Patent ID: 8290615

Claim:
An appliance comprising: a housing including: (i) a body defining a compartment, and (ii) a door attached to the body, said door moveable to a closed position and to an open position; a water supplier supported by the housing, said water supplier including a first valve actuator configured to cause water to be dispensed by the water supplier; a supply container holder supported by the housing and configured to hold a supply container, said supply container configured to hold a liquid supply; at least one user input device supported by the housing, said at least one user input device including a touch screen configured to enable a user to make an input to request dispensing of the liquid supply from the supply container held by the supply container holder; a supply dispenser supported by the housing, said supply dispenser including a second valve actuator configured to cause the liquid supply in the supply container held by the supply container holder to be selectively dispensed from the supply container based on the input made by the user using the touch screen; and a dispensing computer supported by the housing and coupled to the water supplier, the supply dispenser, and the at least one user input device, said dispensing computer configured to: (a) receive a dispense signal from the touch screen; (b) in response to receipt of said dispense signal, cause the second valve actuator to cause the liquid supply in the supply container held by the supply container holder to be dispensed from the supply container for a first period of time to dispense an appropriate amount of liquid supply from the supply container; and (c) track and store data representative of the amounts of the liquid supply caused to be dispensed by the supply dispenser.