Remote Communication Systems and Methods for Appliances

An apparatus for at least providing information about a kitchen or laundry appliance, the apparatus comprising:

• at least one computer that is located remotely from the appliance and is adapted for
• receiving, over at least one network, information about the appliance, the information comprising data for at least partially identifying the appliance and data indicative of an operational state of the appliance;
• determining whether the data indicative of the operational state meets at least one predetermined criteria for the appliance;
• and
• automatically initiating a providing of a notification, configured to be delivered over the at least one network, in response to determining that the data indicative of the operational state meets that at least one predetermined criteria.

An apparatus for at least providing information about a kitchen or laundry appliance, the apparatus comprising:

• at least one computer located remotely from the appliance and adapted for receiving and storing information about the appliance from a first location in at least one network, the information comprising data for at least partially identifying the appliance and data indicative of at least one operational aspect of the appliance;
• receiving a request for information from a second location in the at least one network;
• sending at least some of the information about the appliance to the second location in the at least one network in a predetermined format;
• receiving information from the second location in the at least one network;
• and
• sending an instruction for changing an operational aspect of the appliance to the first location in response to the receiving the information from the second location in the at least one network.

A method for at least providing information about a kitchen or laundry appliance, the method being implemented by at least one computer located remotely from the appliance, and the method comprising:

• receiving, over at least one network, information about the appliance, the information comprising data for at least partially identifying the appliance and data indicative of an operational state of the appliance;
• determining whether the data indicative of the operational state meets at least one predetermined criteria for the appliance;
• and
• automatically initiating a providing of a notification, configured to be delivered over the at least one network, in response to determining that the data indicative of the operational state meets that at least one predetermined criteria.

A method for at least providing information about a kitchen or laundry appliance, the method being implemented by at least one computer located remotely from the appliance, and the method comprising:

• receiving and storing information about the appliance from a first location in at least one network, the information comprising data for at least partially identifying the appliance and data indicative of an operational aspect of the appliance;
• receiving a request for information from a second location in the at least one network;
• sending at least some of the information about the appliance to the second location in the at least one network in a predetermined format;
• receiving information from the second location in the at least one network;
• and
• sending an instruction for changing an operational aspect of the appliance to the first location in response to the receiving the information from the second location in the at least one network.