, a still picture of the user, a video of a user, an audible signal from the appliance, a still picture of the appliance, and a video of the appliance.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the communicating information includes one of answering questions, asking questions, explaining to the user how to use the appliance, assisting the user in a service process, assisting the user in an installation or configuration of the appliance, ordering a replacement part, authorizing a replacement part order, purchasing a good or service, and authorizing the purchase of a good or service.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the service representative controls the at least one component by sending one of a network message to the at least one observable component and a test script to be run on the at least one observable component.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the test script is contained in one of an XML document, a database record, and SQL statements for appending and updating records in a database.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the appliance comprises multiple observable components and the service representative selects which of the multiple observable components to activate as part of the service.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the service representative sends information to the user over the multimedia controller.

9. The method of claim 8 where the information is one of a fault tree or portion thereof, a how-to video, a use and care guide, a frequently ask questions document, a still picture, an image, a survey, a question, an SQL statement, an XML document, and a URL.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising coupling a smart device having the multimedia controller to the network.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the service representative controls the at least one observable component.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the user controls the at least one observable component using the smart device.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the appliance comprises multiple observable components and the service representative selects which of the multiple observable components to activate.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the smart device is used for one of the service representative sending information to the user, the user sending information to the service representative, the at least one observable component sending information to the service representative, and the at least one observable component receiving information from the service representative.