Patent ID: 7349967
Filing Date: 2008-03-25
Classification: G06F,G11B,H04L,H04N

Abstract:
1. A method for providing user interfaces in a first network to a remote access device, the first network including first devices interconnected via a communication medium, and at least one interface device for connecting said first network to a portal, the user interfaces for controlling the devices that are currently connected to the first network, the method comprising the steps of: (a) the remote access device establishing communication with the portal for accessing the first network; (b) the remote access device sending a request to the portal for accessing the first network, and the portal receiving the request and redirecting the request to the interface device in the first network; (c) at least one device in the first network obtaining information from one or more of said first devices currently connected to the first network, said information including device information, and generating a user interface description including at least one reference associated with the device information of each of said one or more first devices, said reference including an external address for the associated device in the first network, such that the associated device is accessible via the portal using said external address; (d) the interface device sending the user interface description to the portal and the portal sending the user interface description to the remote access device; and (e) dynamically generating a user interface that includes device-specific information based on the user interface description, the remote access device displaying the user interface based on the user interface description, for user interaction with, and control of, the devices that are currently connected to the first network; wherein said external address for each associated device in the first network includes a private address of that device in the first network, a public address of the first network, and an address of the portal.