Abstract: An appliance includes one or more control boards having control software to control a cycle of operation of the appliance, a graphical user interface in communication with the control boards for allowing a user to observe and interact with the appliance regarding the cycle of operation, and a software framework configured to run in a processor having memory in communication with the graphical user interface. The software framework has theme definitions and access to builder content containing information with which it associates a theme definition with one or more resources. The software framework dynamically renders the graphical user interface at runtime based on the resources in response to selection of a theme so that a user can cause the control board to control the cycle of operation via the selected theme in the graphical user interface.

Abstract: A modular device for determining attributes of a substance stored in a container having a sensing module, a transmitter module and a power source module. The sensing module is capable of sensing attributes of a substance and providing an output. The transmitter module is configured to transmit an output of the at least one sensing module when operably coupled to the sensing module. The power source module is capable of being operably connected to the sensor module and the transmitter module to power the sensor module and the transmitter module.

Abstract: A network includes a client and an appliance configured to perform an operation cycle on an article using a consumable. Information associated with the consumable can be exchanged between the appliance and the client across the network.

Abstract: A consumable holder has a source of a consumable, a first appliance coupling point configured to receive a resource from and convey the resource or consumable to an appliance configured to use the consumable and the resource in a physical operation on an article, a process control apparatus to control conveyance of the resource or consumable to and from the consumable holder, and a second appliance coupling point in communication with the process control apparatus and configured to connect to an appliance. Thus, an appliance coupled to the consumable holder can communicate with the process control apparatus via the second coupling point.

Abstract: An appliance development toolkit includes an editor configured to create one or more test scripts having steps with each step being separated from its adjacent steps by a transition condition. The transition condition includes a logic expression resolvable to a boolean transition value, and one or more command statements that instruct what should happen so that a test engine can execute the command statement contemporaneous with the transition from one step to another. The toolkit also includes information associated with a message element in a message data payload. The message data payload is uniquely identifiable within a universe of pre-defined message data payloads for an appliance. The toolkit also includes a converter for placing the test script into a form for use in diagnosing an appliance.

Abstract: Systems and components for providing or receiving a mechanical power service through a mechanical power coupling system. A mechanical power service switch is provided for selectively communicating the mechanical power service between a first mechanical power service communicating device, such as a host or other mechanical power service source and a first mechanical power service communicating device, such as a mechanical power service consumer. The mechanical power service switch is activated to transfer a mechanical power service in response to detection of a contactless proximity target associated with one of the mechanical power service communicating devices by a proximity sensor associated with the other of the mechanical power service communicating devices.

Abstract: An embedded virtual router is provided for a system comprising a device having a first software component configured to obtain and convey information associated with a consumable and an appliance having a second software component configured to perform a physical cycle of operation on an article using the consumable. The embedded virtual router encapsulates the two software components so that collaboration between them is uniform and identical whether the collaboration is over a network or sharing a runtime environment.

Abstract: A system for communicating a mechanical power service between mechanical power service communicating devices. A service switch is provided for selectively transferring the mechanical power service from a first mechanical power service communicating device, such as a host or other mechanical power service provider or source, to a second mechanical power service communicating device, such as an accessory device or other mechanical power service consumer. The service switch is activated to communicate the mechanical power service between the first mechanical power service communicating device and the second mechanical power service communicating device in response to movement of a component associated with one of the mechanical power service communicating devices.

Abstract: An appliance development toolkit according to the invention is provided to enable creation of content to affect operation of a component in an appliance or to affect user interaction with an appliance. The toolkit comprises an editor configured to enable creation of a variable holder, to associate the variable holder with a variable, to create a value holder related to a valid value of the variable, and to associate the variable holder with the value holder. A user can use either of the variable holder or the value holder in creating a hierarchy of elements for content independent of any relationship that may otherwise exist between the variable and other elements and between the value and other elements. With this structure, the variable and the value can be used in different contexts with different relationships while maintaining their relationship with each other by way of the variable holder and the value holder.

