Appliance Communication And Control System And Appliance For Use In Same

Abstract

A system of intelligent appliances coupled by common household power lines or wireless links. One or more of the appliances serves as a system controller and may include a further communications interface for coupling to an external communications network, 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.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A communications system comprising: 
 a first device, the first device including a first processor and a first power line interface coupled to the first processor and to a power distribution system; and    a second device, the second device including a second processor and a second power line interface coupled to the second processor and to the power distribution system,    wherein the first and second devices communicate with each other, under the control of the first and second processors, via the power distribution system and the first and second power line interfaces.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first device includes a network communications interface coupled to the first processor and to a communications network.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second device includes a wireless communications interface.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , comprising: 
 a third device, the third device including a third processor and a further wireless communications interface coupled to the third processor, the further wireless communications interface being adapted to communicate with the wireless communications interface of the second device.    
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the second device is accessible from the communications network.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the first device includes a network communications interface coupled to the first processor and to a communications network and wherein the third device is accessible from the communications network.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the wireless communications interface and the further wireless communications interface include radio frequency communications circuitry.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the wireless communications interface and the further wireless communications interface include infrared communications circuitry.  
     
     
         9 . A data communications method comprising: 
 selecting a code;    detecting a remote communications device;    providing the code to the remote communications device;    receiving from the remote communications device data accompanied by the code; and    ignoring data not accompanied by the code.    
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 5  comprising: 
 activating the remote communications device; and  
 searching for the remote communications device for a predetermined time period.  
 
     
     
         12 . A method of providing selected information comprising: 
 coupling to a communications network;    determining a state of an appliance communication system; and    receiving selected information from the communications network in accordance with the state of the appliance communications system.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , comprising: 
 transmitting further information to the communications network in accordance with the state of the appliance communications system.    
     
     
         14 . An interface bridge device comprising: 
 a processor;    a wireless interface; and    a power line interface, wherein the wireless interface and the power line interface are selectively coupled under the control of the processor.    
     
     
         15 . A mixer apparatus comprising: 
 a motor;    a processor, the processor controlling the operation of the motor and monitoring the operation of the motor;    a power line interface, the power line interface being coupled to the processor; and    a weight sensor, the weight sensor being coupled to the processor.