Method and apparatus for a home network auto-tree builder

Abstract

A method and system is provided for detecting, commanding and controlling diverse home devices currently connected to a home network. An interface is provided for accessing the home devices that are currently connected to a home network. According to the method, a device link file is generated, wherein the device link file identifies home devices that are currently connected to the home network. A device link page is created, wherein the device link page contains a device button that is associated with each home device that is identified in the device link file. A hyper-text link is associated with each device button, wherein the hyper-text link provides a link to an HTML page that is contained on the home device that is associated with the device button, and the device link page is displayed on a browser based home device.

1 - 8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . A method for controlling one or more devices connected to a network comprising:
 performing a discovery process to identify the one or more devices;   receiving information related to control functions and current status of a selected device among the one or more devices, the information for operating the selected device;   displaying a page based on the information related to control functions and current status of the selected device; and   sending a command to the selected device using the displayed page for operating the selected device.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the selected device comprises a home device and includes at least one controllable function. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 creating a menu for selecting said selected device among a plurality of devices to activate said controllable function; and   displaying said menu.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said menu comprises a web page including at least one hypertext link to the web page. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein:
 creating the menu further includes creating a device link page from the network, and associating a hypertext link with a device control, wherein the hypertext link provides a link to at least one type of graphical and textual information associated with the device control; and   displaying said menu includes displaying said device link page.   
     
     
         14 . A network system comprising:
 a detector that identifies one or more devices connected to a network; and   a physical layer for receiving information related to control functions and current status of a selected device among the one or more devices, the information for operating the selected device; and   a display for displaying a page based on the information related to control functions and current status of the selected device,   wherein the selected device receives a command using the displayed page for operating the selected device.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the selected device comprises a home device and includes at least one controllable function. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , further comprising a home device that creates a menu for selecting said selected device among a plurality of devices to activate said controllable function, wherein the display displays said menu. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein said menu comprises a web page including at least one hypertext link to the web page. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the menu further includes a device link page from the network, and a hypertext link is associated with a device control, wherein the hypertext link provides a link to at least one type of graphical and textual information associated with the device control; and   
       said menu includes said device link page.