Patents by Inventor Richard McCoy

Richard McCoy has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • APPLIANCE DEVELOPMENT TOOLKIT FOR CREATING A THEMEABLE DYNAMIC USER INTERFACE FOR AN APPLIANCE
    Publication number: 20090327887
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: PAUL R. ARGUE, MARK E. GLOTZBACH, RICHARD A. MCCOY, ERIK P. OOSTERWAL, BRIAN N. RADFORD
  • APPLIANCE DEVELOPMENT TOOLKIT WITH EDITOR FOR BINDING DATA
    Publication number: 20090327930
    Abstract: An appliance development toolkit 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 has access to instances of appliance user domain data and control system domain data, an editor configured to associate at least one instance of appliance user domain data to at least one instance of control system domain data or at least one instance of other appliance user domain data, an interactive user interface on which the instances of appliance user domain data and control system domain data are displayed for use by a developer, and a model converter to generate the content using the instances from the editor. The content is usable to affect the operation or to affect the user interaction as determined by the associations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: PAUL R. ARGUE, MARK E. GLOTZBACH, ANTHONY E. JENKINS, RICHARD A. MCCOY, NIMA MOTAMEDI, BRIAN N. RADFORD, JUNG EUI E. SEO
  • APPLIANCE DEVELOPMENT TOOLKIT FOR CREATING A DYNAMIC USER INTERFACE FOR AN APPLIANCE
    Publication number: 20090327932
    Abstract: An appliance development toolkit includes access to a user interface domain data model, access to an appliance user domain data model, a model instance editor configured to create one or more instances of user interface domain data derived from the user interface domain data model, to create one or more instances of appliance user domain data derived from the appliance user domain data model, and to associate one or more user interface elements with one or more appliance user elements. The toolkit also has a model instance converter for creating content including portions of the instances of user interface domain data, instances of appliance user domain data, and a map of the association. The content is in a builder file. An appliance can use the builder file at runtime to dynamically render its graphical user interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: MATTHEW P. EBROM, MARK E. GLOTZBACH, RICHARD A. MCCOY, MICHAEL A. MORRELL, BRIAN N. RADFORD
  • TOOLKIT FOR EXECUTING DIAGNOSTICS IN AN APPLIANCE
    Publication number: 20090326856
    Abstract: An appliance development toolkit includes a communications driver and a test engine configured to access one or more test scripts, to construct a well formed message based on instructions in the test script, and to convey the well formed message to the appliance via a communication link. Each step of the test script is separated from adjacent steps by a transition condition. The transition condition includes a logic expression resolvable to a boolean value, and a command statement that instructs what should happen so that the test engine will execute the command statement contemporaneously with a transition. 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 so that the information enables the test engine to construct the well formed message.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventor: RICHARD A. MCCOY
  • MEAL PLANNING AND PREPARATION SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20090326687
    Abstract: A meal planning system includes memory having appliance user domain data and control system domain data. One or more instances of appliance user domain data are bound to one or more instances of control system domain data or one or more instances of other appliance user domain data. The appliance user domain data and the control system domain data are related to planning and preparing one or more meals. The system also has a communication path connected to the memory and connectable to a data sender. A query from the data sender to the memory over the communication path, and associated with criteria data referencing at least a portion of the control system domain data or the other appliance user domain data, will return data to the data sender so that the data sender can use the return data to affect the planning and preparing of a meal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventor: RICHARD A. MCCOY
  • Information center for a household appliance
    Patent number: 7639485
    Abstract: An information center for a household appliance and more particularly to an information center having an image display and a data connectors having alternative support features for mounting to an appliance or to a horizontal surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Richard A. McCoy
  • System for supplying service from an appliance to multiple consumer electronic devices
    Patent number: 7625246
    Abstract: A modular system comprises an appliance, a first adapter coupling a first consumer electronic device, and a second adapter coupling a second consumer electronic device wherein the first and second adapters are each capable of being connected with the appliance. The adapters may share a common interface with the appliance. The adapters may supply at least one electrical service between the appliance and respective consumer electronic devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Richard A. McCoy, James W. Kendall, Ameresh Viswanathan, Douglas D. LeClear
  • ADAPTER WITH TRANSFORMATIVE COMPONENT
    Publication number: 20090285000
    Abstract: An adapter for removably coupling a consumer electronic device to a host, with the adapter supplying a first service between the host and the consumer electronic device when the adapter is coupled to the host and the consumer electronic device is coupled to the adapter, and the adapter further supplying a second service to the consumer electronic device when the adapter and the consumer electronic device are removed from the host. The adapter can further include a power source including a transformative component that transforms power supplied by the host.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2009
