Abstract: A refrigerator appliance and method of operation during Jewish holidays is provided herein. The refrigerator appliance may include a cabinet defining a refrigerated chamber, a sealed cooling system, and a controller. The sealed cooling system may be in operable communication with the refrigerated chamber and include a compressor. The controller may be operatively coupled to the sealed cooling system. The controller may be configured to selectively control the refrigerator appliance according to an operation routine for a Jewish holiday.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance and method of operation during Jewish holidays is provided herein. The refrigerator appliance may include a cabinet defining a refrigerated chamber, a sealed cooling system, and a controller. The sealed cooling system may be in operable communication with the refrigerated chamber and include a compressor. The controller may be operatively coupled to the sealed cooling system. The controller may be configured to selectively control the refrigerator appliance according to an operation routine for a Jewish holiday.

Abstract: Systems and methods for updating a software configuration of one or more control boards of an appliance are provided. For instance, a payload image file can be received. The payload image file can comprise a plurality of update images that include software configuration data for an appliance control board associated with an appliance group. Configuration data associated with a plurality of control boards present in a target appliance can be received. An appliance payload associated with the target appliance can be determined based at least in part on the configuration data. The appliance payload can include one or more update images to be associated with the target appliance.

Abstract: Systems and methods for updating a software configuration of one or more control boards of an appliance are provided. For instance, a payload image file can be received. The payload image file can comprise a plurality of update images that include software configuration data for an appliance control board associated with an appliance group. Configuration data associated with a plurality of control boards present in a target appliance can be received. An appliance payload associated with the target appliance can be determined based at least in part on the configuration data. The appliance payload can include one or more update images to be associated with the target appliance.

Abstract: A method and system for operating a water heater appliance are provided. The method and system include initiating a vacation mode of the water heater appliance. An operating temperature of the water heater appliance is reduced from a normal operating temperature to a vacation operating temperature in the vacation mode of the water heater appliance. The method and system also include sanitizing the water heater appliance by raising the operating temperature of the water heater appliance from the vacation operating temperature to a sanitization operating temperature.

Abstract: A device configured in a unitary housing which includes a computing device with memory that stores energy information. A power supply and prongs attach to the power supply in the same unitary housing, wherein the prongs are configured to plug into a wall outlet.

Abstract: A system for using machine readable code to commission a device application includes a controller, an image capturing device, and at least one processor. The at least one processor is programmed to receive an image acquired from the image capturing device, wherein the image includes a code, the at least one processor is also programmed to access information from the code, and send the information accessed from the code to the controller, wherein the information enables the controller to commission a device application.

Abstract: Embodiments of an appliance and method utilize data keys to facilitate the exchange of data and information among devices as part of an energy management system. The data keys contain and/or encode information particular to the appliance. This information helps to distinguish data that originates from one appliance from data that originates from other appliances in the household. In one embodiment, the data keys are stored locally, either on devices (e.g., memory) incorporated into the appliance or on a communication device (e.g., a wireless radio) that can connect to the appliance to permit the exchange of inputs and outputs. Exemplary configuration of the appliance can sense the connection with the communication device and provide an input to the communication device to determine the data key that is associated with the appliance.

Abstract: The present subject matter relates to systems and methodologies for communicating between an appliance and a mobile device using audio signaling. An appliance is provided with an audio generating device controlled by a processor to cause the audio device to produce encoded sounds. The sounds may correspond to a series of tones. The tones are sampled using the microphone in a smartphone or other mobile computing device and decoded by an application running on the smartphone or device to provide information and/or instructions to the appliance user.

Abstract: Temperature adjustment systems and methods for adjusting thermostat temperature settings are provided. A system includes an oven appliance sensor in communication with an oven appliance, the oven appliance sensor operable to sense an operation of the oven appliance. The system further includes a thermostat in communication with the oven appliance sensor, the thermostat operable to adjust a temperature setting based on the sensed operation of the oven appliance. A method includes sensing an operation of an oven appliance, communicating the operation of the oven appliance to the thermostat, and adjusting the thermostat temperature setting based on the sensed operation of the oven appliance.

Abstract: An energy data management control system is configured to allow a user to control operation of the data management among a plurality of modes.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for estimating resource consumption of a household device, e.g., an appliance. The method comprises determining a resource demand profile for a household device for a given time period, the resource demand profile associating, for the given time period, a device state of the household device with a total resource demand for the household. In one embodiment, the apparatus can be incorporated into an energy management system, where the apparatus collects data from each of the appliances in a household as well as from a resource meter.

Abstract: System, method, and computer-readable instructions for use in communicating with an energy management device in a network that comprises one or more energy devices. First search results are created by searching for devices associated with a first energy management device identifier using a first discovery protocol. Second search results are created by searching for devices associated with a second energy management device identifier using a second discovery protocol. The first and second search results are combined to create a collection of candidate devices, and at least one candidate device of the candidate devices is validated to determine whether the candidate device is an energy management device.

Abstract: Provided is a method and system for updating of schedules to a device controlled by an energy management system.

Abstract: The present subject matter relates to systems and methodologies for communicating between an appliance and a mobile device using audio signaling. An appliance is provided with an audio generating device controlled by a processor to cause the audio device to produce encoded sounds. The sounds may correspond to a series of tones. The tones are sampled using the microphone in a smartphone or other mobile computing device and decoded by an application running on the smartphone or device to provide information and/or instructions to the appliance user.

Abstract: A device configured in a unitary displayless housing, including a computing device that stores, manipulates and communicates energy data, and the displayless external surface of the unitary housing, including status indicator lights to show the status of the device.

Abstract: A method and system for operating a water heater appliance are provided. The method and system include initiating a vacation mode of the water heater appliance. An operating temperature of the water heater appliance is reduced from a normal operating temperature to a vacation operating temperature in the vacation mode of the water heater appliance. The method and system also include sanitizing the water heater appliance by raising the operating temperature of the water heater appliance from the vacation operating temperature to a sanitization operating temperature.

Abstract: A control device is connected to a smart meter. The control device includes a communication engine configured to retrieve an energy consumption value from a measuring unit coupled to the smart meter based on a polling interval. The control device includes a discovery engine operatively coupled to the communication engine and configured to discover an update interval of the smart meter by increasing the polling interval iteratively from an initial value until a difference is detected between successively retrieved energy consumption values. Furthermore, the device includes a user interface engine, operatively coupled to the discovery engine and the communication engine, configured to estimate a utility consumption at a present time based on the difference value and the polling interval.

Abstract: A method and system is disclosed that includes a central controller that takes energy data available from a power/energy measuring device, such as a “smart” meter that is located on a primary network and makes that data available to devices over a secondary network. The central controller is a home energy gateway that includes two communication modules, one of which is used to bind a meter as a router or end point on the primary network, and one which is used to form a secondary network here the central controller operates as network coordinator. The central controller also operates as an energy service portal for devices on the secondary network.

Abstract: A method and system is disclosed that includes a controller that determines a sleep schedule for reduced function devices on a home network. The devices have various sleep schedules in which to operate in an active state or a reduced function state. The controller determines the different schedules by sending communication messages to each device via a communication module. A timer is used to determine a sleep schedule for reduced function devices (RFDs) on the network. The sleep schedule is used to monitor when the devices are communicating on the network and are no longer able to communicate with the controller.