Abstract: A method and system is provided for detecting, commanding and controlling diverse home devices currently connected to a home network. An interface is provided for accessing the home devices that are currently connected to a home network. According to the method, a device link file is generated, wherein the device link file identifies home devices that are currently connected to the home network. A device link page is created, wherein the device link page contains a device button that is associated with each home device that is identified in the device link file. A hyper-text link is associated with each device button, wherein the hyper-text link provides a link to an HTML page that is contained on the home device that is associated with the device button, and the device link page is displayed on a browser based home device.

Abstract: A method and system for commanding and controlling diverse home devices connected to a home network is provided. According to the method, sequences of commands which are used to control a home device are stored as a macro to control the home device. A sequence of commands, used to control a plurality of home devices in tandem, is stored as a macro. The invention provides the user a capability of operating a single button to implement a sequence of control commands from within a HTML page contained on the respective home devices being controlled.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for testing a network bootable device provides a bootmode signature on the device to indicate whether a production test is to be performed. If a production test is to be performed, then test software is downloaded over a network from a server to device memory and then executed. If the test is successful, the bootmode signature is updated so that subsequent production tests are not performed. If the production test is not to be performed, then end user software is downloaded from the server to the device and executed.

Abstract: A method and arrangement for monitoring the audio portion of a broadcast signal includes a keyword listening device. A relatively limited set of keywords are stored in a memory and the keyword listening device monitors the broadcast signal for any of these keywords. Upon recognition of any one or more of the keywords, the broadcast audio signal is recorded for a period of time and then fully analyzed. After analysis, and in dependence upon the recorded and analyzed broadcast audio signal, a number of different functions, such as connection to an external network at a specified address, or control of a video cassette recorder, may be performed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for testing the installation and functioning of a component of computer system has a test engine which causes the identity of a test to be performed to be stored in a nonvolatile memory before being performed. The test is announced to the installer and then ran. This procedure is performed for a sequence of tests. In the event of a crash during testing, the step-by-step sequencing of the tests and the storage of the test identifies step-by-step in the nonvolatile memory simplifies identification of the test that caused the crash for the installer.