Abstract:
An appliance including a two-way radio frequency identification (RFID) device for dynamic communications, with for example, an RFID reader used by a technician. The RFID device may include an electronic controller structured to control operating functions of the appliance. The RFID device may further include a storage medium structured to store information about the appliance and computer-executable instructions operable to control the operating functions of the appliance. A transmitter may be incorporated allowing the appliance to send and receive dynamic data between the appliance and one or more remote RFID devices using two-way communication protocols at all levels.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to an appliance having a radio frequency identification (RFID) device and a method of communicating via the RFID device, and more particularly, to an appliance having an RFID device operable for two-way communication of dynamic data and a method of performing the two-way communication. 
         [0003]    2. Related Art 
         [0004]    RFID is used in the related art to exchange primarily static information used in the identification and tracking of products. Information pertaining to a product, such as a home appliance, is included in the electronic circuitry of an RFID device, such as a tag attached to the home appliance. In use, a computer enabled device, such as an RFID reader is used by a service technician to read static data from the home appliance that is included in the RFID tag. 
         [0005]    When an RFID reader is placed in close proximity to the home appliance, the RFID reader may read, for example, the serial number, type, software version, and other static data from the appliance. In more sophisticated applications, the RFID reader may also obtain a description of a part of the appliance that may need to be replaced, including, for example, the part number, and instructions on how the service technician should replace the part. The software of the RFID reader may then automatically fill out an order form for the part to be replaced, and transmit that information to a service part provider. 
         [0006]    In a static communication process, a passive RFID tag that is typically unpowered receives radiation or an electromagnetic field at a tag antenna from the RFID reader. Radio frequency (RF) circuits of the tag may then process the received signals and then communicate an identifying signal, such as an appliance serial number, back to the RFID reader. 
         [0007]    An active RFID tag may include a tag antenna, RF circuits, and a power source such as a tag battery. The active RFID tag allows for signals to be received and transmitted by the tag antenna, although this communication is also employed using static data. 
         [0008]    Further, there are related art communication techniques where communication is carried out via connected power lines, opto-couplers, and proprietary data techniques. 
         [0009]    As such, in the related art, additional functions, such as communicating dynamic data from the home appliance, automatically updating data and included software programs on the home appliance based on the exchange of dynamic data, and running a diagnostic program on the home appliance based on the receipt and exchange of dynamic data has not been implemented. 
         [0010]    In each of these configurations, the related art and its use of static RFID communication protocols makes appliances less serviceable and operational. Further, the related art&#39;s use of proprietary communication methods also leads to increased complexity and costs associated with the appliance. The present invention overcomes the problems associated with the related art by introducing an appliance having a two-way RFID device for dynamic communication. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    A first aspect of the present invention is directed to an appliance including a two-way radio frequency identification (RFID) device communication of dynamic data. The RFID device may include an electronic controller structured to control operating functions of the appliance. The RFID device may further include a storage medium structured to store information about the appliance and computer-executable instructions operable to control the operating functions of the appliance. A transmitter may be incorporated allowing the appliance to send and receive dynamic data between the appliance and one or more remote RFID devices using two-way communication protocols at all levels. 
         [0012]    A second aspect of the present invention is directed to the aforementioned RFID device. 
         [0013]    A third aspect of the present invention is directed to a method of two-way radio frequency identification (RFID) communication between an appliance and one or more remote RFID devices. In the third aspect, the method may include sending and receiving dynamic data between the appliance and the one or more remote RFID devices using two-way communication protocols at all levels. Further, the method in an exemplary embodiment may include recognizing when the one or more remote RFID devices is within a communication range, and initiating the two-way communication. Additionally, the method may include executing computer-executable instructions to run a diagnostics program, dynamically querying the one or more remote RFID devices to obtain the test script based on the results of the diagnostics program, and executing the test script. 
         [0014]    The illustrative aspects of the present invention are designed to solve the problems herein described and other problems not discussed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]    These and other features of this disclosure will be more readily understood from the following detailed description of the various aspects of the disclosure taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings that depict various exemplary embodiments of the disclosure, in which: 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  depicts an appliance incorporating a two-way RFID device communicating with a remote RFID device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  depicts an RFID device according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; and 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  depicts a method of communicating dynamic data according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
       [0019]    The drawings are merely schematic representations, not intended to portray specific parameters of the invention. The drawings are intended to depict only typical embodiments of the invention, and therefore should not be considered as limiting the scope of the invention. In the drawings, like numbering represents like elements. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0020]      FIG. 1  shows an exemplary embodiment of an appliance  10  incorporating a two-way communication RFID device  40  for dynamic data transfer and communication with one or more remote RFID devices  80 . The RFID device  40  may be integrated into an appliance electronic control module  20  or provided separately as an add-on as shown in  FIG. 1 . The electronic control module  20  may control functions of the appliance  10 , as well as store information about the appliance  10 , and this information may be communicated with the one or more remote RFID devices  80  via RFID device  40  using communication protocols at all levels, or to another electronic device through other communication means, such as connection to the internet (not shown). 
