Intelligent microwave oven Number:7,133,739 from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) owispatent The invention may be broadly conceptualized as an approach in which a microwave oven receives a plurality of program recipes from a network that are executed by scanning with a scanner a symbol and associating the scanned symbol with one of the plurality of program recipes while keeping a real-time clock synchronized and correctly set by receiving period time synchronization messages.<H Intelligent, microwave, Intelligent, mic, 7133739.html, Patent, pto, 7133739

Title: Intelligent microwave oven

Abstract: The invention may be broadly conceptualized as an approach in which a microwave oven receives a plurality of program recipes from a network that are executed by scanning with a scanner a symbol and associating the scanned symbol with one of the plurality of program recipes while keeping a real-time clock synchronized and correctly set by receiving period time synchronization messages.

Patent Number: 7,133,739 Issued on 11/07/2006 to Williamson, et al.

Inventors: Williamson; Charles G. (Columbia, MO), Schrader; M. Lee (Hopedale, MA)
Assignee: Salton, Inc. (Lake Forest, IL)

Appl. No.: 10/429,051

Filed: May 2, 2003

Current U.S. Class: 700/207 ; 219/414; 700/90; 99/325

Current International Class: G06F 19/00 (20060101); G05B 19/18 (20060101)

Field of Search: 700/211,209,207,90 219/702,714,506,414,412 99/325 432/91 126/19-22

References Cited [Referenced By]

U.S. Patent Documents


5960440	September 1999	Brenner et al.
6196113	March 2001	Yung
6549818	April 2003	Ali
2003/0109938	June 2003	Daum et al.
2003/0141295	July 2003	Ishikawa et al.

Foreign Patent Documents


1041860	Apr., 2000	EP

Primary Examiner: Bahta; Kidest
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP

Parent Case Text

CROSS REFERNCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending patent application Ser. No. 10/001,260 filed on Nov. 1, 2001 entitled "Remote Programming of Radio Preset Stations Over a Network" and co-pending patent application Ser. No. 10/000,784, filed on Nov. 1, 2001 entitled "Intelligent Microwave Oven Appliance."

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A microwave oven apparatus, comprising: a housing; a microwave generator disposed in association with the housing; a code input device; a controller that stores a plurality of recipe programs upon receipt of the plurality of programs at the network interface or the user interface and operates the microwave generator in accordance with a recipe program selected from the plurality of recipe programs in view of a code input by the code input device; a network interface in communication with the controller; and a user interface to permit a user to manually input a user programmed recipe programs; wherein upon entry of a code input by the code input device, the controller determines whether the code corresponds to any one of the plurality of recipe programs stored in the controller; and wherein if the code does not correspond to any one of the plurality of recipe programs stored in the controller, the network interface requests, without user intervention, a recipe program corresponding to the code from an external database, and automatically downloads the recipe program that corresponds to the code.

2. The microwave oven apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a clock in communication with the controller, the clock being set upon receipt of a time synchronization message at the network interface.

3. The microwave oven apparatus of claim 1, wherein a recipe program request message is formatted upon the controller failing to associate the input code from the code input device with one recipe program from the plurality of recipe programs.

4. The microwave oven apparatus of claim 3, wherein the network interface is in receipt of a new recipe program associated with the input code in response to the recipe program request message being sent to the external database.

5. The microwave oven apparatus of claim 1, wherein the network interface is in receipt of a user programmed recipe program request message being sent from the external database.

6. The microwave oven apparatus of claim 5, wherein a response to the user programmed recipe program request message is formatted.

7. A method, comprising: receiving in a microwave oven a plurality of recipe programs at a network interface from an external database; manually inputting user programmed recipe programs via a user interface; storing at least one of the plurality of recipe programs and the user programmed recipe programs in a memory by a controller that are each selectable with a digital signal from a code input device; determining whether a code input by a code input device corresponds to any one of the plurality of recipe programs stored in the memory; requesting, without user intervention, a recipe program from the operably connected, but external device, if the code input by a code input device does not correspond to any one of the plurality of recipe programs stored in the memory; automatically downloading the recipe program that corresponds to the code; and configuring the microwave oven in response to the digital signal being associated with one recipe program in the plurality of recipe programs or the user programmed recipe programs.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising: formatting a recipe program request message in response to the controller failing to select a recipe program from the plurality of recipe programs that is associated with the digital signal; and receiving a requested recipe program at the network interface from the external database in response to the recipe program request message.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising: receiving a time synchronization message at the network interface; and setting a clock in the microwave oven by the controller upon receipt of the time synchronization message.

10. A apparatus, comprising: means for receiving in a microwave oven a plurality of recipe programs at a network interface from an external database; means for manually inputting user programmed recipe programs via a user interface; means for storing at least one of the plurality of recipe programs and the user programmed recipe programs in a memory by a controller that are each selectable with a digital signal from a code input device; means for determining whether a code input by a code input device corresponds to any one of the plurality of recipe programs stored in the memory; means for requesting, without user intervention, a recipe program from the operably connected, but external device, if the code input by a code input device does not correspond to any one of the plurality of recipe programs stored in the memory; means for automatically downloading the recipe program that corresponds to the code; and means for configuring the microwave oven in response to the digital signal being associated with one recipe program in the plurality of recipe programs or the user programmed recipe programs.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising: means for formatting a recipe program request message in response to the controller failing to select a recipe program from the plurality of recipe programs that is associated with the digital signal; and means for receiving a requested recipe program at the network interface from the external database in response to the recipe program request message.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising: means for receiving a time synchronization message at the network interface; and means for setting a clock in the microwave oven by the controller upon receipt of the time synchronization message.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising: means for receiving a request for a user programmed recipe program at the network interface.

