US6256378B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for setting programmable features of an appliance
Assignee: Xcsr LLC
•
Filing: 1999-07-12
•
Granted: 2001-07-03
•
Expires: 2019-07-12
Abstract
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.
Inventors
- 👤 Jerry Iggulden
- 👤 Kyle Fields
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 21:13
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L12/00; H04L12/28; H04L12/2803; H04L12/2807; H04L12/2814; G; G06; G06F; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/44; G06F9/451; H04M; H04M11/00; H04M11/007
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
153 words
A method for setting programmable features of an appliance comprising the steps of: providing an interactive site on a global computer network; providing a transfer device having an input port and an output port; establishing a connection with the interactive site using a computer with a display screen; interactively setting programmable features of a virtual appliance at the interactive site; downloading set-up data from the interactive site to the computer; modulating the display screen by displaying varying patterns of black and white pixels to transfer the set-up data to the input port of the transfer device, wherein the patterns of black and white pixels have a plurality of average intensity levels greater than two such that each of the patterns represents a corresponding data digit having a numerical base greater than two; downloading the set-up data from the output port of the transfer device to a real appliance corresponding to the virtual appliance.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
153 words
A method for setting programmable features of an appliance comprising the steps of: providing an interactive site on a global computer network; providing a transfer device having an input port and an output port; establishing a connection with the interactive site using a computer with a display screen; interactively setting programmable features of a virtual appliance at the interactive site; downloading set-up data from the interactive site to the computer; modulating the display screen by displaying varying patterns of black and white pixels to transfer the set-up data to the input port of the transfer device, wherein the patterns of black and white pixels have a plurality of average intensity levels greater than two such that each of the patterns represents a corresponding data digit having a numerical base greater than two; downloading the set-up data from the output port of the transfer device to a real appliance corresponding to the virtual appliance.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the input port of the transfer device comprises an optical sensor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the output port of the transfer device comprises an infra-red transmitter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of creating a record of the set-up data.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step, prior to the step of setting programmable features, of entering a serial number of the real appliance.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of extracting information from the set-up data and sending said information to a manufacturer of the real appliance.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the patterns comprise regular patterns of cells.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the patterns comprise irregular graphic patterns.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3407301A
Cited
US3737566A
Cited
US4034362A
Cited
US3993861A
Cited
US4329684A
Cited
US4999617A
Cited
US4807031A
Cited
US5228077A
Cited
US4962522A
Cited
US5153568A
Cited
US5347110A
Cited
US5268995A
Cited
US5231488A
Cited
US5333054A
Cited
US5414756A
Cited
US5309509A
Cited
US5410326A
Cited
US5528740A
Cited
US5745068A
Cited
US5761601A
Cited
US5726645A
Cited
US5805443A
Cited
US5488571A
Cited
US5535147A
Cited
US5521966A
Cited
US5953047A
Cited
US5907350A
Cited
US5767896A
Cited
US5880769A
Cited
US5594493A
Cited
US5600711A
Cited
US5570297A
Cited
US5553123A
Cited
US5815086A
Cited
US5592188A
Cited
US5748895A
Cited
US5652602A
Cited
US5734363A
Cited
US5781125A
Cited
US5876765A
Cited
US5636994A
Cited
WO1997018636A2
Cited
US5752880A
Cited
US5774063A
Cited
WO1997030375A1
Cited
US5746602A
Cited
EP0803808A2
Cited
US6112127A
Cited
US5852615A
Cited
US5850304A
Cited
WO1998038570A1
Cited
US5905486A
Cited
US5819294A
Cited
US6049778A
Cited
US6161133A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-07-02 | 2005-01-01 | 2005-07-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-07-02 | 2009-01-01 | 2009-07-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-07-02 | 2013-01-01 | 2013-07-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |