MANAGEMENT OF FUNCTIONALITY IN A CONSUMER ELECTRONICS SYSTEM

摘要

A communication system (100) includes a plurality of controller stations (114 and 116), and at least one controlled station (104 to 112). The stations are interconnected via a communication network (120). The functionality of each controlled station is associated with a respective abstract representation, referred to as AR. The AR provides an interface for software elements in the system to control functionality of the controlled station by means of messages exchanged with the AR via the communication network. The AR may be implemented using platform-independent code, such as Java. Each controller station includes control means for executing at least one AR of a controlled station and assigned to the local controller station. The system includes leader selection means for selecting a single one of the controller stations as a leading controller station. AR distribution means of the leading controller station determines which controller station should preferably execute the AR(s) of the respective controlled station(s) and assigns each AR to at most one of the controller stations.