Abstract: A method, apparatus, and signal-bearing medium that may create and aggregate service elements that describe media content in a network. The service elements may be used to access the media content from a variety of clients in the network, regardless of where the service elements were created.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system for providing a home network console. In a first aspect the network console provides device information for physical devices within a network. The network console is non-hierarchical in as much as all the devices within the network are indicated in a single level, thus a user does not have to click through multiple levels to access devices. In a further aspect, a network console system includes agents capable of communicating device information to the network console. Inclusion of an agent in an individual device allows for dynamic updating of device information including assisting in the connection of a new device to the network, furthermore the device agent is capable of communicating device information related to supportable network activities.