Method of facilitating servicing an appliance

摘要

A method of facilitating servicing an appliance includes establishing two way communications between an appliance and a remote client, and monitoring and communicating to the remote client operational data associated with the appliance. In this way, the remote client can use the operational data to service the appliance.

主权项

1. A method of facilitating servicing an appliance, configured to perform a cycle of operation on a physical article, and having a processor with control logic in communication with at least one observable component in the appliance to effect the cycle of operation by way of a first software operating layer in a first operating state and an alternate logic for communication with the at least one observable component in the appliance by way of a second software operating layer in a second operating state, comprising:
establishing two way communication between the at least one observable component in the appliance and a remote client via the alternate logic, wherein the control logic of the first software operating layer is rendered ineffective unless invoked by way of the second software operating layer, selecting on the remote client a diagnostic test having at least one command message and expected results, transmitting the at least one command message from the remote client to the appliance, executing the at least one command message by way of the second software operating layer in the second operating state either by way of the control logic of the first software operating layer if invoked by the by way of the second software operating layer or by way of the alternate logic of the second software operating layer and directly commanding the at least one observable component in the second operating state independently of the first software operating layer, observing on the remote client any state change in the at least one observable component based on the execution of the at least one command message, and comparing the expected results to the observation.