An integrated electronic system consisting of a network of appliances and machines, such as clothes washers and dryers, vending machines, or other equipment, controlled from a central management computer. Each networked apparatus is uniquely identified, and is maintained in an inoperative standby state,...http://www.google.com/patents/US6061668?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US6061668 - Control system for pay-per-use applications