14. A machine-readable signal-bearing medium containing instructions that cause a system to perform a method for operating a microwave oven, the method comprising: receiving in a microwave oven a plurality of recipe programs at a network interface from an external database; manually inputting user programmed recipe programs via a user interface; storing at least one of the plurality of recipe programs and the user programmed recipe programs in a memory by a controller that are each selectable with a digital signal from a code input device; determining whether a code input by a code input device corresponds to any one of the plurality of recipe programs stored in the memory; requesting, without user intervention, a recipe program from the operably connected, but external device, if the code input by a code input device does not correspond to any one of the plurality of recipe programs stored in the memory; automatically downloading the recipe program that corresponds to the code; and configuring the microwave oven in response to the digital signal being associated with one recipe program in the plurality of recipe programs or the user programmed recipe programs.

15. The machine-readable signal-bearing medium of claim 14, further comprising: formatting a recipe program request message in response to the controller failing to select a recipe program from the plurality of recipe programs that is associated with the digital signal; and receiving a requested recipe program at the network interface from the external database in response to the recipe program request message.

16. The machine-readable signal-bearing medium of claim 15, further comprising: receiving a time synchronization message at the network interface; and setting a clock in the microwave oven by the controller upon receipt of the time synchronization message.

17. The microwave oven apparatus of claim 1 wherein the input interface is further configured to permit the user programmed recipe program to be manually associated with a code capable of being input by the code input device.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The invention relates to configuration of an appliance network. More particularly, the invention relates to an intelligent microwave oven that is able to communicate with and receive information from another device in a network.

2. Related Art

Current household appliances such as coffeemakers and ovens are independent and when used require manual programming. Some appliances, such as a coffeemaker, may be configured to have timers for turning the appliance on and off. The programming of the timers in these appliances is accomplished at the appliance using manual controls or buttons. Further, it is often impossible to change the configuration or programming of an appliance, such as the auto off timer in a coffeemaker, once the appliance has left the factory.

Another problem with household appliances is for every product cooked, such as a frozen dinner, the user must set the cooking temperature and the time. Dinners may be ruined or homes burned down because of a user erroneously setting the wrong cooking time or temperature. Prior approaches to resolving the erroneous setting problem have included cookbooks that contain bar coded instructions associated with encoded instructions for setting cooking time and temperature. Such appliances include a bar code reader to read the cookbook's bar code associated with a user-selected recipe. However, as new products are introduced in the supermarket or new recipes are created, the cookbooks must be physically updated or replaced.

Furthermore, it is not uncommon for appliances to have clocks that must be initially set and reset after a power outage. Due to the quality of the components in an appliance clock, it is rare when all clocks on respective appliances match and do not drift apart. After some period of time, the clocks on some of the appliances will have to be adjusted if a user desires all clocks to report the same time. Furthermore, clocks have to be reset twice a year in the United States for changes to or from Day Light Savings Time and may also have to be reset following a power outage.

Thus, there is a needed in the art for an approach to set cooking time and temperature that is easy to updated while enabling coordination of data between multiple appliances.

SUMMARY

An intelligent controller having a modem communicates with a remote database that has a plurality of user profiles. A user profile in the database is configurable via a device for displaying a user interface, such as a personal computer accessing the World Wide Web with web pages for an intelligent controller and other appliances. The intelligent controller receives user profile information via the modem from the database. The user profile may include, for example alarm clock settings, radio stations, and recipe programs for the appliances. A power line communication unit in the intelligent controller allows communication of data received by the modem via an external network to other appliances over a local network communication link, such as the alternating current (AC) wiring of a home, a wireless connection, or the in home telephone wires.

A clock is periodically synchronized to a time message that the web server transmits to the intelligent controller and distributed by the power line communication unit to appliances that are capable of receiving the power line communications. The synchronization automatically corrects for time changes and assures all clocks report the correct time. The user profile also contains a time zone identifier that enables the clocks, including the clock in the intelligent controller, to report the proper time for a specified time zone. The intelligent controller may also have an associated radio with radio preset radio stations being programmed in the user profile and received at the intelligent controller via the modem. The radio along with the clock may function as an alarm clock radio having an alarm associated with each day of the week and each alarm being independently settable to a "buzz" or any of the programmed radio stations.

A coffeemaker having a local network communication link may be one of the networked appliances. The coffeemaker may receive time, brew time, warming time, and turn on/off time configuration information from the intelligent controller. The coffeemaker may also communicate its status to the intelligent controller allowing a user to know at a remote location if the coffeemaker needs to be set up for brewing, coffee is brewing or ready. Similarly, a breadmaker having a local network communication link, a display and bar code reader may be one of the networked appliances. The breadmaker is able to receive bread making recipe programs from the intelligent controller for storage in local memory. A user upon scanning or otherwise inputting a unique product code, such as a universal product code (UPC), provided with a package such as a bread mix or cake mix configures the cycles of the bread machine. A cycle typically includes a mixing period, dough rising period, baking period, and warming period.

A microwave oven and a non-microwave type oven (for example, gas oven, electric oven, convection oven, or Ultravection.TM. oven) may be among the associated other appliances within the network. Each such oven would have a local network communication link and receiving recipe information from the remote database via the intelligent controller. The recipe information is stored in their respective memories. Each oven may also have a bar code reader for reading UPCs that results in the microwave oven or heating element type oven being configured for cooking the scanned product. The user may also be guided via a display screen through the preparation of the product.

If the input unique product code is unknown (i.e. not present in the memory of the appliance), the appliance may communicate the product code to the intelligent controller. The intelligent controller could then transmit the product code to the remote database as an unidentified product code. Later, a recipe program associated with the "unknown" product code may be transmitted back to the intelligent controller for further transmission to the original reporting appliance. The original reporting appliance then saves the recipe in memory.

Other systems, methods, features and advantages of the invention will be or will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. In the figures, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views.

FIG. 1 is a diagram of an intelligent controller in communication with a device capable of displaying a user interface via a modem and other appliances via a local network communication link in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of the intelligent controller in communication with the web server and web device through a PSTN of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the intelligent controller of FIG. 2.

FIG. 3A is a block diagram of the radio and CD player portions of the intelligent controller of FIG. 2.

FIG. 3B is a depiction of the intelligent controller displaying a list of scheduled household events downloaded from a web server.

FIG. 4 is a web page to select preset radio stations for the intelligent controller via the device capable of displaying a user interface of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a web page to set alarms and radio station via the device capable of displaying a user interface of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a web page to enter current stocks via the device capable of displaying a user interface of FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is a web page to select pre-mix breadmaker recipe programs via the device capable of displaying a user interface of FIG. 2.

FIG. 8 is a web page to select oven recipe programs via the device capable of displaying a user interface of FIG. 2.

FIG. 9 is a web page to configure the coffeemaker settings via the device capable of displaying a user interface of FIG. 2.

FIG. 10 is a web page to select microwave recipe programs via the device capable of displaying a user interface of FIG. 2.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of the coffeemaker with a local network communication unit of FIG. 1.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of the breadmaker with a local network communication link of FIG. 1.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram of the microwave oven with a local network communication link of FIG. 1.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram of the oven with a local network communication link of FIG. 1.

FIG. 15 is a flow chart of an intelligent microwave oven process in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 16 is a flow chart of a process for remote programming of radio presets over a network in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 17 is an example web page to enter news keywords via the device capable of displaying the user interface of FIG. 2.

FIG. 18 is an example web page to enter events on a calendar via the device capable of displaying the user interface of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows an intelligent kitchen having an intelligent controller 102 in communication with a web server 104 via a modem (or via a broadband connection) and with electronic appliances by a power line communication protocol. In some alternative intelligent kitchen systems, the "appliance-controller connection" may be over CAT-3, CAT-5, or even fiber optical cables instead of via power line communications. In other alternatives, radio frequency (RF) transceivers may provide the local "wired" link between the intelligent controller 102 and appliances 116 122, this wireless link may conform to either a common wireless communication standard (e.g. WiFi or Bluetooth) or a proprietary one. In yet other potential embodiments, power line communication units provide a wired connection between the intelligent controller 102 and appliances 116 122 and RF transceivers provide a second or redundant path between the intelligent controller 102 and appliances 116 122. The intelligent controller 102 may have a display 106 and control surfaces 107, such as push buttons and knobs.

When the connection with web server 104 is via modem, the modem in the intelligent controller 102 is connected to a RJ-11 telephone jack 108. The intelligent controller 102 at periodic times uses the modem to initiate a data call through the PSTN 110 to a remote database 103. The remote database 103 contains data that is accessed by the server 104 and sent to the device capable displaying a user interface 112. An example of a remote database 103 is a database accessed by a web server upon a web page in a web browser either requesting or entering data. A device capable of displaying a user interface 112, such as a personal computer having another modem is also connected to via an RJ-11 telephone jack 108 and connected by PSTN 110 with server 104. The web device 112 communicates with the server 104 over an Internet Protocol connection. In an alternate embodiment, the intelligent controller 102 may connected through an internet service provider and may even use a cable modem or DSL router to connect with the Internet. In yet another embodiment, a different communication protocol may be used by the device 112 to communicate with server 104.

In a preferred embodiment, the intelligent controller 102 is also connected to the alternating current (AC) home wiring by a power line communication unit communicating through a cord that is plugged into an AC outlet 114. The power line communication unit is able to communicate with other similarly equipped appliances such as coffeemaker 116, breadmaker 118, microwave oven 120, and conventional type oven 122. Each appliance 116 122 has an associated power line communication unit that communicates through an AC outlet 124 130 for two-way communication between the intelligent controller 102 and the appliances 116 122. Examples of power line communication units include X-10, CEBus and POWERBUS power line communication units.

The power line communications between the intelligent controller 102 and the appliances 116 122 may be used to synchronize of all of the appliance clocks with the internal clock of the intelligent controller 102. In turn, the intelligent controller 102 may have an internal clock that is periodically synchronized by communication with the remote database 103 associated with the server 104. In one embodiment, the remote database 103 maintains accurate time by receiving a timing signal from an atomic clock. In an alternate embodiment, a GPS clock may provide an accurate time signal to the server 104. In another embodiment, a separate time server connected to an accurate clock or GPS clock may supply time to the network.

The coffeemaker 116 receives programming for when to turn on from over the power line via the intelligent controller 102. The coffeemaker 116 may periodically and/or randomly report its state to the intelligent controller 102, where it may be displayed. If an "on" time is set, for instance, then the coffeemaker 116 may report to the intelligent controller that it is not ready to brew. Once the user places water and coffee grounds in the coffeemaker 116, the user presses a button on the coffeemaker 116 to place the coffeemaker 116 in a "ready to brew" state. Alternatively, coffeemaker 116 may have sensors to determine whether supply water and coffee grounds are available. The coffeemaker 116 having informed the intelligent controller 102 that the coffeemaker is in the "ready to brew" state then may display a ready to brew symbol in the display 110. When the programmed time occurs, the coffeemaker 116 starts to brew the coffee and may notify the intelligent controller 102 that it is in the brewing state. The intelligent controller 102 may, in turn, display a brewing symbol on its (optional) display.

