Abstract: A water dispensing system for a refrigerator comprising a refrigeration compartment includes a manifold assembly, a monitoring device coupled to the manifold assembly and including at least one sensor, and a filter assembly including a filter housing removably mounted to the manifold assembly. The filter assembly is configured to be compatible with a plurality of suitable filter media. At least two indicators are in signal communication with the at least one sensor when the filter housing is mounted onto the manifold assembly. A controller is operatively coupled to the monitoring device. The controller is configured to identify the filter assembly and the filter medium based on a signal received from the at least one sensor and operate the water dispensing system based on the identification of the filter assembly and the filter medium.

Abstract: An appliance is placed in a bootload mode and other operations of the appliance are powered down. Data is gathered through an appliance control module which activates the bootloader mode, and then receives the data and overwrites the remainder of the appliance controller memory. In this manner, software for an appliance is updated without having to enter the home.

Abstract: A water dispensing system for a refrigerator comprising a refrigeration compartment includes a manifold assembly, a monitoring device coupled to the manifold assembly and including at least one sensor, and a filter assembly including a filter housing removably mounted to the manifold assembly. The filter assembly is configured to be compatible with a plurality of suitable filter media. At least two indicators are in signal communication with the at least one sensor when the filter housing is mounted onto the manifold assembly. A controller is operatively coupled to the monitoring device. The controller is configured to identify the filter assembly and the filter medium based on a signal received from the at least one sensor and operate the water dispensing system based on the identification of the filter assembly and the filter medium.

Abstract: A water filter identification system for a refrigerator including a refrigeration compartment includes a manifold assembly positioned within the refrigeration compartment and operatively coupled to a water dispensing system, and a monitoring device positioned with respect to the manifold assembly. The system also includes a filter assembly including a filter housing removably mounted to the manifold assembly and at least one indicator coupled to the filter housing. The at least one indicator is in signal communication with the monitoring device for facilitating identification of the filter assembly.

Abstract: A water filter identification system for a refrigerator including a refrigeration compartment includes a manifold assembly positioned within the refrigeration compartment and operatively coupled to a water dispensing system, and a monitoring device positioned with respect to the manifold assembly. The system also includes a filter assembly including a filter housing removably mounted to the manifold assembly and at least one indicator coupled to the filter housing. The at least one indicator is in signal communication with the monitoring device for facilitating identification of the filter assembly.

Abstract: A method of generating individualized real-time weather and environmental data including the steps of receiving user profiles that identify communicator devices and identifications of pre-determined weather and environmental sensors associated with designated locations; analyzing weather and environmental information as well as sensor data from the weather and environmental sensors to generate an individualized weather and environmental signal; and, transmitting the individualized weather and environmental information signal to the communicator devices.

Abstract: A method for locating at least one individual located remotely from a broadcast network. An analysis unit compares user profiles, dynamic locations stored in the communicator location database, and/or fixed locations entered into the analysis unit. A data set of at least one matching individualized locatee user profile is generated and the individualized locatee user profile is transmitted to the locator via the locator's communicator device.

Abstract: A broadcast network for selectively transmitting individualized weather output signals to at least one of a plurality of communicator devices remotely located from the broadcast network. The broadcast network comprises a user input database, a communicator location database, a weather analysis unit, and a communication network. The user input database contains a plurality of predefined user profiles. Each user profile includes a user identifier code. The communicator location database contains real-time data indicative of the spatial locations of the communicator devices. The weather analysis unit compares the spatial locations of the corresponding communicator devices contained in the communicator location database with real-time weather data to generate individualized weather output signals. The communication network receives the user identifier codes and the individualized weather output signals.

Abstract: A broadcast network for selectively transmitting individualized weather output signals to at least one of a plurality of communicator devices remotely located from the broadcast network. The broadcast network comprises a user input database, a communicator location database, a weather analysis unit, and a communication network. The user input database contains a plurality of user profiles. At least some of the user profiles contains parameters provided from a pre-defined user profile. Each user profile includes a user identifier code. The communicator location database contains real-time data indicative of the spatial locations of the communicator devices. The weather analysis unit automatically and continuously compares the parameters in the user input database and the spatial locations of the corresponding communicator devices contained in the communicator location database with real-time weather data to generate individualized weather output signals.

