US7215746B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for setting programmable features of an appliance
Assignee: Xcsr LLC
•
Filing: 2004-09-09
•
Granted: 2007-05-08
•
Expires: 2024-09-09
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 03:24
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: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
151 words
A method for setting programmable features of an appliance comprising: providing an interactive site on a global computer network; providing a graphical user interface at the interactive site, said graphical user interface having a virtual appliance that graphically depicts programmable features of a corresponding real appliance, said real appliance including a removable transfer device having an input port; establishing a connection with the interactive site using a computer; interactively setting programmable features of the virtual appliance using the graphical user interface at the interactive site; downloading set-up data for the programmable features from the interactive site to the computer; removing the transfer device from the real appliance; coupling the input port of the transfer device to the computer; transferring the set-up data from the computer to the transfer device; returning the transfer device to the real appliance; and using the set-up data to set the programmable features of the real appliance.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
151 words
A method for setting programmable features of an appliance comprising: providing an interactive site on a global computer network; providing a graphical user interface at the interactive site, said graphical user interface having a virtual appliance that graphically depicts programmable features of a corresponding real appliance, said real appliance including a removable transfer device having an input port; establishing a connection with the interactive site using a computer; interactively setting programmable features of the virtual appliance using the graphical user interface at the interactive site; downloading set-up data for the programmable features from the interactive site to the computer; removing the transfer device from the real appliance; coupling the input port of the transfer device to the computer; transferring the set-up data from the computer to the transfer device; returning the transfer device to the real appliance; and using the set-up data to set the programmable features of the real appliance.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising inserting the transfer device into a docking port in the real appliance.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the output port of the transfer device and the docking port have cooperating electrical contacts.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the interactive site is accessed via the World Wide Web.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the input port of the transfer device is coupled to a serial port of the computer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the input port of the transfer device is plugged into the serial port.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the input port of the transfer device is coupled to the serial port by a cable.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the programmable features comprise internal software of the real appliance.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the internal software comprises operating system software.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the programmable features comprise a control having a user-assigned function.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
154 words
A method for setting programmable features of an appliance comprising: providing an interactive site on a global computer network; providing a graphical user interface at the interactive site, said graphical user interface having a virtual appliance that graphically depicts programmable features of a corresponding real appliance; establishing a connection between a user's computer and the interactive site; entering data with the user's computer to set programmable features of the virtual appliance at the interactive site; providing a portable transfer device separate from the user's computer having an input port and an output port; downloading set-up data for the programmable features from the interactive site to the user's computer; 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.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
154 words
A method for setting programmable features of an appliance comprising: providing an interactive site on a global computer network; providing a graphical user interface at the interactive site, said graphical user interface having a virtual appliance that graphically depicts programmable features of a corresponding real appliance; establishing a connection between a user's computer and the interactive site; entering data with the user's computer to set programmable features of the virtual appliance at the interactive site; providing a portable transfer device separate from the user's computer having an input port and an output port; downloading set-up data for the programmable features from the interactive site to the user's computer; 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.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 11 further comprising inserting the transfer device into a docking port in the real appliance.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the output port of the transfer device and the docking port have cooperating electrical contacts.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the interactive site is accessed via the World Wide Web.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the input port of the transfer device is coupled to a serial port of the computer.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the input port of the transfer device is plugged into the serial port.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the input port of the transfer device is coupled to the serial port by a cable.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the transfer device comprises a key to operate the real appliance.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the programmable features comprise internal software of the real appliance.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 19 wherein the internal software comprises operating system software.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the programmable features comprise a control having a user-assigned function.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
117 words
A method for setting programmable features of an appliance comprising: operating a graphical user interface using a computer, said graphical user interface having a virtual appliance that graphically depicts programmable features of a corresponding real appliance, said real appliance including a removable transfer device having an input port; interactively setting programmable features of the virtual appliance using the graphical user interface to generate set-up data; removing the transfer device from the real appliance; coupling the input port of the transfer device to the computer; transferring the set-up data from the computer to the transfer device; returning the transfer device to the real appliance; and using the set-up data to set the programmable features of the real appliance.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
117 words
A method for setting programmable features of an appliance comprising: operating a graphical user interface using a computer, said graphical user interface having a virtual appliance that graphically depicts programmable features of a corresponding real appliance, said real appliance including a removable transfer device having an input port; interactively setting programmable features of the virtual appliance using the graphical user interface to generate set-up data; removing the transfer device from the real appliance; coupling the input port of the transfer device to the computer; transferring the set-up data from the computer to the transfer device; returning the transfer device to the real appliance; and using the set-up data to set the programmable features of the real appliance.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 22 further comprising inserting the transfer device into a docking port in the real appliance.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 23 wherein the output port of the transfer device and the docking port have cooperating electrical contacts.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 22 wherein the input port of the transfer device is coupled to a serial port of the computer.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 25 wherein the input port of the transfer device is plugged into the serial port.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 25 wherein the input port of the transfer device is coupled to the serial port by a cable.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 22 wherein the programmable features comprise internal software of the real appliance.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 28 wherein the internal software comprises operating system software.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 22 wherein the programmable features comprise a control having a user-assigned function.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
86 words
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; 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.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
86 words
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; 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.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2010-05-07 | 2010-11-06 | 2011-05-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2014-05-07 | 2014-11-06 | 2015-05-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2018-05-07 | 2018-11-06 | 2019-05-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |