Patent ID: 6718587
Filing Date: 2004-04-13
Classification: D06F

Abstract:
A method for estimating the time required to perform an operational cycle of an appliance, the cycle including at least one operational mode whose individual duration varies depending on the time it takes the appliance to reach a desired condition, the method comprising:providing memory for storing historical data of previously executed cycles of the appliance, the historical data comprising at least one appliance parameter for the at least one operational mode of the appliance; accessing the memory in light of a user-selected option for a present cycle; computing an initial estimated time for performing the present cycle of the appliance based, at least in part, on a time estimate for the at least one operational mode, the time estimate based on the at least one historical appliance parameter for the at least one operational mode; determining the actual time used for performing at least one occurrence of the operational mode during the present cycle; relating the actual time used for performing the at least one occurrence of the operational mode during the present cycle relative to the time estimate used for computing the initial estimated time for performing the present cycle of the appliance; and adjusting the initial estimated time for performing the present cycle of the appliance in light of any differences between the actual and estimated times for the at least one operational mode.