Appliance and method for data exchange in a household
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.
1. A method of exchanging data between an appliance and a remote device, the method comprising:
sensing at an appliance a connection with a communication device, the communication device remote from the appliance and comprising a wireless device and a data connection for coupling the communications device to the appliance;
if a data key is stored at the appliance,
transmitting from the appliance, an input to the communication device, the input including a data key, the data key including a credential identifying the appliance, the credential including a feature credential and a security credential; and
if a data key is not stored at the appliance,
transmitting from the appliance, a first input to the communication device, the first input including a credential identifying the appliance, the credential including a feature credential and a security credential;
selecting a data key at the communication device for the identified appliance, and encoding the data key with the credential identifying the appliance;
exchanging data between the communication device and the appliance using the data key, the feature credential of the data key including information that identifies the appliance and associates data received from the appliance with the appliance said exchanging data occurring over one of a plurality of communications protocols via the wireless device and data connection, the security credential including information designating a type of the communications protocol.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining whether a data key is available on memory of the appliance.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the credential comprises information that is unique to the appliance to which the device is connected.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the communication device includes a memory storing a plurality of data keys, each of the data keys for use with one of a plurality of appliances.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the feature credential comprises a certificate that is defined by one or more industry standards.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the feature credential identifies the appliance by type.
7. A method of exchanging data between an appliance and a remote device, the method comprising:
sensing at an appliance a connection with a communication device, the communication device remote from the appliance;
if a data key is stored at the appliance,
transmitting from the appliance, an input to the communication device, the input including a data key, the data key including a credential identifying the appliance, the credential including a feature credential and a security credential; and
if a data key is not stored at the appliance,
transmitting from the appliance, a first input to the communication device, the first input including a credential identifying the appliance, the credential including a feature credential and a security credential;
selecting a data key at the communication device for the identified appliance, and encoding the data key with the credential identifying the appliance;
via a designated communication protocol of a plurality of communication protocols, exchanging data between the communication device and the appliance using the data key, wherein the feature credential of the data key includes information that identifies the appliance and associated data received from the appliance, and wherein the security credential includes information that determines the designated communication protocol.
8. The method of claim 7 further comprising storing a plurality of data keys on the communication device, each of the data keys for use with one of a plurality of appliances.