When the coffeemaker finishes brewing, it may notify the intelligent controller 102 that the coffee is ready. The intelligent controller 102 then may display, a "coffee is ready" symbol. The coffeemaker turns off automatically after a predetermined time period. It may also be turned off manually by a user pushing an off button. In either event, the coffeemaker may inform the intelligent controller 102 of the state change. The intelligent controller 102 may then report via its display that the coffeemaker is not ready to brew. Thus an advantage is achieved by having the intelligent controller 102 remotely display the state of the coffeemaker 116. Further, the time is correctly set and maintained by synchronization with the time maintained by the intelligent controller 102.

The breadmaker 118, microwave oven 120 and conventional oven 122 may each have a respective bar code reader 130 134. The bar code readers enables the user of appliances 118 122 to scan a unique product code, such as the universal product code (UPC) located on a food container. Alternatively, the appliances may be equipped with control surfaces, such as push buttons or switches, that allow a user to manually input the code. This may be used to make the appliances less expensive or where a bar code reader is broken or perhaps not purchased with the appliance. In another alternative, the breadmaker 118, microwave oven 120 and conventional oven 122 may each have a radio frequency identification (RFID) system.

Once a code is input, the appliances 118 122 then attempt to identify a recipe program associated with the input product code. If the recipe program is found in local memory, then the appliance is configured by the execution of the recipe program. Thus, an advantage is achieved by being able to configure the appliances 118 122 for different types and manufactures of consumer food products. Further the risk of incorrectly preparing the food products is reduced because of less human interaction during the cycle programming of the appliances 118 122.

Turning to FIG. 2, a diagram of the intelligent controller 102 in communication with the web server 104 and web device 112 through the PSTN 110 of FIG. 1 is shown. The web server 104 has a database 202 of user profiles with at least one user profile 204 associated with each intelligent controller. The user profile 204 is periodically pushed down to an associated intelligent controller 102 along with time synchronization data and updated user selected data, such as news 212, stock prices 214, weather reports 216 and calendar data 217. In an alternate embodiment, time synchronization data and updated user selected data may be pulled down by the intelligent controller 102 from the web server 104. The user selected data is sent from the web server 104 through the PSTN 110 to be received via modem 206 at the intelligent controller 102. The controller 210 stores the user-selected data (news 212, stock prices 214, weather reports 216 and calendar data 217) into memory 208. The user-selected data stored in memory 208 may then be displayed by the controller 210 on display 218 along with time information.

The user profile 204 stored in the database 202 located on the web server 104 also contains configuration data, such as time zone, user-selected preset radio stations, alarm times and settings ("buzz", radio station or CD player). The alarm times 220 and radio stations 221 and/or CD player configuration data is stored by controller 210 in memory 208 when periodically received by (whether by "push" or "pull") the intelligent controller 102 from the web server 104. Miscellaneous data, such as recipe program updates, new recipe programs, other text or programs may also be received by the intelligent controller 210 and stored in memory 208 or as appropriate miscellaneous memory 223. Data stored in memory 208 may also be transmitted to and received from other appliances through a local network communication link 220.

The user profile 204 is configurable via a web browser 222 being executed on the web device 112 connected by an Internet Protocol connection through PSTN 110 to web server 104. In particular, the web browser 222 accesses configuration web pages 224 that may be associated with the intelligent controller 102 and other appliances 116 122. A time web page 226 is presented to a user of the web device 112 that allows a user to enter the zip code where the intelligent controller 102 will be located in operation. In other embodiments the time web page 226, may be implemented as input fields on another web page, such as a user information web page 234. The zip code is then used by a program on the web server 104 to identify possible radio stations and time zones. In other embodiments, the user may select the time zone and city where the intelligent controller 102 is located. Further, the time web page 226 may be used to configure the clock function, set alarm web page 228. Other web pages that may be configured include stock selection web page 230, program radio stations web page 232, user information web page 234, web pages for selections of recipe programs for a oven 236, breadmaker recipe program selection web page 238, coffeemaker programming web page 240, recipe program selection web page for the microwave oven 242, recipe program selection pages for other appliances, family calendar web page 2300, and news feed web page 2200.

Each web page communicates with the web server 104 and may result in the user profile 204 in the database 202 being configured or updated. Changes in the user profile 204 are periodically transmitted between the intelligent controller 102 and the web server 104, preferably by pushing down the data (whole user profile or just the changes in the user profile), at predetermined intervals. Thus, the ability to change or update programs associated with the user profile is achieved by downloading the changes or updates to appliances 116 122 via the intelligent controller 102.

In an alternate embodiment, the web server 104 may contact the intelligent controller 102 and send the data contained in the user profile 204 to the intelligent controller 102 at periodic intervals. In yet another embodiment, the web server may contact the intelligent controller 102, upon configuration of the intelligent controller 102 and/or upon a change being made to the user profile 204. Similarly, in another alternate embodiment, the intelligent controller 102 may synchronize with the web server 104 and user profile 204 upon a predetermined action occurring. Examples of such actions include; a user physically pressing a button to cause synchronization, new appliances being detected on the power line, or receiving a "unknown unique product code" message from an appliance. Alternatively a continuous, broadband connection between the intelligent controller and the web server can be used. In this alternative, communications may be in real-time or periodically sent in bursts between the intelligent controller and the web server.