Abstract: A broadcast network for selectively transmitting individualized weather output signals to at least one of a plurality of communicator devices remotely located from the broadcast network. The broadcast network includes a user input database containing a plurality of user-defined parameters with each of the user-defined parameters including a user profile. The user profile includes a user identifier code identifying a communicator device. An analysis unit receives spatial location identifiers and comparing the spatial locations with data to generate individualized weather output signals. A communication network receives the individualized weather output signals and transmitting the individualized output signals to the communicator devices.

Abstract: A method for transmitting individualized real-time work assignments to a plurality of employees located remotely from a broadcast network. An analysis unit compares user profiles, dynamic locations stored in the communicator location database, fixed locations, and job assignments entered into the analysis unit. A data set of at least one individualized work assignment is generated and the individualized work assignment is transmitted to the employee via the employee's communicator device.

Abstract: A broadcast network for selectively transmitting individualized weather output signals to at least one of a plurality of communicator devices remotely located from the broadcast network. The broadcast network comprises a user input database, a communicator location database, a weather analysis unit, and a communication network. The user input database contains a plurality of user profiles. At least some of the user profiles contains parameters provided from a pre-defined user profile. Each user profile includes a user identifier code. The communicator location database contains real-time data indicative of the spatial locations of the communicator devices. The weather analysis unit automatically and continuously compares the parameters in the user input database and the spatial locations of the corresponding communicator devices contained in the communicator location database with real-time weather data to generate individualized weather output signals.

Abstract: A broadcast network for selectively transmitting individualized output signals to remote communicator devices. The broadcast network is comprised of a user input database, a communicator location database, an information database, an analysis unit and a communication network. The user input database contains user-defined parameters and each of the user-defined parameters includes a user profile. The user profile in each of the user-defined parameters utilizes a user identifier code and identifies a communicator device associated with a particular user. The communicator location database contains real-time data indicative of the spatial locations of the communicator devices. The information database contains real-time data for the spatial locations contained in the communicator location database. The analysis unit compares the spatial location of each communicator device contained in the communicator location database with the real-time data and generates an individualized weather output signal.

Abstract: A broadcast network for selectively transmitting individualized weather output signals to at least one of a plurality of communicator devices remotely located from the broadcast network. The broadcast network comprises a user input database, a communicator location database, a weather analysis unit, and a communication network. The user input database contains a plurality of user profiles. At least some of the user profiles contains parameters provided from a pre-defined user profile. Each user profile includes a user identifier code. The communicator location database contains real-time data indicative of the spatial locations of the communicator devices. The weather analysis unit automatically and continuously compares the parameters in the user input database and the spatial locations of the corresponding communicator devices contained in the communicator location database with real-time weather data to generate individualized weather output signals.

Abstract: A method for providing information to a plurality of vendors located remotely from a broadcast network. A plurality of user-defined parameters are received by a user input database with at least one of the user-defined parameters including a user profile. Each of the user profiles includes a user identifier code identifying a communicator device associated with a particular user. Real-time data indicative of the spatial locations of the communicator devices is received by a communicator location database. Search information is received independently from a plurality of vendors and a data set is generated for each vendor.

Abstract: A broadcast network for selectively transmitting individualized weather forecast signals to remote communicator devices. The broadcast network is comprised of a user input database, a communicator location database, a weather information database, a weather analysis unit and a communication network. The user input database contains user-defined parameters and each of the user-defined parameters includes a user profile. The user profile in each of the user-defined parameters utilizes a user identifier code and identifies a communicator device associated with a particular user. The communicator location database contains real-time data indicative of the spatial locations of the communicator devices. The weather information database contains real-time weather forecast data or weather data for the spatial locations contained in the communicator location database.