         [0021]    The two-way RFID device  40  may include a controller  44  for two-way communication and an RFID chipset  45 , and communicate with the electronic control module  20  through communication link  25 . Likewise, the controller  44  and RFID chipset  45  may communicate between each other through communication link  35 . 
         [0022]    The RFID device  40  communicates dynamic data in a two-way communication process through radio frequency (RF) link  50  to the one or more remote RFID devices  80 . The one or more remote RFID devices  80  may include, for example, an RFID reader used by an appliance service technician to service the appliance. 
         [0023]    To this end, the one or more remote RFID devices  80  may have a data analysis module and graphic user interface  75  allowing a technician to receive dynamic data from the RFID device  40  and appropriately respond to a request from the RFID device  40  by analyzing the request and transmitting a response in the form of, for example, a diagnostics program, a software update used to control the appliance, a test script, and the like. 
         [0024]    The one or more remote RFID devices  80  may further include a controller  65  for two-way communication through communication link  60  with an RFID chipset  55  and may also communicate with the data analysis module and graphic user interface  75  through communication link  70 . 
         [0025]      FIG. 2  depicts an exemplary embodiment of an RFID device  40  according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. 
         [0026]    The RFID device  40  may include any electronic architecture that will enable the RFID device  40  to communicate dynamic data in a network using radio frequency protocols in a two-way communication process. 
         [0027]    The RFID device  40  may include a processor  41 , an input/output (I/O)  43 , a controller  44 , and integrated or separate from the controller  44 , a dynamic data engine chipset  45  for storing a data capture system  46  and an implementation system  47 . The data capture system  46  and implementation system  47  may be disposed in a memory (not shown) and are used for capturing, storing, processing, and implementing the dynamic data (e.g., as a program product that can be executed by processor  41 ). This may include test scripts, queries from the appliance, control software for the appliance, or any other forms of dynamic data used to control, operate, repair, and perform two-way communications of dynamic data. As is known in the art, in general, processor  41  executes computer program code that is stored in, for example, data capture system  46  or implementation system  47 . While executing computer program code, processor  41  can read and/or write data to/from the data capture system  46 , implementation system  47 , and/or I/O interface  24 . Bus  42  provides a communications link between each of the components in RFID device  40 . I/O device  43  can comprise any device that enables interaction with RFID device  40 . In each case, the program code and hardware of RFID device  40 , in exemplary embodiments, may be created using standard programming and engineering techniques. 
         [0028]    Accordingly, it is understood that some of the various systems shown in  FIG. 2  can be implemented independently, combined, and/or stored in memory for one or more separate computing devices that are included in RFID device  40  that allow for two-way communication of dynamic data. Further, it is understood that some of the systems and/or functionality may not be implemented, or additional systems and/or functionality may be included as part of RFID device  40 . 
         [0029]    While not depicted in  FIG. 1 , the physical structure of the appliance of the present invention outside of the novel RFID device described herein may be any appliance known in the related art and may include, for example, a refrigerator or dishwasher. 
         [0030]      FIG. 3  depicts a method of communication of dynamic data according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. 
         [0031]    In a method of the invention, two-way RFID communication of dynamic data between an appliance and one or more remote RFID devices is performed. The method may include at step  310 , recognizing when one or more remote RFID devices is within a communication range, and initiating the two-way communication. Step  310  may be done periodically on a schedule to save a power source of the RFID device, or the RFID device may be set to an active status at all times. At step  320 , dynamic data may be sent and received between the appliance and the one or more remote RFID devices using two-way communication protocols at all levels. 
         [0032]    The method may also include communicating statically with the one or more remote RFID devices at step  330 , for example, when data is requested by an RFID device where dynamic data and associated functions are not needed, such as a simple request for a serial number of the appliance. 
         [0033]    In exemplary embodiments, for example, the dynamic data obtained at step  320  may be a test script, and the appliance may execute computer-executable instructions to run a diagnostics program, dynamically query the one or more remote RFID devices to obtain the test script based on the results of the diagnostics program, capture the test script at data capture system  46 , and execute the test script in the implementation system  47 . 
         [0034]    In another exemplary embodiment, the dynamic data obtained at step  320  may include computer-executable instructions, and the appliance through the RFID device, may query the one or more remote RFID devices to obtain updates to computer-executable instructions used to operate the appliance. 
         [0035]    Further still, the one or more remote RFID devices, may be queried, and when the dynamic data sought by the two-way RFID device at step  320  is not available, at step  340  the appliance may communicate with another communication device to obtain the dynamic data, such as through accessing the appliance manufacturers&#39; website through an internet connection. 
         [0036]    While only certain features of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, many modifications and changes will occur to those skilled in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of the invention.