A process is provided for identifying and managing support service applications associated with consumer electronic devices. The process is executed by a gateway device communicatively coupled with each of the electronic devices via a home network, the gateway device being operative to access the Internet and being communicatively coupled with a display unit. The process includes the steps of: determining device ID information associated with a selected one of the electronic devices for which a support service application is required; providing the device ID information to a selected server computing system via the Internet; downloading a support service application associated with the selected device from the selected server computing system; and executing the downloaded support service application at the gateway device to provide a remote interactive support service process for the selected device. The support service may include a remote interactive manual service providing educational instructions to a user of the home network system regarding operation of a selected device, a remote interactive maintenance/diagnostic service for instructing a home network system user in solving maintenance problems associated with a selected device, or a combination remote interactive manual/maintenance/diagnostic service.

 
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> Method and apparatus for supplying information, and storage medium on which an information supplying program is stored

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