Abstract: Methods of operating a water heater appliance are provided. The water heater appliance includes a tank, a cold water inlet conduit extending into the tank, a heating element within the tank, a hot water conduit extending from the tank to a mixing valve, a mixed water conduit downstream of the mixing valve, and a user interface. The method includes receiving a user input, determining a tank temperature setpoint value based on the received user input, and adjusting a tank temperature setpoint to the determined tank temperature setpoint value.

Abstract: A method for authenticating control boards in an appliance includes reading a serial number from a memory of a first control board positioned within the appliance, reading a serial number from a memory of a second control board positioned within the appliance and in communication with the first control board, comparing the serial number from the memory of the first control board to the serial number from the memory of the second control board, and authenticating the first and second control boards when the serial number from the memory of the first control board matches the serial number from the memory of the second control board.

Abstract: A diagnostic tool and method of servicing a consumer appliance is provided herein. The diagnostic tool may include a casing and a controller. The casing may be spaced apart from the consumer appliance. The controller may be selectively connected to the consumer appliance. The controller may be configured to direct a service operation. Moreover, the service operation may include receiving non-functional character data from the consumer appliance at the diagnostic tool, assigning an appliance configuration manifest to the consumer appliance based on the received non-functional character data, determining a service action based on the appliance configuration manifest, and initiating the determined service action at the diagnostic tool.

Abstract: A method for authenticating control boards in an appliance includes reading a serial number from a memory of a first control board positioned within the appliance, reading a serial number from a memory of a second control board positioned within the appliance and in communication with the first control board, comparing the serial number from the memory of the first control board to the serial number from the memory of the second control board, and authenticating the first and second control boards when the serial number from the memory of the first control board matches the serial number from the memory of the second control board.

Abstract: Methods of servicing one or more consumer appliances are provided herein. The method may include establishing an automatic wireless connection to the consumer appliance with a removably attached dongle through a cellular communications network. The method may also include identifying a consumer appliance as one appliance type of a predetermined plurality of appliance types. The method may further include receiving a recorded log data set from the consumer appliance through the dongle based on the identified appliance type. The method may still further include determining whether an errant event has occurred at the consumer appliance based on the recorded log data set.

Abstract: Systems and methods for intelligently updating a software configuration of an appliance are provided. In particular, the systems and methods include features for performing software updates based on the unique identity or fingerprint of one or more control boards present in the appliance. Further, methods for tracking appliances with unknown software configurations are also provided.

Abstract: Systems and methods for intelligently updating a software configuration of an appliance are provided. In particular, the systems and methods include features for performing software updates based on the unique identity or fingerprint of one or more control boards present in the appliance. Further, methods for tracking appliances with unknown software configurations are also provided.

Abstract: A method for data rate switching in an appliance that is connected to a network includes polling data at a first rate when a value of a status of the appliance is a first value, transmitting the data polled at the first rate from the appliance via the network, polling data at a second rate when the value of the status of the appliance is a second value, and transmitting the data polled at the second rate from the appliance via the network.

Abstract: Methods of servicing one or more consumer appliances are provided herein. The method may include establishing an automatic wireless connection to the consumer appliance with a removably attached dongle through a cellular communications network. The method may also include identifying a consumer appliance as one appliance type of a predetermined plurality of appliance types. The method may further include receiving a recorded log data set from the consumer appliance through the dongle based on the identified appliance type. The method may still further include determining whether an errant event has occurred at the consumer appliance based on the recorded log data set.

Abstract: A diagnostic tool and method of servicing a consumer appliance is provided herein. The diagnostic tool may include a casing and a controller. The casing may be spaced apart from the consumer appliance. The controller may be selectively connected to the consumer appliance. The controller may be configured to direct a service operation. Moreover, the service operation may include receiving non-functional character data from the consumer appliance at the diagnostic tool, assigning an appliance configuration manifest to the consumer appliance based on the received non-functional character data, determining a service action based on the appliance configuration manifest, and initiating the determined service action at the diagnostic tool.

Abstract: Systems and methods for updating a software configuration of one or more control boards of an appliance are provided. For instance, a payload image file can be received. The payload image file can comprise a plurality of update images that include software configuration data for an appliance control board associated with an appliance group. Configuration data associated with a plurality of control boards present in a target appliance can be received. An appliance payload associated with the target appliance can be determined based at least in part on the configuration data. The appliance payload can include one or more update images to be associated with the target appliance.

