Patent ID: 7822835
Filing Date: 2010-10-26
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A computer-implemented method for providing a logically centralized physically distributed Internet protocol (IP) network-connected devices configuration, said computer-implemented method comprising: receiving, at a network access device, configuration information regarding an IP network-connected devices configuration comprising said network access device and a plurality of networked devices, wherein said configuration information comprises audio or video device settings for a plurality of networked devices of said IP network-connected devices configuration and a power state of each of said plurality of networked devices; disseminating said configuration information from the network access device to said plurality of networked devices of said IP network-connected devices configuration, wherein any of said plurality of networked devices having a datastore thereon stores at least a portion of said configuration information regarding other networked devices of said IP network-connected devices configuration for allowing storage of said configuration information regarding said IP network-connected devices configuration to be physically distributed and at least partially replicated on said plurality of networked devices, and each portion of said configuration information regarding other networked devices is stored with an associated timestamp related to when said portion of said configuration information was most recently updated; multicasting a status request for an audio or video device setting of a specific networked device from said network access device to said plurality of networked devices; receiving status information of said specific networked device including said audio or video device setting of said specific network device and a power state of said specific networked device and having an associated timestamp at said network access device from any of said plurality of networked devices storing at least a portion of said configuration information regarding said IP network-connected devices configuration; comparing said status information of said specific network device received from said plurality of networked devices storing at least a portion of said configuration information regarding said IP network-connected devices configuration at said network access device; resolving conflicts in said status information of said specific networked device based on status information received from said specific networked device when said specific networked device is in a powered on state and based on status information having a most recent associated timestamp when said specific networked device is in a powered off state; and multicasting updated status information of said specific networked device from said network access device to said plurality of networked devices after resolving conflicts in said status information.