Home Network Device Information Architecture

Abstract

A method and system for providing a user interface for a user to discover and control devices that are currently connected to a network, such that at least one of the devices performs steps, by: (a) obtaining information from one or more of the devices currently connected to the network, the information including device information; and (b) generating a user interface description based at least on the obtained information, the user interface description including a reference associated with the device information of each of the devices currently connected to the network, such that the reference includes at least one link to information contained in the devices currently connected to the network. As such, a user interface can be displayed using the references in the user interface description, for controlling the devices currently connected to the network.

1 . A method for controlling and commanding devices that are currently connected to a physical layer of a network, the method comprising:
 employing a processor for:
 discovering a plurality of devices that are currently connected to the physical layer of the network; 
 obtaining control commands for commanding and controlling at least one of the plurality of devices by at least one other device currently connected to the network,
 wherein the control commands include at least a device name and service type, and 
 wherein the physical layer provides a communication medium that can be used by the plurality of devices to communicate with each other; 
 
 generating a user interface based at least on the obtained control commands; and 
 controlling the at least one of the plurality of devices to perform a service. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the service type comprises a type of service each device can provide and the user interface is generated and displayed based on at least an attribute and capability of the service type. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the user interface further includes device data corresponding to each device based on information obtained from each device. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein generating the user interface further includes associating a hyper-text link with the control commands in each of the devices currently connected to the network, such that each hyper-text link provides access from the user interface to the control commands in a device. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the user interface includes at least one electronic link providing direct access from the user interface to the user control interface. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the user interface includes device data corresponding to each device based on the information obtained from each device, and wherein when the one electronic link in the user interface is user activated the activated link is used to access at least one of the connected devices and retrieve control interface description contained in the at least one of the connected devices to generate and display a device user interface based on the retrieved control interface description, for user interaction with the at least one of the connected device. 
     
     
         7 . A network system for performing a service, comprising:
 a physical layer providing a communication medium that can be used by connected devices to communicate with each other;   at least one of the connected devices storing information for user interaction with the at least one device; and   an agent module in the at least one device for:
 discovering a plurality of devices that are currently connected to the physical layer of the network; 
 obtaining control commands for commanding and controlling at least one of the plurality of devices by at least one other device currently connected to the network,
 wherein the control commands include at least a device name and service type; 
 
 generating a user interface based at least on the obtained control commands; and 
 controlling the at least one of the plurality of devices by accessing at least one of the connected devices and retrieving control interface description contained in the at least one of the connected devices to control function of the at least one device. 
   
     
     
         8 . The network system of  claim 7 , wherein the service type comprises a type of service each device can provide and the user interface is generated and displayed based on at least an attribute and capability of the service type. 
     
     
         9 . The network system of  claim 8 , wherein the user interface further includes device data corresponding to each device based on the information obtained from each device. 
     
     
         10 . The network system of  claim 9 , wherein the agent further associates a hyper-text link in the user interface with the information in each of the devices currently connected to the network, such that each hyper-text link provides access from the user interface to the information in an associated device. 
     
     
         11 . The network system of  claim 10 , wherein the agent generates the user interface such that the user interface further includes device data corresponding to each device based on the information obtained from each device, the device data providing at least one electronic link to the user interface in each device, such that when the one link is user activated the activated link is used to access the at least one of the connected devices and retrieve control interface description contained in the at least one of the connected devices to generate and display a device user interface based on the retrieved control interface description for user interaction with that corresponding device. 
     
     
         12 . The network system of  claim 10  further comprising means for using each link in the user interface to access the information in each connected device, and generating user interface device data corresponding to each device using the accessed information in each device. 
     
     
         13 . A method for controlling and commanding devices that are currently connected to a physical layer of a wireless network, the method comprising:
 employing a processor for:
 discovering a plurality of devices that are currently connected to the physical layer of the network; 
 obtaining control commands for commanding and controlling at least one of the plurality of devices currently connected to the network, 
 generating a user interface based at least on the obtained control commands; and 
 sending one or more control commands to at least two of the plurality of devices to cause a first device and a second device of the plurality of devices to communicate with each other to perform a service, 
 wherein the control commands include at least a device name and service type, and 
 wherein the physical layer provides a communication medium that can be used by the plurality of devices to communicate with each other. 
   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the service type comprises a type of service that each device can provide and the user control interface is generated and displayed based on at least an attribute and capability of the service type. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the user interface including one or more references associated with each of the devices currently connected to the network. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein each reference in the user interface includes at least one electronic link providing direct access from the user interface to at least the user control interface description.