METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DEVICE COMMUNICATIONS

摘要

A Local Area Network 100 comprises a plurality of dissimilar devices that operate in accordance with standards, protocols or the like, such as communication standards, for example, that are not designed and/or intended to interoperate. Examples of dissimilar devices may include: a mobile device, a residential gateway, a home entertainment device, sucha as a digital video recorder or personal video recorder, a personal digital assistant, home security and monitoring devices, a cell phone, a video camera, in essence, any device capable of having an IP address, or the equivalent. Some of the devices may' be networked together by use of access point 112. A common interface, comprising a layered functional hierarchy with one or more functional layers, may provide the ability for said devices to commmunicate with other devices on a network and/or devices outside the network, for example, in such situations in which the devices may not be designated to interoperate and/or do not employ a commmon platform, common protocols or interfaces.