Home Networking Middleware Infrastructure for Improved Audio/Video Appliance Functionality and Interoperability

Abstract

A software architecture is described which significantly improves the accessability of multiple home appliances on a heterogeneous home network. Methods for aggregating devices into virtual clusters on a local middleware server are described. These metadevices combine the functionalities of multiple devices but are presented to the user as a single device with a single user interface. Some practical examples of working A/V metadevices are given