Abstract: Systems and methods for updating a software configuration of one or more control boards of an appliance are provided. For instance, a payload image file can be received. The payload image file can comprise a plurality of update images that include software configuration data for an appliance control board associated with an appliance group. Configuration data associated with a plurality of control boards present in a target appliance can be received. An appliance payload associated with the target appliance can be determined based at least in part on the configuration data. The appliance payload can include one or more update images to be associated with the target appliance.

Abstract: A household energy management system for managing multiple appliances is provided. In an embodiment the system comprises a controller for managing power consumption of multiple appliances within a household; a utility meter for measuring an amount of energy usage to a household, the utility meter communicating to the controller a demand limit; and a user interface through which a user can enter a parameter of energy usage. The controller establishes a demand limit. A communication network connects the controller to the utility meter and/or to a demand server. The controller controls or operates the multiple appliances based cm communications from at least one of the utility meter, the user interface, and a demand server, such that the energy usage does not exceed the established demand limit.

Abstract: A device and method for enabling an home energy management (HEM) system to work with a home power generator to run the home in a “survival mode” when the home has lost power from the main utility feed. The HEM controls the operation of the main appliances/loads to enable the homeowner to have basic functionality (hot water, lights, heat, cooking & preserving food) of their home, all while ensuring the max draw on the home does not exceed the output rating of the generator thereby allowing the use of a smaller generator while still providing functionality similar to larger generators resulting in energy and cost savings to the consumer.

Abstract: A system for enabling a viewable personal area network (PAN) identification (ID) over an wireless network. The system includes a coordinator configured to assign a PAN ID to an available PAN, a device configured to transmit and/or receive data using 802.15.4 protocol or equivalent, and at least one processor. The at least one processor is programmed to receive a request from the device to scan for an available wireless network, receive the assigned PAN ID based on the request, determine whether the PAN ID is a viewable PAN ID, and provide the PAN ID based on the determination.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon-fueled hot water heater for supplying hot water includes a cold water inlet, a hot water outlet, a selectively activatable burner for applying heat to a volume of water between the inlet and the outlet, a sensor for sensing activation of the at least one burner, and a communication interface for communicating data corresponding to the activation of the at least one burner to a processor configured to multiply the amount of time the burner is activated by a known value corresponding to a flow rate of the burner to estimate an amount of fuel consumed by the hydrocarbon-fueled hot water heater. Other devices and methods of submetering hydrocarbon fueled water heaters are also included.

Abstract: A renewable energy management system includes a load center that enables current flow into a renewable energy system generated from one or more sources and facilitates consumption of generated energy by one or more devices in the renewable energy system, and a smart meter that tracks energy flow in and out of the load center to measure energy consumption and energy production for the renewable energy system. The system also includes an energy manager in communication with the smart meter and at least one of the devices, wherein the energy manager signals the at least one of the devices to function as an energy storage device for storing excess renewable energy generated by the renewable energy system.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for monitoring water leaks within a home. A home network with various devices monitors these devices with a controller. Information is received from a water flow meter via a transceiver for tracking a total water flow amount through pipelines in the home. By comparing information collected to a predetermined threshold, a leak is determined as present or not within each pipeline. Upon the detection of a leak in the home, a home owner is notified of the condition so that action is taken expeditiously. A shut off valve can be triggered remotely when a request is received from the user, which closes the water pipeline to prevent water damage.

Abstract: Temperature adjustment systems and methods for adjusting thermostat temperature settings are provided. A system includes an oven appliance sensor in communication with an oven appliance, the oven appliance sensor operable to sense an operation of the oven appliance. The system further includes a thermostat in communication with the oven appliance sensor, the thermostat operable to adjust a temperature setting based on the sensed operation of the oven appliance. A method includes sensing an operation of an oven appliance, communicating the operation of the oven appliance to the thermostat, and adjusting the thermostat temperature setting based on the sensed operation of the oven appliance.

Abstract: A system and method for maximizing the value of power generated by a residential power generator. A home energy manager device is configured to implement a minimum energy usage profile during a peak demand event such that a maximum amount of power generated by the consumer can be sold back to the utility. For renewable energy sources such as solar cells, peak demand events often correspond with peak output of the renewable energy source. For example, hot sunny summer days are conducive to maximum solar power output and, typically, also result in maximum power demand for powering air conditioners.