Appliance remote control enable mode
A system and method of remotely interacting with an appliance system are provided. A remote device, such as a computer, a smartphone, a tablet, etc., can initiate communications with an appliance through a communications network. When a remote enablement mode is initiated at the appliance, the remote device can interact with the appliance. For instance, the remote device can initiate operational cycles, activate notifications, perform diagnostic routines, etc. The remote enablement mode can be initiated by a user within the proximity of the appliance using a remote enable interface. The remote enable interface can be a mechanical device, an electromechanical device, and/or a selection through a user interface coupled to the appliance.
1. A computer-implemented method of controlling an appliance over a network, comprising:
receiving, by one or more processors associated with an appliance, a request to interact with the appliance from a remote device;
determining by the one or more processors, whether a remote enable interface is activated;
interacting, by the one or more processors, with the remote device when the remote enable interface is activated, the interaction being associated at least in part with an operational cycle of the appliance; and
responsive to the completion of the operational cycle, ceasing, by the one or more processors, interacting with the remote device;
wherein ceasing interacting with the remote device comprises automatically deactivating the remote enable interface.
2. The computer-implemented method as in claim 1 , wherein the remote enable interface is configured to be enabled by a user within a predetermined proximity of the appliance.
3. The computer-implemented method as in claim 1 , further comprising preventing interaction between the appliance and the remote device when the remote enable interface is disabled.
4. The computer-implemented method as in claim 1 , wherein the remote enable interface is at least one of a mechanical device and an electromechanical device.
5. The computer-implemented method as in claim 1 , wherein the remote enable interface is enabled through a user interface associated with the appliance.
6. The computer-implemented method as in claim 1 , wherein the network is a home appliance network.
7. A computer-implemented method of controlling an appliance over a network, comprising:
transmitting, by one or more processors, a request to interact with the appliance over the network;
receiving, by the one or more processors, a signal indicative of a remote enable interface status;
interacting, by the one or more processors, with the appliance when the remote enable interface is activated, the interaction comprising at least one of remote services diagnostics, ordering items related to the appliance, notifications, or remote control of the appliance; and
responsive to the completion of the interaction, automatically deactivating by the one or more processors, the remote enable interface.
8. The computer-implemented method as in claim 7 , wherein the remote enable interface is configured to be enabled by a user within a predetermined proximity to the appliance.
9. The computer-implemented method as in claim 7 , further comprising preventing interaction with the appliance when the remote enable interface is disabled at the appliance.
10. The computer-implemented method as in claim 7 , further comprising requesting information regarding an operational state of the appliance when the remote enable interface is activated.
11. The computer-implemented method as in claim 10 , further comprising transmit ing a command to change the operational state of the appliance.
12. The computer-implemented method as in claim 7 , further comprising transmitting the request to interact with the appliance of the network to a server separate from the appliance, wherein the appliance interacts with the server to receive the remote device request.
13. An appliance comprising:
a network interface coupled to a network;
a remote enable interface configured to enable remote access to the appliance over the network; and
a controller configured to provide remote access to a remote device when the remote enable interface is activated, and, responsive to an interaction request received from the remote device, to interact with the remote device, the interaction comprising at least one of remote services diagnostics, ordering items related to the appliance, notifications, and remote control of an operational cycle of the appliance;
wherein, responsive to the completion of the interaction the controller is further configured to terminate access to the remote device by automatically deactivating the remote enable interface.
14. The appliance as in claim 13 , wherein the remote enable interface is at least one of a mechanical device and an electromechanical device.
15. The appliance as in claim 13 , wherein the remote enable interface is enabled by a user within a predetermined proximity of the appliance.
16. The appliance as in claim 13 , wherein the appliance is at least one of a HVAC system, a refrigerator, a washer, a dryer, an oven, a cooktop, and a range.