Wireless OTA Programming for Commercial Laundry Appliances
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for updating software in commercial appliances, such as laundry machines, are time-consuming and require physical access to each machine, especially when updates are identical across multiple units, as they lack the capability for simultaneous updates or efficient sharing of configurations.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing a communication device with wireless connectivity to acquire appliance information, determine update needs, and transmit updates via a broadcast protocol like UDP to multiple appliances of the same type, allowing for simultaneous programming and configuration replication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If physical access to each machine is required for software updates, then individual machine updates can be performed, but the time required for updating multiple appliances increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple individual update operations into a single batch update operation. The system allows a technician to initiate one update command that simultaneously updates multiple appliances through a wireless network, merging what would otherwise require multiple separate physical access operations into a single action.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a wireless communication network as an intermediary between the update source and the appliances. Instead of direct physical connection to each machine, the network mediator enables indirect updates by transmitting update packages wirelessly to multiple appliances simultaneously, eliminating the need for physical access to each unit.
2Adaptability or versatility
If individual machine updates are performed through physical access, then each appliance can be updated independently, but the complexity of the update process increases when dealing with multiple machines
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal update system that can handle both individual and batch updates through a single interface. The same wireless update mechanism that updates one appliance can simultaneously update multiple appliances, providing multi-functionality that reduces process complexity while maintaining adaptability to different update scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the update process into independent wireless transmission units that can be individually addressed or collectively distributed. Each appliance receives updates as separate discrete data packets through the network, allowing the system to maintain individual update capability while simplifying the overall process through standardized wireless communication protocols.
3Measurement precision
If configuration updates are performed manually on each machine, then precise control over each appliance is possible, but the time required for configuration replication across multiple machines increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a copying mechanism where the configuration from one appliance can be replicated to multiple other appliances through wireless communication. The system captures the configuration data from a source machine and distributes identical copies to target machines, ensuring configuration accuracy while dramatically reducing replication time compared to manual methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary configuration extraction and validation before distribution. The system prepares the configuration data in advance, validates its integrity, and then distributes it to multiple appliances in a single coordinated operation, ensuring accuracy is maintained while reducing overall replication time through advance preparation.
Data Source
AI summary
A system is provided for programming one or more of a plurality of appliances of the same type. The appliances are commercial laundry appliances. The system includes a communication device and the plurality of appliances communicatively coupled with the communication device through a wireless connection. The communication device can be configured to acquire appliance information from the appliances. Based on the acquired information, the communication device determines whether one or more of the appliances requires a program update. The communication device of the system receives and stores into a memory the program update, then transmits the program update to the appliances. The communication device uses a broadcast transmission protocol, user datagram protocol (UDP), for programming the respective appliances requiring a program update. A method for programming simultaneously a plurality of commercial laundry appliances includes using the same system.