Abstract: The invention relates to the technical field of home networks. A home network based on the current UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) standard allows data to be interchanged between network subscriber stations. An extension to this standard also provides for the interchange of AV data (Audio/Video data). One of the basic ideas of the UPnP specification is that it is possible to control any UPnP device using a standard HTML browser. To this end, every UPnP device has a web server on which the HTML pages for controlling the device are stored. It is permissible to embed a “JAVA applet” into the HTML page in order to control the device. This means that device control can be made very convenient. However, when it is necessary to control a device which needs to interchange data on the basis of the UPnP-AV standard, the JAVA applet first needs to know whether and, if so, which devices of the MediaRenderer or MediaServer type are present in the network.

Abstract: The invention relates to the technical field of home networks. A home network based on the current UPNP (Universal Plug and Play) standard allows data to be interchanged between network subscriber stations. An extension to this standard also provides for the interchange of AV data (Audio/Video data). One of the basic ideas of the UPNP specification is that it is possible to control any UPnP device using a standard HTML browser. To this end, every UPnP device has a web server on which the HTML pages for controlling the device are stored. It is permissible to embed a “JAVA applet” into the HTML page in order to control the device. This means that device control can be made very convenient. However, when it is necessary to control a device which needs to interchange data on the basis of the UPN P-AV standard, the JAVA applet first needs to know whether and, if so, which devices of the MediaRenderer or MediaServer type are present in the network.