Method for initiating a consumable-based cycle of operation

• US 9,277,188 B2
• Filed: 05/08/2013
• Issued: 03/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: Ebrom, Matthew P., McCoy, Richard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAN, MAN U
• Application Number:
  US13/889,625
• Publication Number:
  US 20130235197A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,028 Days
• Field of Search: 370389-401, 348143-371, 700 83- 87, 700316-329, 715705-764
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/54 Interprogram communication
• 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 69/26 Special purpose or proprietary protocols or architectures network applications for proprietary or special purpose networking environments H04L67/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources
• 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

Abstract

A method of initiating a cycle of operation based on a consumable includes providing a consumable reader having a software architecture configured to image data, communicate over a network, and identify functionalities of appliances based on a unique identifier associated with each instance of a functionality, imaging data about the consumable using the consumable reader; retrieving cycle data associated with the consumable based on the imaged data; ascertaining in the software architecture at least one functionality associated with the cycle data; selecting from the plurality of appliances an appliance having the at least one functionality using the unique identifier associated with an instance of the at least one functionality; and communicating the cycle data to the selected appliance over the network of appliances wherein the selected appliance can conduct a cycle of operation associated with the consumable using the cycle data.

Claims

1. A method of initiating a cycle of operation based on a consumable in one of a plurality of appliances, each of which communicates over a network, the method comprising:

providing a consumable reader having a software architecture configured to image information, communicate over the network, and identify functionalities of appliances based on a unique identifier associated with each instance of a functionality;

imaging information about the consumable using the consumable reader;

retrieving uncompiled data associated with the consumable based on the imaged information wherein the uncompiled data includes a description of an ordered collection of steps, actions to be taken by at least one component of an appliance during each step, and conditions under which a current step should transition into a next step in the ordered collection of steps;

ascertaining in the software architecture at least one functionality associated with the uncompiled data;

selecting from the plurality of appliances an appliance having the at least one functionality using the unique identifier associated with an instance of the at least one functionality; and

communicating the uncompiled data to the selected appliance over the network of appliances wherein the selected appliance can build a custom operation cycle based on the uncompiled data and conduct the custom cycle of operation associated with the consumable.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the consumable reader is a handheld device with a camera.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the handheld device is a smart phone.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the uncompiled data is retrieved from a non-transitory storage medium in the consumable reader.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the uncompiled data is retrieved from the internet.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the imaging includes reading encoded data.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the encoded data includes one of a QR code or a bar code.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the imaging includes using a camera in the consumable reader.