Abstract: A bridging system for a communication system comprises a first gateway (107) and a second gateway (108) arranged to communicate with each other. Each gateway (107, 108) is connectable to a different bus (100, 105) of the communication system. The first gateway (107) is operative to communicate details of available devices (102, 103) on its respective bus (100) to the second gateway (108). The second gateway (108) is operative to generate at least one proxy element corresponding to each of said available devices (102, 103). Each proxy element is operative to communicate data and messages between devices (130) on the bus (105) of the second gateway (108) and the device on the first gateway (100) corresponding to the proxy element.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A bridging system for a communication system comprises a first gateway (107) and a second gateway (108) arranged to communicate with each other. Each gateway (107, 108) is connectable to a different bus (100, 105) of the communication system. The first gateway (107) is operative to communicate details of available devices (102, 103) on its respective bus (100) to the second gateway (108). The second gateway (108) is operative to generate at least one proxy element corresponding to each of said available devices (102, 103). Each proxy element is operative to communicate data and messages between devices (130) on the bus (105) of the second gateway (108) and the device on the first gateway (100) corresponding to the proxy element.

Abstract: A communication system comprises at least one controller station and at least one controlled station; the stations being interconnected via a communication network. Functionality of each controlled station is associated with a respective abstract representation, referred to as AR, enabling application(s) to control the functionality of the controlled station by means of messages transmitted via the communication network and acting on the AR. The controller station comprises control means for executing at least one AR associated with a respective controlled station. The communication system comprises means for storing for at least one of the controlled stations at least one associated preference indicator; the preference indicator enabling to determine by which one(s) of the control means the AR of the associated controlled station should preferably be executed.