Intelligent Controller

In FIG. 3, a block diagram of the intelligent controller 102 of FIG. 2 is shown. The intelligent controller 102 has a controller 210 that is connected by a bus 302 to the modem 206, the memory 208, and the local network communication link 220. The intelligent controller 102 may also include the display 218, a radio 304, CD player 305, a plurality of input controls 306, and a real-time clock 308. The controller 210 is preferably a microprocessor, but in an alternate embodiment may be a reduced instruction set chip (RISC) processor, micro-controller, digital circuits functioning as a controller, analog circuits functioning as a controller, a combination of analog and digital circuits functioning as a controller, or a digital signal processor.

The modem 206 is preferably a low speed 300 14,400 kbps internal modem and is a network interface to PSTN 110. Among other potential advantages, the use of a low speed modem keeps the cost of the system lower. In an alternate embodiment, a higher speed modem or network interface may be used. In yet another alternate embodiment, an external network interface may be used to access the PSTN 110 and connect to the intelligent controller 102 via an external bus such as a serial bus, SCSI bus, or universal serial bus (USB). The modem 206 may also make a connection to the external network by wireless means, such as wireless Ethernet connection, 900 MHz in home network, or cellular connection.

The radio 304 has a tuner 250 that is connected to amplifier 252, a plurality of input controls 306, an antenna 256, and a controller 210. The controller 210 is connected to tuner 250, network interface 260, memory 208, display 218 and clock 308. The clock supplies timing to the controller 210, the network interface 260 and the memory 208. The amplifier 252 is connected to the plurality of controls 306, the tuner 250 and at least one speaker 338 (stereo receivers often have two or more speakers).

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 3A, the radio 304 is configurable by data received via the modem 206 by the controller 210. Such configuration information may include preset radio stations for among other available mediums both the AM and FM radio bands that are stored in memory 208. The radio 304 can be activated either by one of the plurality of input controls 306 or by the controller 210 in response to the real time clock 308. A radio signal is received by an antenna (not shown) among other available mediums such as streaming data. In an alternate embodiment, the radio 304 may included a weather alert radio in place of or in addition to the radio 304.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 3A, the CD player 305 has a compact disk transport 312, a digital-to-analog converter 314 that is connected to amplifier 252, a plurality of controls 306, and a controller 210. The controller is connected to digital-to-analog converter 314, network interface 260, memory 208, display 218 and clock 308. Notably in a configuration having both radio and CD player, amplifier 252, plurality of controls 306, controller 210, display 218, clock 308, and speakers 338 may be shared as shown in FIGS. 3 and 3A. The CD player 305 is programmable by data received via the modem 206 via the controller 210. Such configuration information may include the first track to be played and/or a playlist of tracks to be played. Further information associated with the CD received in the CD player may also be received by controller 210 for display on the display 218 such as the album name, track titles, artist name and the like. This programming is accomplished via web device 112, web server 104 and user profile 204.

The display 218 is able to display text and low-resolution graphics. The display is controlled by a display controller 310 that is in communication with memory 208 and controller 210. Alternatively, display controller 310 may be integrated with controller 210 or display 218. The display 218 is a monochrome liquid crystal display (LCD). In an alternate embodiment, a high-resolution display may be used. Further, a color display may be used in yet another embodiment. In other embodiments, other types of displays that are capable of displaying data may be used, including for example cathode ray tubes and plasma displays. The display may even be a touch screen that combines the plurality of input controls 306 with display 218.

Among other data, the display 218 displays the current tuner setting, in other words the current radio station. In an alternate embodiment, the radio 304 is a clock radio and the display 218 displays the time and may display the date. In such an embodiment, the clock 308 may included a real-time clock for keeping track of time that is displayed by display 218.

A real-time clock 308 having a oscillator is connected to the controller 210. The real-time clock 308 is a digital chip that is programmable by the controller 210 in response to a synchronization signal (time message) being received at modem 206. The real-time clock 308 is preferably only accurate enough to maintain time for a period of approximately two weeks, thus allowing for greater variances in component quality. A network indicator may be provided on the display 218, to indicate if a synchronization of real-time clock 308 has occurred within a preceding two-week period. Thus, an advantage is achieved by maintaining the correct time by synchronization of the real-time clock 308 with the correct time maintained at the web server 104. Alternatively, a more accurate real time clock could be utilized, thus reducing the need for synchronization between the real-time clock 308 and the server 104.

The memory 208 is preferably a combination of random access memory (RAM), such as dynamic random access memory (DRAM), synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), or other types of read/write memory, and of read only memory (ROM), such as programmable read only memory (PROM), electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM). In an alternate embodiment, the memory may include external semi-permanent memory, such as magnetic disk (hard disk, removable hard disk, floppy disk), optical disk (CD-RW) or external permanent memory (CD-R and DVD-R). The memory 208 is divided into a program portion that controls the operation of the intelligent controller 102 and a data portion that maintains configuration data and variables used and manipulated by the controller 210 upon execution of a program.

The plurality of input controls 306 are used to manually tune the radio and adjust the volume. A plurality of preset buttons also comprise at least part of the plurality of input controls 306 that when set; will automatically tune the tuner 250 to a preset station. If the radio 304 is also a clock radio, then some of the plurality of input controls 306 will be for manually setting the time. In an alarm clock radio embodiment, additional controls in the plurality of controls 306 will be present to arm/disarm the alarm, set the alarm to buzz or radio, and set the alarm time.