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Richard A. McCoy
  • Adapter and consumer electronic device functional unit
    Patent number: 7618295
    Abstract: An adapter and a consumer electronic device forming a functional unit as well as a modular system including the consumer electronic device, the adapter and a host. The adapter removably couples the consumer electronic device to the host. The adapter supplies a first service between the host and the consumer electronic device when the adapter is coupled to the host and the consumer electronic device is coupled to the adapter. The adapter further supplies a second service to and forms a functional unit with the consumer electronic device when the adapter and the consumer electronic device are removed from the host. The first and second services can be the same or different services and can comprise at least one of mechanical, electrical, and data communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Richard A. McCoy
  • CLIENT FOR AN APPLIANCE NETWORK
    Publication number: 20090132070
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Matthew P. Ebrom, Robert J. Feldbruegge, Mark E. Glotzbach, Richard A. McCoy, Christopher S. Moes, Andrew D. Whipple
  • Software Architecture System And Method For Communication With, And Management Of, Components Within An Appliance Utilizing Functionality Identifiers
    Publication number: 20090103535
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2006
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Richard A. McCoy, Matthew P. Ebrom, Robert J. Feldbruegge, David J. Kmet
  • METHOD OF SELF SERVICING AN APPLIANCE
    Publication number: 20090100153
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: MATTHEW P. EBROM, MARK E. GLOTZBACH, RICHARD A. MCCOY
  • COLLECTOR FOR MONITORING AND RECORDING APPLIANCE DATA
    Publication number: 20090100132
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: MATTHEW P. EBROM, RICHARD A. MCCOY, MATTHEW J. NIBBELINK, JAMES P. O'SHAUGHNESSY, RANDY A. VOSS
  • APPLIANCE AND A CONSUMABLE HOLDER WITH AN EMBEDDED VIRTUAL ROUTER
    Publication number: 20090046715
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2008
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventor: RICHARD A. MCCOY
  • CONSUMABLE HOLDER WITH TAXONOMY
    Publication number: 20090045926
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2008
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: MATTHEW P. EBROM, RICHARD A. MCCOY
  • CONSUMABLE HOLDER WITH A CYCLE STRUCTURE FOR AN APPLIANCE
    Publication number: 20090040012
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2008
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: MATTHEW P. EBROM, MARK E. GLOTZBACH, JOEL A. LUCKMAN, RICHARD A. MCCOY, CHRISTOPHER S. MOES, ANDRE O. PIRES
  • CONSUMABLE HOLDER WITH ROUTABLE DATA PACKET FOR AN APPLIANCE
    Publication number: 20090040066
    Abstract: An appliance configured to perform an operation cycle to effect a physical operation on an article, the appliance includes at least one component configured to effect the physical operation, and a cycle engine on the component. The cycle engine can access a structure for the operation cycle to enable the component to perform the physical operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2008
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: MATTHEW P. EBROM, MARK E. GLOTZBACH, RICHARD A. MCCOY, ANDRE O. PIRES
  • CONSUMABLE HOLDER WITH CONVERTER
    Publication number: 20090040013
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2008
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: MATTHEW P. EBROM, MARK E. GLOTZBACH, RICHARD A. MCCOY, ANDRE O. PIRES
  • GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE TO CONTROL INTERACTIONS BETWEEN AN APPLIANCE AND A CONSUMABLE HOLDER
    Publication number: 20090044129
    Abstract: A graphical user interface has software configured to communicate with an appliance adapted to perform a physical cycle of operation on an article and to communicate with a consumable holder for use with the appliance where the operation cycle is related to a consumable in the consumable holder. The software is configured to cause the graphical user interface to communicate to a user information associated with an appliance, a cycle of operation, a consumable holder, or a consumable. The software also causes the graphical user interface to communicate to an appliance or to a consumable holder information from a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2008
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: MATTHEW P. EBROM, MARK E. GLOTZBACH, JOEL A. LUCKMAN, RICHARD A. MCCOY
  • CONSUMABLE HOLDER WITH USER INTERFACE DATA
    Publication number: 20090044137
    Abstract: A user interface has software configured to communicate with an appliance adapted to perform a physical cycle of operation on an article and to communicate with a consumable information holder. The software is further configured to cause the graphical user interface to communicate to a user information that is at least partially derived from the consumable information holder. The information includes at least one step for activating a user interface component, preparing the appliance for the operation cycle, handling the appliance during the operation cycle, handling the appliance after the operation cycle, preparing the article for the operation cycle, handling the article during an operation cycle, or handling an article after the operation cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2008
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: JAMES K. BARTLEY, RICHARD A. MCCOY