Patent ID: 8612605

Claim:
An appliance having at least two components and an internal communications network, where a first one of the at least two components is in communication with the network and a second one of the at least two components is not in communication with the network or the first one of the at least two components, wherein the first one of the at least two components is configured to communicate service information related to the second one of the at least two components over the internal communications network, the second one of the at least two components is a subcomponent of the first one of the at least two components, and the first one of the at least two components is responsive in subsequent messages to queries about each of the subcomponents counted in a count loop based on a number of subcomponents, and based on an index correlating to the count loop whereby an inquirer can obtain information about a subcomponent knowing only an index parameter associated with the subcomponent.