Patent ID: 8154857

Claim:
A modular system comprising: an appliance conducting a useful cycle of operation and having a cabinet with a vertical surface defining an exterior of the cabinet; a first service interface provided on the vertical surface and accessible from the exterior of the cabinet, and providing a first mechanical service and a first data service to a first consumer electronic device; and a second service interface provided on the vertical surface and accessible from the exterior of the cabinet, and providing a second mechanical service and a second data service to a second consumer electronic device; multiple adapters, each removably coupling one of the first and second consumer electronic devices to the corresponding first and second service interface, with at least one of the multiple adapters receiving a power service from the appliance and providing the power service to the first consumer electronic device, and at least one of the multiple adapters receiving a data service from the appliance, and providing the data service to the second consumer electronic device; wherein the appliance is a refrigeration appliance.