METHODS FOR PROVIDING INFORMATION ACCESS TO NETWORK DEVICES

摘要

Systems, apparatus and methods are described for providing information access to network devices (30, 32). A directory server (20) registers identification information about a first network device coupled to a first network. The first network and the directory server may be coupled to a second network, which may include a wide area network, public network, or the Internet. The identification information may include a network address of the first network device on the first network, or a network address of the first network on the second network. The directory server may receive and process requests for identification information about registered network devices, and may selectively reply to the requests based on status information of the first network device.