APPLIANCE COMMUNICATION AND CONTROL SYSTEM AND APPLIANCES FOR USE IN SAME

摘要

A system of intelligent appliances (50, 52, 54, 56, 59, 60, 64, 72, 74, 76, 85) coupled by common household power lines (27) or wireless links (70). One or more of the appliances (50, 60) serves as a system controller and may include a further communications interface for coupling to an external communications network (30), such as the telephone network. The system can thus be accessed and controlled remotely. The system can also communicate with and obtain information from remote sources such as Internet-based facilities.