Abstract: A vertical device for mounting to a host having a horizontal surface with an upwardly oriented host service interface providing a mechanical service and at least one electrical service as well as an adapter for mounting a vertical device to a host of this type. The device or adapter has a main body with a horizontal portion and a vertical portion extending generally downwardly from the horizontal portion. A device service interface extends downwardly from the horizontal portion for engagement with the host service interface. At least one functionality is provided on the vertical portion of the vertical device or the adapter.

Abstract: A comprehensive product management system for a product is provided. The system (10) includes discrete processes for planning (1000), engineering (2000), testing (3000), producing (4000), selling (6000), using (8000), and servicing (10000) a product comprising one or more components. It also includes a comprehensive relational database (30) containing information about the product, performance, sales, consumers, and markets, and system tools (20) for operating on the discrete processes.

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 build a cycle structure for the operation cycle to enable the component to perform the physical operation.

Abstract: A transformative adapter coupling multiple alternative consumer electronic devices to a host and a modular system including the host, the transformative adapter and the consumer electronic device. The host is an appliance or wall mounted portable host and has a host service interface. The consumer electronic device has a device service interface that is different than the host service interface. The transformative adapter mechanically couples the service interfaces and supplies at least one electrical service between the service interfaces. The service electrical service can be a power or a data service.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system for controlling a plurality of devices having at least two operating modes comprises a first software operating layer configured to control the operation of at least one of the devices in a first operational mode and a second software operating layer configured to control the operation of at least one of the devices in a second operational mode. In another embodiment, a control system for controlling a plurality of devices connected by a communications network comprises a user interface configured to receive the selection of a cycle of operation; a first system element isolated from the network and configured to implement the selected cycle of operation to define a first control state; and a second system element exposed to the network and configured to implement the selected cycle of operation to define a second control state.

Abstract: A dispenser, a food dispensing appliance with a dispenser, and a system including a food dispensing appliance for providing at least one service to a consumer electronic device. The dispenser has a service interface providing at least one service for a consumer electronic device. The appliance comprises a cabinet, a door movably mounted to the cabinet and having a peripheral edge, and a dispenser on the door. A service interface is provided on the dispenser and provides at least one service for use by a consumer electronic device. The system comprises an appliance with a dispenser and service interface supplying the at least one service and an adapter capable of coupling to the service interface to receive the service and supply it to the consumer electronic device.

Abstract: An appliance network comprising an appliance in communication with an audio communication accessory to effect communication therebetween.

Abstract: An adapter comprises a first adapter interface configured to removably couple to a consumer electronic device to permit communication of a first electrical service between the adapter and the device, a second adapter interface configured to removably couple to an appliance to permit communication of a second electrical service between the transformative adapter and the appliance, and at least one transformation component in communication with the first adapter interface and the second adapter interface and transforming one of the first electrical service and the second electrical service into the other when the adapter is mechanically coupled with at least one of the appliance and the consumer electronic device. The first and second electrical services can be a power or data service, and one of the services can comprise a wireless service.

Abstract: A service supply module and a modular system including the service supply module and an adapter. The service supply module has a surface mount and a service interface. The service interface supplies a service provided from the surface to which the service supply module is mounted. The adapter has a service interface for a consumer electronic device and receives the service from the service interface of the service supply module and supplied it to the consumer electronic device. The service supply module can comprise multiple service interfaces.

Abstract: A modular system comprising a host, a consumer electronic device, and an adapter coupling the consumer electronic device to the host. The adapter performs a first function of supplying at least one service provided by one of the host and the consumer electronic device to the other of the host and the consumer electronic device, and a second function. The second function can be different from the first function. The second function can be unrelated to the supply of a service.

Abstract: A system for mounting a device to a host, such as an appliance, includes elongated, substantially parallel device interfaces for removably mounting the device to the host. The device interfaces can include rails, slots and/or electrical conductors.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods for commissioning a home network and inhibiting unaffiliated wireless communication devices that are physically proximate to each other from forming a wireless network. A wireless communication device may include a transceiver capable of communicating with at least a second device, a non-volatile memory capable of storing a network name, a controller, and a user input acceptance element capable of placing the controller in a network set-up mode. The controller may have a plurality of modes including the network set-up mode, as well as a status indicator for providing an indication of whether the device is operating with one of a parent status and a child status. A method for joining a wireless network may include entering a network set up mode, and scanning for a second device operating with a parent status. If the second device is operating with the parent status, the network name of the second device may be adopted as the network name.

Abstract: The invention relates to a data processing system comprising a central processing unit, a first memory coupled to the central processing unit for storing variable data values, an eventing engine coupled to the central processing, a debug module coupled to the central processing unit and to the eventing engine for receiving the variable data values by way of the eventing engine in real time and configured to trigger breakpoints; and an interface to connect to an external device. Both event-based variable watching and debugging can occur contemporaneously by a user using an external device connected to the interface.

Abstract: An adapter for removably coupling an electronic device to a host and a modular system of the host, adapter and electronic device. The adapter comprises a main body, a first interface capable of coupling with the appliance, a cavity in the main body receiving the electronic device, a second interface within the cavity coupling with the electronic device; and an access panel removably mounted to the main body to selectively close the opening of the cavity.

Abstract: An acoustic chamber as part of adapter for an appliance. The acoustic chamber is substantially enclosed except at the exterior surface, and is configured to interchangeably receive a plurality of different consumer electronic devices.

Abstract: A method is provided of customizing a fault tree for diagnosing a fault in an appliance configured to perform a cycle of operation on an article. The appliance must also be configured to communicate by electronic message. The method includes providing a plurality of fault trees associated with appliances and appliance components, where the fault trees include an ordered collection of steps. The method continues with communicating with an appliance by electronic message to obtain information about components associated with the appliance, selecting a subset of the plurality of fault trees based on the information, and dynamically aggregating the subset to create a customized fault tree comprising an ordered collection of steps.

Abstract: A message architecture is provided for use in a communications network for an appliance having at least one component and further enabled to communicate information about the at least one component. The message architecture includes first and second identifiers where the first identifier identifies the form of the second identifier and the second identifier identifies at least one component in the appliance.

Abstract: A method identifies whether a component in an appliance is original with the manufacture of the appliance or replaced after manufacture of the appliance. The component will have one or more indicators. The method includes setting the indicator of each component when the components are made to indicate that the components are replacements, and setting the indicator of each component installed in the appliance when the appliance is made to indicate that the component is original. Thus, any component installed in the appliance after the appliance is made will have an indicator indicating it as a replacement.

Abstract: An appliance has at least one component and is further enabled to communicate information about the component. The component has embedded identifiers that identify at least two different sources of information related to the component. Thus, a client of the appliance can receive the identifiers in the communicated information and use the identifiers to automatically ascertain information from the sources about the component.

Abstract: A method is provided to diagnose a fault in an appliance configured to perform a cycle of operation on an article. The appliance must also be configured to communicate by electronic message. The method includes providing a fault tree having a plurality of entry points associated with fault symptoms where the fault tree includes an ordered collection of steps. The method continues with communicating with the appliance by electronic message to obtain information about components associated with the appliance, ascertaining an entry point the fault tree from the plurality in based on the information, and performing the ordered collection of steps in the fault tree starting at the ascertained entry point. Using this method results in expediting the diagnosis of the appliance.