The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 06, 2003
Filed:
Sep. 02, 1999
Graeme Smith, Dundee, GB;
NCR Corporation, Dayton, OH (US);
Abstract
A domestic appliance ( ) such as a microwave oven is adapted for interaction with a communications network ( ) such as the Internet by the addition of a substantially self-contained discrete communications module ( ) connectable to the communications network ( ), the communications module ( ) including display means ( ) and command entry means that optionally interact with the appliance ( ). The appliance ( ) is provided with mounting hardware ( ) and an adaptor ( ) including means for attachment to the mounting hardware ( ) and means ( ) for mounting the communications module ( ) to the appliance ( ) via the adaptor ( ). The communications module ( ) is adapted for connection to broadband cable or xDSL networks. Thus equipped, the appliance ( ) becomes an element of a communications system ( ) providing multiple functionality including television and Internet browsing functions within the home. Other elements of the communications system are a broadband online connection ( ) and a broadband portal ( ).