Abstract: A method creates an operating interface for a first domestic appliance from a plurality of domestic appliances. The method includes providing a plurality of different generic operating elements for specifying different functionalities and/or parameters of the plurality of domestic appliances. The method further includes determining description data for the first domestic appliance. The description data indicate which one or more of the plurality of generic operating elements are used to operate the first domestic appliance and which functionalities and/or parameter values of the first domestic appliance can be set by one or more generic operating elements used. The method also includes creating the operating interface for the first domestic appliance on the input/output unit of a control unit on the basis of the plurality of different generic operating elements and on the basis of the description data for the first domestic appliance.

Abstract: A method remotely monitors an operation of a household appliance by a portable communication end device by receiving status data of the appliance. A current operating state of the appliance is detected based on received status data via a control unit and by actuating a display for displaying a graphical user interface for remote monitoring of the operation by the control unit. The current operating status of the appliance is output. The outputting of the current operating status includes an image depiction which characterizes the current operating status. To generate the image depiction, differential features between the current operating status and a reference status of the appliance are identified and a basis image, in which the appliance is shown in the reference status, is overlaid by an overlay image illustrating the differential features, which overlay image illustrates the appliance in the current operating status in interaction with the basis image.

Abstract: A current operational state of a program-controlled domestic appliance is monitored while it carries out an operating process. The monitoring system includes a retrofit module and a communication device separate from the retrofit module and from the domestic appliance. The retrofit module has a fastening arrangement for releasable fastening on an outer face of an appliance housing, a data exchange unit for wireless communication, and a sensor arrangement with a magnetic field sensor that detects a magnetic field that is generated by a drive motor of the domestic appliance and that penetrates outwards through the appliance housing. The system determines the current operational state of the domestic appliance with the aid of detected measured values of the magnetic field and outputs the state via the communication device.