The tuner 250 tunes the radio 304 to a frequency in a amplitude modulated (AM) frequency band or a frequency modulated (FM) frequency band. In alternate embodiments tuners capable of receiving fewer, other or additional frequency bands may be used in place of the AM/FM tuner 250. The controller 210 on display 218 displays the setting of the tuner 250. The tuner 250 receives the radio signal at antenna 256 and demodulates the signal into an audio signal. The audio signal is amplified by amplifier 252 and heard at speaker 338.

The radio 304 receives the configuration message from the server 104 at the network interface 260. The configuration message is then processed by the controller 210. The controller configures preset radio stations in the tuner 250 that are associated with the preset buttons in the plurality of controls 306. Upon configuration of the preset radio stations, a user is able to select one of the preset buttons in the plurality of controls and the tuner 250 tunes to that radio station. Thus, the user does not have to reset their preset radio stations after the radio 304 is de-energized by a power outage, batteries going dead, or the radio being unplugged.

As shown in FIG. 3B, the intelligent controller may also be used to deliver reminders of scheduled household events. The user enters the hour and a description of these events in calendar 2302 on web page 2300. On the day of the event, the web server 104 downloads a list of events associated with each household member to the intelligent controller 102 for display on display 218 or any other display operably associated with intelligent controller 102. For instance, Charlie's schedule for Apr. 29, 2003 is depicted in FIG. 3B. The other household member's list of events could be toggled via the plurality of controls 306. Whereas the term "household" is commonly used to refer to a family setting, its meaning herein is broader and encompassing groups of individuals that live or work in the same location associated with the intelligent controller. For instance, a firm or company may be the household and its employees may be the household members. Likewise, a student dormitory may be the household and the students residing therein may be the household members.

The intelligent controller 102 may also deliver stock information of interest to the user. The user selects via web page 230 which stocks are to be monitored, e.g. the stocks of the user portfolio. The web server 104 then download stock updates to intelligent controller 102 for display on display 218 or any display device operably connected to the intelligent controller. Where the intelligent controller has a modem connection, these stock updates will likely reflect the prior day's close. Where the intelligent controller has a broadband connection, the updates may be in real-time or substantially in real-time. Where the intelligent controller has a modem connection, these news updates will likely reflect the prior day's latest news. Where the intelligent controller has a broadband connection, the news may be in real-time or substantially in real-time.

Likewise, the intelligent controller 102 may deliver real-time news from news agencies like Associated Press or Reuters. The user selects the news topics of interest on web page 2200. The web page then downloads the news pertaining to the topics of interest from the selected news agencies to the intelligent controller 102. The news may be displayed on display 218 or any display device operably connected to the intelligent controller 102.

The local network communication link 202 transmits a carrier signal that is capable of transporting data between the intelligent controller 102 and devices over a communication link. In a preferred embodiment, local network communication link 202 is a power line communication transceiver that sends and receives signals over a home's AC wiring that electrical appliances receive power. Thus, the power line communication unit is shown both a power supply for the intelligent controller 102 and a communication unit that enables two-way communication with other appliances that share the AC wiring, but may be implemented separately. Examples of such power line communication approaches include; X-10, CEBUS, and POWERBUS by Domosys Corp. In an alternate embodiment, the power line communication unit 202 may be replaced with a wireless RF unit that establishes a wireless connection between the intelligent controller 102 and other appliances. This wireless connection may also be implemented as a backup to a power line communication system.

The minimum functionality required in the intelligent controller 102 is to convert data received over an external network to the internal network enabling communication between the internal network and the external network. The communication path to the external network (e.g. Internet) is often costly to keep active and requires telephone resources that are only periodically available in a home. Therefore, the intelligent controller 102 acts as a temporary storage unit in the transmission of data. For example, if an appliance scans a product code that is unknown to that appliance, a message is sent to the intelligent controller 102 for future transmission to the web server 104 upon synchronization. Additional functionality is added to the intelligent controller 102 for the convenience of the user, such as the display 218, radio 304, CD player 305 and clock 308 with a human perceptible time indicator such as display 218, tones, synthesized voice, light emitting diodes forming a display.

Another slave intelligent controller (not shown) may be in communication with the intelligent controller 102 and act as a second input/display device. The slave intelligent controller has a controller, display, memory, power line communication unit, and plurality of control surfaces. In such a system, information displayed on the intelligent controller 102 is mirrored on the slave intelligent controller. The plurality of buttons 306 on intelligent controller 102 is also mirrored on the slave intelligent controller. Thus, a person may have one intelligent controller 102 and a plurality of slave intelligent controllers in different rooms of a home. Further, the slave intelligent controller may contain another radio and/or another CD player that is separately programmable from the radio and CD player in the master intelligent controller. Similarly, the slave intelligent controller may have an alarm clock that is separately programmable from the alarm clock in the master intelligent controller. In another embodiment, the intelligent controller 102 does not have a display 218 or plurality of button 306, rather the intelligent controller 102 relays the information to be displayed to all the displays on the slave intelligent controller and receives input from the plurality of button on the slave intelligent controllers.

