Abstract: A system for providing networked access to media signals, the system comprising at least one virtual media card configured to interface with at least one application that produces and/or consumes media signals, and/or at least one media interface configured to interface with at least one physical media card that produces and/or consumes media signals. The system may also comprise a network interface configured to enable the system to exchange media signals with other devices on a common network, and a reference clock configured to provide a common clock signal to the at least one virtual media card, the at least one media interface, and the common network. An advertisement and discovery module configured to identify when the at least one application is started and/or stopped and when the at least one media card is attached and/or detached from the system may also be provided.

Abstract: A system for providing networked access to media signals, the system comprising at least one virtual media card configured to interface with at least one application that produces and/or consumes media signals, and/or at least one media interface configured to interface with at least one physical media card that produces and/or consumes media signals. The system may also comprise a network interface configured to enable the system to exchange media signals with other devices on a common network, and a reference clock configured to provide a common clock signal to the at least one virtual media card, the at least one media interface, and the common network. An advertisement and discovery module configured to identify when the at least one application is started and/or stopped and when the at least one media card is attached and/or detached from the system may also be provided.

Abstract: A system for providing networked access to media signals, the system comprising at least one virtual media card configured to interface with at least one application that produces and/or consumes media signals, and/or at least one media interface configured to interface with at least one physical media card that produces and/or consumes media signals. The system may also comprise a network interface configured to enable the system to exchange media signals with other devices on a common network, and a reference clock configured to provide a common clock signal to the at least one virtual media card, the at least one media interface, and the common network. An advertisement and discovery module configured to identify when the at least one application is started and/or stopped and when the at least one media card is attached and/or detached from the system may also be provided.

Abstract: A system for providing networked access to media signals, the system comprising at least one virtual media card configured to interface with at least one application that produces and/or consumes media signals, and/or at least one media interface configured to interface with at least one physical media card that produces and/or consumes media signals. The system may also comprise a network interface configured to enable the system to exchange media signals with other devices on a common network, and a reference clock configured to provide a common clock signal to the at least one virtual media card, the at least one media interface, and the common network. An advertisement and discovery module configured to identify when the at least one application is started and/or stopped and when the at least one media card is attached and/or detached from the system may also be provided.

Abstract: A system for providing networked access to media signals, the system comprising at least one virtual media card configured to interface with at least one application that produces and/or consumes media signals, and/or at least one media interface configured to interface with at least one physical media card that produces and/or consumes media signals. The system may also comprise a network interface configured to enable the system to exchange media signals with other devices on a common network, and a reference clock configured to provide a common clock signal to the at least one virtual media card, the at least one media interface, and the common network. An advertisement and discovery module configured to identify when the at least one application is started and/or stopped and when the at least one media card is attached and/or detached from the system may also be provided.

Abstract: A system for providing networked access to media signals, the system comprising at least one virtual media card, at least one media interface, an advertisement and discovery module, a network interface to a common network and a reference clock. The virtual media card is configured to interface with at least one application and the media interface is configured to interface with at least one physical media card. The virtual media card and the media interface communicate with the system using the common reference clock. The advertisement and discovery module is configured to identify when the at least one application is started and/or stopped and when the at least one media card is attached and/or detached from the system and to make I/O channels of the at least one media card and the I/O channels of the at least one application available to the system and the common network.

Abstract: A system for providing networked access to media signals, the system comprising at least one virtual media card, at least one media interface, an advertisement and discovery module, a network interface to a common network and a reference clock. The virtual media card is configured to interface with at least one application and the media interface is configured to interface with at least one physical media card. The virtual media card and the media interface communicate with the system using the common reference clock. The advertisement and discovery module is configured to identify when the at least one application is started and/or stopped and when the at least one media card is attached and/or detached from the system and to make I/O channels of the at least one media card and the I/O channels of the at least one application available to the system and the common network.

Abstract: A network (100) of machines and method (200) for allocating a unique subnet identifier to a subnet in the network (100) having multiple subnets (155,160,165,170,175,190) and a plurality of associated routers (110, 130, 140, 150, 105). The unique subnet identifier provides part of an address of the subnet that is coupled to a router interface and is allocated by firstly determining that a subnet identifier for one of said subnets (155,160,165,170,175,190) is required. A step of allocating automatically a unique subnet identifier to the router interface is then effected, wherein the unique subnet identifier is determined to be unique by said network. A configuring step then configures the subnet to be addressed by said network 100 by using an address based at least partially on said unique subnet identifier.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for allocating an address in an integrated network comprising at least one zero-configuration network component and one or more configured network components are disclosed. The method comprises the steps of obtaining address reachability information relating to configured components (110), automatically allocating an address that avoids an addressing conflict with the configured components (120), and providing the allocated address to a routing protocol serving the configured network components (130). A network including the foregoing apparatus is also disclosed. The apparatus or network device typically comprises a zero-configuration router modified to perform the foregoing method steps.

Abstract: A Wireless Local Area Network Card (40) with a unit communications port (62) that permits secure transfer of information between the removable communications unit and an introduction device (22) when a proximity based communications port (66) of the introduction device (22) is placed in close proximity to the unit communications port (62). The Card (40) also has a processor (42) connected to the unit communications port (62) and there is a unit connector (52) that allows for complementary releasable engagement of a connector (54) associated with an electronic device (12). The unit connector (52) is connected to the processor (42) and allows communication between the processor (42) and the electronic device (12). A communications interface (48) is connected to the processor for allowing the Card (40) to communicate with at least one other remote Card (40).

Abstract: A method (200) and machine for validating that an identifier is unique within an ad-hoc network (100) of machines. The method comprises obtaining the identifier (220) and then sending a claim request for the identifier to machines in the network (100). Thereafter a step validating the identifier as unique is effected only if an invalidation message is not received within a predefined time period. The invalidation message is indicative of the identifier already being allocated to one of the machines in the network (100).

Abstract: A network (100) of machines and method (200) for allocating a unique subnet identifier to a subnet in the network (100) having multiple subnets (155,160,165,170,175,190) and a plurality of associated routers (110, 130, 140, 150, 105). The unique subnet identifier provides part of an address of the subnet that is coupled to a router interface and is allocated by firstly determining that a subnet identifier for one of said subnets (155,160,165,170,175,190) is required. A step of allocating automatically a unique subnet identifier to the router interface is then effected, wherein the unique subnet identifier is determined to be unique by said network. A configuring step then configures the subnet to be addressed by said network 100 by using an address based at least partially on said unique subnet identifier.