Water heater communication system

Abstract

One example aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a water heater. The water heater can include a control device configured to control a setting of the water heater. The water heater can include a wireless circuit configured to communicate via a first network. The water heater can include an RJ-45 port. The water heater can include a communication bus. The communication bus can be coupled to the control device, the wireless circuit, and the RJ-45 port.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A water heater comprising:
 at least one control device configured to control a setting of the water heater;   a wireless circuit configured to communicate via a first network;   an RJ-45 port; and   a communication bus, wherein the communication bus is coupled to the at least one control device, the wireless circuit, and the RJ-45 port.   
     
     
         2 . The water heater of  claim 1 , wherein the RJ-45 port is coupled to a communication module. 
     
     
         3 . The water heater of  claim 2 , wherein the communication module is configured to communicate via a second network. 
     
     
         4 . The water heater of  claim 3 , wherein the water heater communicates with a utility server via the second network. 
     
     
         5 . The water heater of  claim 3 , wherein the second network comprises a cloud environment associated with a utility company. 
     
     
         6 . The water heater of  claim 1 , wherein the water heater communicates with an appliance server via the first network. 
     
     
         7 . The water heater of  claim 1 , wherein the water heater communicates with a user device via the first network. 
     
     
         8 . The water heater of  claim 7 , wherein the user device is at least one of a mobile device, a smart phone, a tablet, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, or a wearable computing device. 
     
     
         9 . The water heater of  claim 1 , wherein the first network comprises a cloud environment associated with an appliance company. 
     
     
         10 . A method comprising:
 receiving, at a control device of a water heater, a signal indicative of a setting of a water heater;   adjusting, at the control device of the water heater, the setting of the water heater based on the received signal;   receiving, at the control device of the water heater, a message from a first network via a wireless circuit; and   receiving, at the control device of the water heater, a message from a second network via an RJ-45 port.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the RJ-45 port is coupled to a communication module. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the communication module is configured to communicate via the second network. 
     
     
         13 . The water heater of  claim 12 , wherein the water heater communicates with a utility server via the second network. 
     
     
         14 . The water heater of  claim 12 , wherein the second network comprises a cloud environment associated with a utility company. 
     
     
         15 . The water heater of  claim 10 , wherein the water heater communicates with an appliance server via the first network. 
     
     
         16 . The water heater of  claim 10 , wherein the water heater communicates with a user device via the first network. 
     
     
         17 . The water heater of  claim 16 , wherein the user device is at least one of a mobile device, a smart phone, a tablet, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, or a wearable computing device. 
     
     
         18 . The water heater of  claim 10 , wherein the first network comprises a cloud environment associated with an appliance company. 
     
     
         19 . A method comprising:
 receiving, at a control device of a water heater, a signal indicative of a setting of a water heater;   adjusting, at the control device of the water heater, the setting of the water heater based on the received signal;   transmitting, at the control device of the water heater, a message to a first network via a wireless circuit; and   transmitting, at the control device of the water heater, a message to a second network via an RJ-45 port.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the RJ-45 port is coupled to a communication module.