Method and Apparatus for Setting Programmable Features of an Appliance

• US 20070206740A1
• Filed: 05/07/2007
• Published: 09/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: XCSR, LLC
• Original Assignee: Jerry Iggulden, Kyle Fields
• Inventors: Iggulden, Jerry, Fields, Kyle
• Granted Patent: US 7,415,102 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/102.30
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23306 Load program from host, remote load, non volatile card to volatile, ram
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network

Abstract

An interactive interface facilitates the setting of preferences and other programmable parameters of an appliance. The interface is hosted by a server on a global computer network. The appliance owner initiates a connection to the server and is presented with a graphical user interface for setting the preferences and features of the appliance. Once the desired settings have been made, they are downloaded to the appliance either directly from the server or the appliance owner'"'"'s computer or indirectly using a portable transfer device.

Claims

1. A method for setting programmable features of an appliance comprising:

operating a graphical user interface using a user'"'"'s computer, said graphical user interface having a virtual appliance that graphically depicts programmable features of a corresponding real appliance;

entering data with the user'"'"'s computer to set programmable features of the virtual appliance to generate set-up data;

providing a portable transfer device separate from the user'"'"'s computer having an input port and an output port;

coupling the input port of the transfer device to the computer;

transferring the set-up data from the computer to the transfer device;

coupling the output port of the transfer device to the appliance; and

transferring the set-up data from the transfer device to the real appliance.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising inserting the transfer device into a docking port in the real appliance.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the output port of the transfer device and the docking port have cooperating electrical contacts.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the input port of the transfer device is coupled to a serial port of the computer.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the input port of the transfer device is plugged into the serial port.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the input port of the transfer device is coupled to the serial port by a cable.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

setting programmable features of the real appliance by user input at the real appliance;

coupling the transfer device to the computer; and

transferring the user-input settings to the computer.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the transfer device comprises a key to operate the real appliance.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the programmable features comprise internal software of the real appliance.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the internal software comprises operating system software.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the programmable features comprise a control having a user-assigned function.

12. A method for setting a programmable feature of an appliance comprising:

providing an interactive site on a global computer network;

establishing a connection with the interactive site;

interactively setting a programmable feature of the appliance at the interactive site;

transferring set-up data for the programmable feature from the interactive site to the appliance.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

setting a programmable feature of the appliance by user input to a control physically associated with the appliance;

transferring the user-input setting of the programmable feature from the appliance to the interactive site.