Secure remote testing of washing machine appliances

Abstract

A washing machine appliance and methods for the same may include authorizing a user of the washing machine appliance and loading testing software into a partitioned memory of a controller. The testing software may include a testing sequence. The method may further include receiving a single testing prompt from a remote device following loading testing software and executing the testing sequence of the testing software from the partitioned memory in response to receiving the single testing prompt, whereby a mechanical component of the washing machine appliance is operated. The method may still further include exiting a remote testing mode after executing the testing software and deleting the testing software from the partitioned memory when exiting the remote testing mode.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of testing a washing machine appliance, the washing machine appliance comprising a controller having a partitioned memory, the method comprising:
 authorizing a user of the washing machine appliance;   loading testing software into the partitioned memory of the controller, the testing software include a testing sequence;   receiving a single testing prompt from a remote device following loading testing software;   executing the testing sequence of the testing software from the partitioned memory in response to receiving the single testing prompt, whereby a mechanical component of the washing machine appliance is operated;   exiting a remote testing mode after executing the testing software; and   deleting the testing software from the partitioned memory when exiting the remote testing mode.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein authorizing the user of the washing machine appliance comprises generating a security code, by the remote device, and receiving the security code by the washing machine appliance via a user interface physically connected to the washing machine appliance. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising verifying a personality of the washing machine appliance prior to loading testing software. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein verifying the personality of the washing machine appliance comprises verifying a serial number of the washing machine appliance. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein verifying the personality of the washing machine appliance comprises verifying that the washing machine appliance is compatible with the testing software. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein verifying that the washing machine appliance is compatible with the testing software comprises verifying that the mechanical component of the washing machine appliance is compatible with the testing software. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the partitioned memory comprises a testing partition and a control partition, wherein loading testing software comprises loading the testing software into the testing partition of the memory of the controller. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the step of loading the testing software into the testing partition of the memory of the controller comprises loading the testing software from a remote device into the testing partition of the memory of the controller. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the control partition of the partitioned memory is configured to only respond to command from a user interface physically connected to the washing machine appliance. 
     
     
         10 . A washing machine appliance comprising:
 a tub;   a basket rotatably mounted within the tub;   a nozzle in fluid communication with the tub to selectively flow liquid thereto;   a motor in mechanical communication with the basket to selectively rotate the basket within the tub;   a drain pump in fluid communication with the tub to selectively motivate wash fluid therefrom; and   a controller in operative communication with the motor and the drain pump, the controller having a partitioned memory, the controller being configured to initiate a testing operation, the testing operation comprising
 authorizing a user of the washing machine appliance, 
 loading testing software into the partitioned memory of the controller, the testing software include a testing sequence, 
 receiving a single testing prompt from a remote device following loading testing software, 
 executing the testing sequence of the testing software from the partitioned memory in response to receiving the single testing prompt, whereby a mechanical component of the washing machine appliance is operated, 
 exiting a remote testing mode after executing the testing software, and 
 deleting the testing software from the partitioned memory when exiting the remote testing mode. 
   
     
     
         11 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 10 , wherein authorizing the user of the washing machine appliance comprises generating a security code, by the remote device, and receiving the security code by the washing machine appliance via a user interface physically connected to the washing machine appliance. 
     
     
         12 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 10 , further comprising verifying a personality of the washing machine appliance prior to loading testing software. 
     
     
         13 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 12 , wherein verifying the personality of the washing machine appliance comprises verifying a serial number of the washing machine appliance. 
     
     
         14 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 12 , wherein verifying the personality of the washing machine appliance comprises verifying that the washing machine appliance is compatible with the testing software. 
     
     
         15 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 12 , wherein verifying that the washing machine appliance is compatible with the testing software comprises verifying that the mechanical component of the washing machine appliance is compatible with the testing software. 
     
     
         16 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 10 , wherein the partitioned memory comprises a testing partition and a control partition, wherein loading testing software comprises loading the testing software into the testing partition of the memory of the controller. 
     
     
         17 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 16 , wherein the step of loading the testing software into the testing partition of the memory of the controller comprises loading the testing software from a remote device into the testing partition of the memory of the controller. 
     
     
         18 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 16 , wherein the control partition of the partitioned memory is configured to only respond to command from a user interface physically connected to the washing machine appliance.