Abstract: A system for receiving an eService, such as a thermal service, an illumination service or an acoustic service, from an eService source. A service switch is provided for selectively transferring the eService from a host or other eService source to an eService consumer. The service switch is activated to transfer the eService from the eService source to the eService consumer in response to movement of a component associated with the eService source.

Abstract: An appliance development toolkit includes access to user interface domain data, an editor configured to create one or more instances of user interface control data, to create a map for associating the instances with one or more resource identifiers, and to create a map for associating one or more theme identifiers with the resource identifiers. The toolkit also has a converter for creating content based on the instances of user interface control data and the maps. The content is in a builder file. An appliance, having a graphical user interface with which a user can control and observe operation of the appliance, can use the builder file at runtime to dynamically render its graphical user interface based on resources in response to selection of a theme.

Abstract: A consumable holder is provided for use with the appliance configured to perform a physical cycle of operation on an article. The consumable holder is configured to communicate with the appliance using a well formed command according to a taxonomy dataset.

Abstract: A system for communicating a substance from between substance communicating devices. A substance switch is provided for selectively transferring the substance from a first substance communicating device, such as a host or other substance source to a first substance communicating device, such as a such as a substance consumer. The substance switch is activated to communicate the substance between the first substance communicating device and the second substance communicating device in response to movement of a component associated with one of the substance communicating devices.

Abstract: Systems and components for providing or receiving a service through a service connector system. A first substance communicating device has a first service connector component and a first switch component. A second substance communicating device has a second service connector component operably actuatable by the first service connector component to permit the communication of a service between the first and second service connector components. One of the substance communicating devices further has a second switch component operably associated with the second service connector component, the second switch component being configured to be actuatable by the first switch component when the first service connector component is adjacent the second service connector component to selectively draw the first and second service connector components into engagement to permit the communication of the service between the substance communicating devices.

Abstract: A network system comprising a system of devices having a plurality of nodes defining a communications network. At least one identifier from a pre-determined group of identifiers is associated with each of the nodes and identifies the functionalities that are applicable to that node or device associated with that node. In one embodiment, at least one of the nodes can transmit the at least one identifier by a message sent over the communications network for receipt by at least one of the nodes to thereby publish the functionalities over the communications network.

Abstract: A substance communicating device for use in conjunction with an appliance or a system including an appliance and a consumable holder. The appliance has a first substance service connector component and a first service switch component. The substance communicating device has a second substance service connector component operably engageable with the first substance connector component to permit the communication of a substance between the first and second substance service connector components. The substance communicating device further has a second service switch component operably associated with the second substance service connector component, the second service switch component being configured to engage the first service switch component when the first and second substance service connector components are engaged to selectively permit the communication of the substance between the substance communicating device and the appliance.

Abstract: A consumable holder for use in an appliance configured to perform an operation cycle related to a consumable in the consumable holder, in response to a cycle structure, has or is enabled to acquire information about the cycle structure. The information about the cycle structure can be communicated to the appliance for use by the appliance to change the cycle structure and thereby change the operation cycle related to the consumable.

Abstract: A consumable holder is provided for use in an appliance configured to perform an operation cycle related to a consumable in the consumable holder. The consumable holder has or is enabled to acquire information associated with itself or the consumable, and further includes a converter configured to transform the information to a cycle structure. Thus, the consumable holder can communicate with a cycle engine to create or modify a cycle structure for use by the appliance to perform an operation cycle related to the consumable.

Abstract: A smart coupler for connecting two networks has a processor, a memory, a means to connect to a first network, a means to connect to a second network, and a power source. The first network has a client, and the memory has information which must be transferred to the client to enable the client to be usefully operable relative to the second network.

Abstract: A central collector has appliance communication links to communicate with multiple appliances, and removable memory to store operational data retrieved from the appliances. When the memory is removed from the central collector and installed in a device capable of communication, the operational data can be communicated from the removable memory to a remote service center or a portable computing device.