Patent ID: 6842776
Filing Date: 2005-01-11
Classification: G05B,G06F,H04L

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: collecting usage information from a smart appliance having a unique identifier at a central computer sharing a physical environment with the smart appliance; sending a periodic poll requesting maintenance from the central computer to a remote database, the remote database being maintained and periodically updated by a seller of the smart appliance; receiving the requested maintenance from the remote database at the central computer in response to the periodic poll, the maintenance information being related to scheduled repairs of the smart appliance having the unique identifier; determining whether the smart appliance is due for a scheduled repair using the received maintenance information and the collected usage information; and transmitting a control signal from the central computer to the smart appliance, the control signal being generated by the central computer based on the maintenance information received from the remote database, wherein the control signal functionally operates the smart appliance.