Abstract: A knob assembly comprising a repositionable knob, a light-transmissive indicia provided on the knob, at least one light source, a position sensor, and a controller. The at least one light source may be controlled to provide light into the interior of the knob to illuminate the light-transmissive indicia so that it is viewable from the exterior of the knob.

Abstract: A client having at least one memory location is provided for use with an appliance network. The client includes an arbitrary software component for performing a useful function, a software architecture or a software architecture driver configured to generate or enable transmission of messages, and means to communicate by message over a network. Thus, the client can have full capability to act as an accessory to an appliance to communicate with and to enhance or alter the operation of the appliance.

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.

Abstract: A client having at least one memory location is provided for use with an appliance network. The client includes an arbitrary software component for performing a useful function, a software architecture or a software architecture driver configured to generate or enable transmission of messages, and means to communicate by message over a network. Thus, the client can have full capability to act as an accessory to an appliance to communicate with and to enhance or alter the operation of the appliance.

Abstract: An appliance network comprising a networked appliance and capable of communicating with a consumable such that information related to the consumable is communicated to the networked appliance.

Abstract: An appliance network comprising a networked appliance and capable of communicating with a consumable such that information related to the consumable is communicated to the networked appliance.

Abstract: A method of facilitating servicing an appliance includes establishing two way communications between an appliance and a remote client, and monitoring and communicating to the remote client operational data associated with the appliance. In this way, the remote client can use the operational data to service the appliance.

Abstract: In one aspect, an alphanumeric display assembly includes a printed circuit board (PCB), a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) and a plurality of light reflecting cups. The PCB has a front side and a rear side and includes a plurality of holes extending through the PCB between the front and rear sides. The holes are arranged to form an alphanumeric indicium. The LEDs are mounted to the PCB on the rear side. At least one LED is mounted adjacent to each hole. The plurality of light reflecting cups are mounted to the PCB on the rear side. Each light reflecting cup covers the at least one LED and the adjacent hole, and is spaced from the at least one LED and the adjacent hole to reflect light from the LEDs through the holes so the alphanumeric indicium is visible from the front side.

Abstract: An appliance has a communication network with a plurality of nodes for executing commands to enable operation by components. A firewall is provided to restrict access to the commands by the nodes without a password.

Abstract: A shelf for supporting items including but not limited to in refrigerated appliances includes in an integrated fashion a supporting surface and around the perimeter of the supporting surface of similar dimensions. A lighting subassembly is mountable to or integrated in the framing. Electrical power can be through touchless or contact electrical communication. In one form the supporting surface is a single substantially clear plate. In another form the supporting surface is a thin glass top layer and a bottom layer overmolded with the framing to the thin glass top layer.

Abstract: A method of provisioning an appliance to connect to a Wi-Fi network includes a mobile device having an encryption key to enable secure communication in the network, and a means to wirelessly communicate with the appliance. A wireless communication device and a software protocol in the appliance are configured to operate in an unsecured short range configuration mode by reducing transmission power and in a long range configuration mode where transmission power is not reduced. By placing the wireless communication device into the short range configuration mode and moving the mobile device to a position within the short range to establish communication with the wireless communication device, the encryption key may be transmitted from the mobile device to the appliance via the wireless communication device without security. The wireless communication device may then be placed into the long range mode to securely connect to the Wi-Fi network.

Abstract: A method of enabling adaptable demonstrations of products provides products with an internal communications network among at least two components, and includes distributing the products to vendors in different markets, providing to each vendor at least one smart device capable of assuming control of a component in the products, and distributing demonstration software to the vendors having smart devices. The demonstration software is unique to the vendor and/or the market so that the smart devices in different markets or among different vendors can be uniquely adapted to cause demonstration of the components in the products.

Abstract: A recipe wand reads meal plans and recipes for a recipe book, and with data about the appliance and one or more cycles of operation, sends data about a consumable to the appliance to automatically create and selectively commence a cycle of operation oh the consumable according to the recipe book.

Abstract: An appliance network has messaging protocol to establish communication between a first networked appliance and a remote user interface.

Abstract: An appliance having a smart device in communication with multiple components of the appliance and a user interface of the appliance, the smart device having an updatable demonstration software that takes over control of the multiple components from the controller when executing the demonstration software to implement a demonstration of the appliance by controlling the actuation of the components and display related multimedia information on the multimedia user interface.

Abstract: A product in the form of a household appliance has an internal communications network connecting two or more components, and software architecture implemented on the network that identifies the components, communicates the capabilities of each identified component, communicates the status of each identified component, provides a command interface for operating the components, and facilitates communication between the components and devices external to the product. An external smart device having demonstration software communicates with the internal communications network and is in control of at least one of the components to effect a demonstration of features of the product.

Abstract: Conducting a video conference as part of the operation or demonstration of an appliance.

Abstract: A method of self servicing an appliance includes connecting a service accessory to an appliance, recording diagnostics data associated with the appliance onto the service accessory, removing the service accessory from the appliance, coupling the service accessory to a personal computer, and uploading the diagnostics data to an automated service system. Another embodiment includes coupling a service accessory to a computer having a test script, transferring a test script from the computer to the service accessory, connecting the service accessory to the communication network of the appliance, establishing communications between the service accessory and the appliance using the communication network; and executing the test script over the communication network.

Abstract: A method of demonstrating a household appliance by executing a demonstration software to cause demonstration of at least one component of the appliance and to display related information on a user interface of the appliance by a multimedia program.

Abstract: The invention relates to a network system of at least two appliances, each appliance configured to perform a cycle of operation on an article, and each appliance having its own software architecture. An embedded virtual router enables communication among appliance components independent of the architecture of the software.