Abstract: A system that monitors at least a household electric user, in particular a household appliance, includes a monitoring device that is connected between a source of electric energy and the electric user, the monitoring device including a metering means for detecting one or more electric quantities being associated with the operation of said user, and further including a control means that is programmed for (i) comparing the electric quantity or quantities being measured through the metering means with reference values of said electric quantity or quantities which are stored within the control means; (ii) generating, in function of the comparison, information being representative of the current operating status or phase of operation of the electric user; and (iii) allowing for the reading or transmission of the information to the outside of said device.

Abstract: A system that monitors at least a household electric user (HA1–HA4), in particular a household appliance, includes a monitoring device (MSA) that is connected between a source of electric energy (OUT) and the electric user, the monitoring device (MSA) including a metering means for detecting one or more electric quantities being associated with the operation of said user (HA1–HA4), and further including a control means that is programmed for (i) comparing the electric quantity or quantities being measured through the metering means with reference values of said electric quantity or quantities which are stored within the control means; (ii) generating, in function of the comparison, information being representative of the current operating status or phase of operation of the electric user (HA1–HA4); and (iii) allowing for the reading or transmission of the information to the outside of said device (MSA).

Abstract: Method and system for transmitting/receiving or communicating data and information on electric power line between two electronic controlled devices, namely, and electric user (HA), in particular a household appliance, having a first electronic control system and at least a first electric load, and a monitoring or control device (SA), having a second electronic control system, the device (SA) being located on the line between an electric power outlet and the first electric load. The transmission/reception or communication of data and information on the line is obtained by means of electric power modulation between the user (HA) and the device (SA), and/or vice-versa.

Abstract: A system that includes one or more household appliances that belong to the same household environment and are connected to a network monitors diagnostic and/or statistical information produced by the electronic control systems of the appliances. The electronic control systems provided the diagnostic and/or statistical information to the network and a monitoring device monitors the household appliances by selecting, picking up, organizing and storing the diagnostic and/or statistical information provided to the network by the electronic control systems of the respective appliances. The monitoring device further makes the organized information explicit, that is, available either locally at the appliances or remotely within or outside the household environment. The diagnostic information for a given appliance is representative of the operational efficiency of various electrical and mechanical components of the appliance.

Abstract: A method is described, for managing the energy consumption of electric users (LB, LS, FO, PG, CO), including household appliances, in a domestic environment (A), said users being operatively connected in a network (RE), each one of said users (LB, LS, FO, FG, CO) presenting an electric load to a source of electric energy, comprising the steps of: presetting an appropriate maximum limit of power (Pmax) which can be supplied by said source of electric energy, providing each user (LB, LS, FO, FG, CO) with control means for managing its own consumption of electric energy, measuring the instantaneous total consumption of the electric energy (Ply) supplied by said source to said domestic environment (A), transmitting to the control means of each one of said users (LB, LS, FO, FG, CO), by means of said network (RE), information relating to the instantaneous total consumption of the supplied electric energy (PIT), making the control means of each one of said users (LB, LS, FO, FG, CO) capable of adjusting the electri