Method and system for the electronic provision of services for machines via a data communication link

An apparatus for computer-aided provision of machine-related content, comprising at least one selected from the group consisting of data and services, to a client computer in communication with a processing machine operated by a customer, wherein the client computer comprises a system for at least monitoring the processing machine and is in communication with at least one sensor for acquiring machine state data, the client computer in communication with the apparatus via a network, the apparatus comprising:

• means for transmitting to the client computer:
• information relating to the availability of the machine-related content;
• information relating to machine state data to be acquired by the client computer for use in generating content;
• and
• content generated as a function of machine state data acquired by the client computer:
• and
• means for receiving:
• a request for machine-related content from the client computer;
• and
• data from the client computer comprising machine state data;
• and
• means for generating the machine-related content.