Configuration Web Pages

A remote computer may function as the device capable of displaying a user interface 112. The remote computer is likely a general-purpose computer system such as an IBM compatible, Apple, or other equivalent computer (using a processor that may selectively be an Intel, AMD, Cyrix, Motorola 68XXX or PowerPC series, Compaq Digital Alpha, Sun, HP, IBM, Silicon Graphics, or other type of equivalent processor) that, among other functions, allow a user to communicate with server 104 via a external network, such as the PSTN network. The network is any network that allows multiple computer systems to communicate with each other such as a Local Area Network (LAN), Storage Area Network (SAN), Wide Area Network (WAN) alternative Intranet, Extranet, or the Internet. Server 104 is preferably a general-purpose computer system such as an IBM compatible, Apple, Unix type workstation, or equivalent computer (using a processor that may selectively be an Intel, AMD, Cyrix, Motorola 68XXX or PowerPC series, Compaq Digital Alpha, Sun, HP, IBM, Silicon Graphics, or other type of equivalent processor) that may generate a user interface, responds to commands, and communicates with server 104. Of course, the device 112 and server 104 need not be the same type of general-purpose computer. Both remote computer and server 104 preferably contain a network interface that allows for communication via a network. Network interfaces may selectively include hardware and any software capable of communicating with the network. Examples of the software would be any LAN, WAN, SAN, alternative Intranet, Ethernet capable or Internet compatible software program such as Novell, Windows, Unix, Netscape Navigator, Microsoft Internet Explorer, Mosaic, UP.BROWSER, or similar. It should also be noted that the network could comprise the public telephone network with server 104 acting as a dial-up bulletin board and remote computer dialing in directly to server 104 via the telco network.

Using a remote computer to operably connect to server 104--in a well-known manner dependent upon the technology of network--the user will access the home page of web pages, and thus access to the various functions of the server 104 would be made via hyperlinks. Of course, while the present disclosure is being made in a HTML-type environment, use of this environment is not required as part of the present invention. Other programming languages and user-interface approaches may also be used to facilitate data entry and execute the various computer programs that make up the present invention.

Information may be entered into the user interface for entry into a database 202 residing on the server 104. The information may be input in conjunction with a variety of computer data entry techniques. In some instances, the information may be type-checked (i.e. character, integer, date, etc.), limited by "lookup table" constraints or completely freeform. A user enters a user identifier and the serial number of the intelligent controller 102 into a web page. Upon actuation of the submit button (or similar action), the information entered in the different web pages populates the database entry (not shown) for each user. For new members this process may further involve the creation of a new database record. As a result, server 104 (or another general purpose computer or file server operably associated with server 104) stores the records in the database, the computer programming methods and procedures for which are well-known to those of ordinary skill in the art.

In FIG. 4, an example web page to select radio stations 232 at the web device of FIG. 2 is shown. A user of the device capable of displaying a user interface 112 accesses the server 104 and a user profile associated with the intelligent controller 102. The user supplies information relating to the operating location of the intelligent controller 102 such as a zip code or enters time zone information in a time web page 226 and is then presented with other configuration web pages 224. The server 104 sends a web page 232 to the device 112 for selection of the preset radio stations. The location identifier is associated with a plurality of radio stations in proximity of the identified location. In a preferred embodiment, the zip codes 116 are stored in the database 202 with each zip code being associated with a plurality of radio stations 118. The user is then presented another web page in the graphical interface 110 that allows the radio stations to be assigned to the preset buttons of radio 304. The assignments of the radio stations to the preset buttons are then stored in the user profile 204.

In a preferred embodiment, the web page identifies the available radio stations 404 by their frequency 406, call sign 408, city 410, and state 412. In other embodiments, additional information such as radio station city, style of music or type of station (news or sports) may be displayed on the configuration web page 304. The user then selects 414 which of the stations should be pre-selected by placing a check in a box 416 associated with the desired station. The web page may also display the radio stations that have already been selected 418.

In this manner, the web page configures the preset radio stations is an association page that establishes an association list between a first set of configuration data and a second set of configuration data. The first set of configuration data is a plurality of preset button identifiers and the second set of configuration data is radio stations that may be assigned to the plurality of preset button identifiers. A check may be made as the user enters the preset radio button number to verify that a number has not been used twice and only the maximum number radio stations have been assigned preset radio button numbers. As would be understood by those familiar with graphical user interface design, the particular placement of elements and user input techniques could be modified in view of this present disclosure without departing from the scope of the invention. Upon completion, the web page is transmitted to the web server 104 for processing and placement of the data into the user's profile 204.

In another approach where the intelligent controller includes CD player 305, the user enters the International Standard Recording Code for a compact disk via web server 104. The list of track names and track numbers corresponding to said code may be retrieved from a database and displayed on the configuration web page. This database may be part of the server 104 or retrieved from one of the web-accessible public databases supplying compact disk data (e.g. www.gracenote.com/music/) The user is then able to use a playlist on the configuration web page to create a program to be used by the CD player 305 via controller 210.

Turning to FIG. 5, an example web page to set alarms and radio station at the web device 112 of FIG. 2 is shown. If radio 304 is an alarm clock, then a user may set the alarm times using the graphical interface 222 (web browser) and accessing an alarm configuration web page 402 by linking to the alarm configuration web page 402 from another page or by entering in the web address 404. The user may have to enter the clock ID 401 at the previous web page or a "cookie" may be present with a clock ID 401. The alarm configuration web page 402 is downloaded on a server 104 and displayed on web device 112 in the web browser 222.

In this preferred approach, the user is shown the day of week 502 and is presented an input field for selected "on time" 408. If the intelligent controller includes a radio, then the alarm may have a wake-up station 420 set to a default "buzz" (i.e. no station) or may be set to one of the radio station presets using a page similar to that of FIG. 4. Additionally, as shown in FIG. 5, where the intelligent controller includes a CD player 305, then the alarm may alternatively be set to activate the CD player and may further provide the ability to specify the track or the playlist to be played. Further, the user would then activate selected alarms by indicating in an input field (not shown) that the alarm is to be active. The user is able to review the current alarm settings by viewing the current alarm display 318 that is present on the web page 402. The changes that have just been made by a user may not be reflected in the current alarm display 508 until the alarm schedule is updated. Upon completion, the alarm schedule is updated and the data is transmitted to the web server 104 for processing and placement into the user profile 204.

