Patent ID: 8040234

Claim:
An appliance, configured to perform a cycle of operation to complete a physical operation on an article, comprising: a communication network having a plurality of interconnected nodes configured to communicate across the communication network; a plurality of components, each component associated with at least one of the plurality of nodes; a processor with control logic in communication with the plurality of components; a software architecture configured to generate a plurality of messages on the communication network wherein the software architecture includes a first software operating layer configured to control operation of at least one of the plurality of components by way of the control logic in a first operational state in response to messages sent on the communications network, and a second software operating layer configured to control the operation of the at least one of the plurality of components in a second operational state in response to messages sent on the communications network, wherein the control logic by way of the first software operating layer is rendered ineffective unless invoked by way of the second software operating layer; and a service accessory disposed and configured to communicate with the software architecture for directly controlling the at least one of the plurality of components bypassing the control logic, independently of the first software operating layer and independently of other components within the plurality of components in response to messages from the service accessory.