Abstract: The invention relates to a protocol for communications between networked devices. The devices are logically arranged as a hierarchy of device types including a controller device type (52) from which no other device type depends and a basic device type (54) from which a number of other device types depend. The devices implement a simple device description message of fixed length and format which includes the device type, and some devices further implement an extended device description message including additional information.

Abstract: The invention relates to a protocol for communications between networked devices. The devices are logically arranged as a hierarchy of device types including a controller device type from which no other device type depends and a basic device type from which a number of other device types depend. The devices implement a simple device description message of fixed length and format which includes the device type, and some devices further implement an extended device description message including additional information.

Abstract: The invention relates to a protocol for communications between networked devices. The devices are logically arranged as a hierarchy of device types including a controller device type (52) from which no other device type depends and a basic device type (54) from which a number of other device types depend. The devices implement a simple device description message of fixed length and format which includes the device type, and some devices further implement an extended device description message including additional information.

Abstract: The invention relates to a protocol for communications between networked devices. The devices are logically arranged as a hierarchy of device types including a controller device type (52) from which no other device type depends and a basic device type (54) from which a number of other device types depend. The devices implement a simple device description message of fixed length and format which includes the device type, and some devices further implement an extended device description message including additional information.

Abstract: The invention relates to a protocol for communications between networked devices. The devices are logically arranged as a hierarchy of device types including a controller device type (52) from which no other device type depends and a basic device type (54) from which a number of other device types depend. The devices implement a simple device description message of fixed length and format which includes the device type, and some devices further implement an extended device description message including additional information.

Abstract: A data processing system comprises a cluster of devices (16) interconnected for the communication of data in streams, particularly digital audio and/or video data. One of the devices (10) is a source device for at least two data streams to be sent to one or more other devices (12, 14) as destination devices of the cluster. To enable synchronization of the stream presentations by the destination devices, some or all of the devices (10, 12, 14) carry respective tables (11, 13, 15) identifying, for that device, an identifier for each type of data stream that the device can process together with the processing delay for that stream. The or each such table is accessible via the cluster connection (18) to whichever of the devices, at source, destination or in between for the signal, is handling application of the necessary offsets.

Abstract: A local communication system comprises a first cluster (10) of devices interconnected for the communication of messages via a first data bus (18) and in accordance with a first set of communication protocols, a second cluster (20) interconnected via a second data bus (28) and following the first set of communication protocols; and a data channel (41) linking a device (19) of the first cluster (10) and a device (29) of the second cluster (20). The data channel (41) suitably comprises an RF link supporting communication of messages in accordance with a second set of communications protocols. A device (19) of the first cluster (10) holds a stored software representation of operational features of a selected device (DVHS-2) of the second cluster (20) and any device (11) of the first cluster wishing to interact with said selected device (DVHS-2; 22) instead interacts with said stored representation.

Abstract: A bridge (40) for bridges between a Home Audio-Video interoperability, HAVi, network (20) and a Universal Plug and Play, UPnP network (30). The bridge provides access to an entity on a hosting one of the networks to the other, accessing, network. The bridge (40) includes a bridge control unit generated for each entity. The bridge control unit (200, 210; 310, 320) includes a first element arranged to present a virtual representation of the entity to the accessing network and to accept communications for the virtual entity in the format of the accessing network and a second element in communication with the first element arranged to pass the accepted communications to the entity in the format of the hosting network. The first element and the second element are dynamically generated in dependence on the entity and a predetermined configuration.

Abstract: A bridge (40) provides access to a device (25) on a first network (20) to a second network (30). The bridge (40) provides a description (55) of the device (25) to the second network (20), the description (55) includes a link to a controller (65) accessible from the second network (30). The controller (65) provides access to the device (25) such that a device (35) on the second network (30) is able to access the controller (65) and thereby subsequently access the device (25) on the first network (20) using the description (55).

Abstract: A data processing system comprises a cluster of devices (16) interconnected for the communication of data in streams, particularly digital audio and/or video data. One of the devices (10) is a source device for at least two data streams to be sent to one or more other devices (12, 14) as destination devices of the cluster. To enable synchronization of the stream presentations by the destination devices, some or all of the devices (10, 12, 14) carry respective tables (11, 13, 15) identifying, for that device, an identifier for each type of data stream that the device can process together with the processing delay for that stream. The or each such table is accessible via the cluster connection (18) to whichever of the devices, at source, destination or in between for the signal, is handling application of the necessary offsets.

Abstract: A data processing system comprises a cluster of devices (16) interconnected for the communication of data in streams, particularly digital audio and/or video data. One of the devices (10) is a source device for at least two data streams to be sent to one or more other devices (12, 14) as destination devices of the cluster. To enable synchronisation of the stream presentations by the destination devices, the source device (10) includes buffers (20, 22) arranged to apply a respective delay to at least one of the data streams, followed by a multiplexer (32) arranged to combine the streams into a single data stream for transmission via a first data channel (18) linking said source (10) and destination (12, 14) devices. The source device may include data processing means (34, 36) interposed in the signal path between the buffers and multiplexer.