Systems, apparatus and methods are described for providing information
access to network devices. A directory server registers identification
information about a first network device coupled to a first network. The
first network and the directory server may be coupled to a second
network, which may include a wide area network, public network, or the
Internet. The identification information may include a network address of
the first network device on the first network, or a network address of
the first network on the second network. The directory server may receive
and process requests for identification information about registered
network devices, and may selectively reply to the requests based on
status information of the first network device.