Abstract: Cleaning systems and methods for operating cleaning systems are provided. A cleaning system includes a washing machine appliance, the washing machine appliance including a first controller operable to store and transmit wash control information. The cleaning system further includes a dryer appliance, the dryer appliance including a second controller operable to receive the wash control information from the washing machine appliance and store dry control information, the second controller further operable to adjust the dry control information based on the wash control information. The cleaning system further includes a remote server in wireless communication with the first controller and the second controller, and a user interface device in wireless communication with the remote server, the user interface device operable to modify the dry control information. The wash control information is transmitted from the first controller through the remote server to the second controller.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for connecting remote options to a digital telephone base. Physical and communications protocols for connections and a flexible control scheme which can be as simple or elaborate as a given option requires are provided. The digital telephone includes an option bay connection, having a hierarchical control protocol. The option bay connection makes available several types of information, including: local analog audio, analog voice, digital voice, digital data and telephone control streams.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for connecting a programmable computing device to a digital telephone via an adapter. The digital telephone includes an option bay connection, having a hierarchical control protocol. The option bay connection makes available several types of information including local analog audio, and analog voice, digital voice, digital data and telephone control streams. The adapter passes the telephony control data to and from a programmable computing device such as a personal computer, enabling an application operating on the computing device to control or monitor the operation of the telephone. The adapter includes a microcontroller and an interface for a serial port and can thus be connected to the serial port of the programmable computing device.

Abstract: A system and method of synchronizing visual indicators in digital telephone including at least one attached auxiliary device. Visual indicators on the base telephone and the auxiliary device are first set to an initial state. Later, as various telephony features are activated, corresponding ones of the visual indicators on the base telephone and the auxiliary device are operated at predetermined cadences. When the cadence control mechanism (and thus the visual indicators) of the base telephone reaches a predetermined state, a state machine in the base telephone sends a synchronization message to the auxiliary device and then continues to operate the visual indicators on the base telephone at their predetermined respective cadences. Upon receipt of the synchronization message, the auxiliary device sets its cadence control mechanism to the predetermined state, thus synchronizing them with their like cadence counterparts in the base digital telephone.