A system for including a set of software components and an application
programming interface for the logical networked representation and
implementation of a system of smart devices within a home or small office
environment. The software components include a control object component
and a user interface component. The control object is a software object
capable that carries out communication, accepts and issues control
messages. The control object allows a user to remotely control or query a
physical device for which the specific control object has responsibility
and for maintaining logical and physical connections and control of the
device. The user interface supplies a coherent and transparent interface
across all network media and topologies. The user interface is capable of
communicating with any control object that it identifies as being
controllable in a given system. The communication may be across a logical
network or may be local to a particular device. The user interface takes
on the "personality" of the physical device for which the attendant
control object carries a logical and physical mapping and control
responsibility.