The alarm configuration information is then sent from the server 104 to the radio 305 over network 102. The controller 210 associated with the radio 304 then sets the alarms in the clock 308. It is possible that in some embodiments, the alarms will be set in the controller 210. In an alternate embodiment, the server 104 also sends a time synchronization message to the radio that is a clock radio to set the clock 308

In FIG. 16, a flow chart of a process for remote programming of radio presets over a network 102 is shown. The process starts (602) when the user displaying a web page enters a location identifier into the graphical interface (604). The user has also provided a user identifier via logging into the server or by a "cookie" having been placed during a previous session. In response to the location identifier, the server 104 access the database 202 and identifies the radio identifier in the user profile 204 (606) and the local radio stations contained in the radio station part of the database. The list of radio stations is sent from the server 104 to the web device 112 (608). As shown in FIG. 4, the user then selects the desired preset radio stations by assigning a preset button to each of the frequencies associated with the desired preset radio station (610). If a clock for displaying is not preset (612), then the preset radio stations and any other user profile data from the web page is sent to the server 104 (620) for storage in the user profile 204 of the database (622).

If a clock for displaying time is present (612), i.e. radio 304 is a clock radio, then the alarm web page 402 is displayed and the user selects the alarm times (614). The selected alarm times are then associated with a radio frequency or left blank for a "buzz" alarm (616). Another alarm is then selected and associated with another radio frequency or left blank again for the "buzz" alarm (618). The alarm configuration information is then sent in addition to the preset radio stations from the web device 112 to the server 104 (620) where the data is stored in the user profile 204 in the database 202 (622). If the user profile in user profile is accessed by a web device 104 (624) and no change occurs, then processing is complete (628). If the user profile 204 has changed (624), then the data from the user profile 112 is sent to the radio 304 (630).

Upon receipt of the data from the user profile, the preset radio stations and the association with the preset buttons in the plurality of controls 306 stored in the memory 208 of the intelligent controller associated with the radio. Each of the preset buttons is associated by the controller 210 with a radio station as contained in the received association that was saved in memory 208 (634). When preset button is selected, the tuner will tune to the associated radio frequency that was contained in the association.

If the radio is not associated with a clock (636), then processing is complete (628) and the radio is configured. If the radio does contain a clock (636), then the alarm time and alarm settings (radio or "buzz") contained in the user profile 204 are sent from the server 104 to the intelligent controller (638). The controller 210 receives the alarm time and the alarm settings and sets the alarm time and alarm settings (640). The configuration processing is then complete (628).

In FIG. 6, an example web page 230 to enter current stocks at the web device 112 of FIG. 2 is shown. A user may select the web page 230 to select stocks for inclusion in a portfolio tracker. The user is then presented with his current portfolio (initially empty) that includes stock symbols 606, company names 608 and the number of shares 610. The user is also presented with the options of selecting other web pages such as "Update Your Portfolio" 602 or "Add to Your Portfolio" 604. "Updating Your Portfolio" 602 enables a user to access a web page with input boxes for the number of shares. "Add to Your Portfolio" 604 accesses a web page for adding or deleting stocks from the portfolio. Upon completion, the data from web page 230 is transmitted to the web server 104 for processing and placement into the users profile 204. In addition, the web server may be programmed to download selected data from the user's portfolio tracker (e.g. the share price of a stock owned by the user) to the intelligent controller 102 for display on display 218 or another display device operably connected with the intelligent controller 102. This download may be carried out on a real-time basis, especially if the household is provided with broadband connection, thus rapidly appraising the user on the status of stocks of interest.

In FIG. 17, an example web page 2200 to enter news keywords at the web device 112 of FIG. 2 is shown. The user is presented with buttons 2202 for the inclusion of news categories of interest. The user then inputs keywords defining specific sub-categories in boxes 2204. Upon completion, the data from web page 2200 is transmitted to the web server 104 for processing and placement into the user profile 204. News feeds pertaining to the categories chosen by the user are automatically downloaded from web server 104 to the intelligent controller 102 for display on display 218 or another display device operably associated with the intelligent controller. This feature is particularly attractive if the household is provided with a broadband connection allowing for real-time news feeds. Associated Press or Reuters are non-limiting examples of news sources providing the news feeds.

In FIG. 18, an example web page 2300 to schedule household events at the web device 112 of FIG. 2 is shown. The user is presented with web site 2300 for inputting the day, time, and description of one or more events in monthly calendar 2202. In one embodiment the user may be provided with the ability to attribute an event to one of a plurality of household members. Upon completion, the data from web page 2300 is transmitted to the web server 104 for processing and placement into the users profile 204. On the day of the event, a list of events is downloaded for each household member to intelligent controller 102 for display on display 218 or another display device operably associated with the intelligent controller

Turning to FIG. 7 an example web page 238 to select pre-mix breadmaker recipe programs at the device 112 of FIG. 2 is shown. The page may be made inaccessible to users who have not purchased an intelligent breadmaker 118. A user accesses the web page 238 from the web server 104 and selects the pre-mixed bread recipe programs that user desires to have downloaded to the breadmaker 118. Of course, it should be understood that the recipe programs shown are by way of example and not intended to limit the invention. The name of the pre-mixed bread 702 is displayed along with an associated unique product codes, such as UPC 704. The user selec