Network for communicating information related to a consumable to an appliance

Abstract

An appliance network comprising a networked appliance and capable of communicating with a consumable such that information related to the consumable is communicated to the networked appliance.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A network comprising:
 an appliance configured to perform a cycle of operation to complete a physical domestic operation on a consumable, the appliance having:
 a communication network comprising a plurality of interconnected nodes configured to communicate across the communication network; 
 a plurality of components, each component associated with at least one of the plurality of nodes; and 
 a consumable reader configured to obtain information from the consumable and having at least one node in communication with the communication network; and 
 a software architecture comprising a plurality of software elements and configured to generate a plurality of messages, with at least one of the software elements residing in each of the components and in the consumable reader and configured to enable transmission of at least one of the plurality of messages among the components and between the consumable reader and the components to communicate data related to the consumable from the consumable reader to the appliance. 
   
     
     
         2 . The network of  claim 1  wherein the information comprises operating cycle data directly usable by the appliance. 
     
     
         3 . The network of  claim 2  wherein the information is a communication packet that is communicated to the software architecture. 
     
     
         4 . The network of  claim 1  wherein the information is a communication packet that is communicated to the software architecture. 
     
     
         5 . The network of  claim 1  wherein the software architecture includes memory and the information is a key to direct the appliance to any data about the consumable stored in the memory. 
     
     
         6 . A network comprising:
 an appliance able to perform a operation cycle related to a consumable;   a consumable; and   information associated with the consumable;   wherein the appliance is configured to receive the information for use in the operation cycle.   
     
     
         7 . The network of  claim 6  wherein the information comprises operating cycle data directly usable by the appliance. 
     
     
         8 . The network of  claim 7  wherein the information is a communication packet that is communicated to the appliance. 
     
     
         9 . The network of  claim 8  wherein the information is on the consumable. 
     
     
         10 . The network of  claim 6  wherein the information is a communication packet that is communicated to the appliance. 
     
     
         11 . The network of  claim 10  wherein the information is on the consumable. 
     
     
         12 . The network of  claim 6  where the consumable has packaging and the information is on the packaging. 
     
     
         13 . The network of  claim 6  further comprising a consumable reader configured to obtain the information and communicate the information to the appliance. 
     
     
         14 . The network of  claim 13  wherein the information is a communication packet that is communicated to the appliance. 
     
     
         15 . An assembly comprising:
 a consumable for use in an appliance configured to perform an operation cycle related to the consumable and to receive messages;   information associated with the consumable and configured for communication to the appliance in at least one message; and   an encoder to encode the information on one of the consumable and packaging for the consumable whereby the appliance can perform an operation cycle based on the information upon receipt of the at least one message.   
     
     
         16 . The assembly according to  claim 15  wherein the encoder is one of a personal computer, a magnetic strip writer, and a handheld encoding device. 
     
     
         17 . The assembly according to  claim 15  wherein the information is encoded on material removable from the consumable. 
     
     
         18 . The assembly according to  claim 17  wherein the material is one of plastic wrap, aluminum foil, pots, pans, microwave-safe containers, container lids, an adhesive strip, and a magnetic strip. 
     
     
         19 . A method of providing an operation cycle for an appliance comprising:
 preparing a set of commands to form an operation cycle; and   encoding the operation cycle to an operation cycle component wherein the operation cycle component is information associated with a consumable having means to transmit the information to an appliance capable of receiving information;   whereby to configure the appliance to perform the operation cycle.   
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19  further comprising the step of providing a consumable reader configured to obtain the information and communicate the information to the appliance. 
     
     
         21 . A consumable for use in an appliance configured to perform an operation cycle related to the consumable and to receive messages, the consumable comprising encoded information associated therewith and configured for direct communication to the appliance by message for use by the appliance to perform an operation cycle on the consumable. 
     
     
         22 . The consumable according to  claim 21  wherein the information is a communication packet. 
     
     
         23 . The consumable according to  claim 21  wherein the information comprises operating cycle data directly usable by the appliance. 
     
     
         24 . The consumable according to  claim 21  wherein where the consumable has packaging and the information is on the packaging.