A computer-implemented method for enabling a user to access a content item in a network such as home network the method comprising: gathering capability information from a device in the network, wherein the device includes a directory of a plurality of content items, wherein the directory includes a first container and a second container, wherein at least one of the plurality of content items is organized in the first container, and wherein at least one of the plurality of content items is organized in the second container; providing an index referring to the plurality of content items, the first container, and the second container; determining whether the directory has been modified; when determining whether the directory has been modified indicates that the directory has been modified: when the capability information indicates that the device is capable of responding to a search based on search criteria: performing a content item search using search criteria, wherein the search criteria is based on the index of content items and wherein the content item search is designed to exclude content items already indexed; and updating the index based on the results of the content item search; when the capability information indicates that the device is not capable of responding to a search based on search criteria: browsing all the content items in at least one of the containers to determine changed content items; and updating (S341,S343) the index in accordance with the browsing. gathering capability information from a device in the network, wherein the device includes a directory of a plurality of content items, wherein the directory includes a first container and a second container, wherein at least one of the plurality of content items is organized in the first container, and wherein at least one of the plurality of content items is organized in the second container; providing an index referring to the plurality of content items, the first container, and the second container; determining whether the directory has been modified; when determining whether the directory has been modified indicates that the directory has been modified: when the capability information indicates that the device is capable of responding to a search based on search criteria: performing a content item search using search criteria, wherein the search criteria is based on the index of content items and wherein the content item search is designed to exclude content items already indexed; and updating the index based on the results of the content item search; when the capability information indicates that the device is not capable of responding to a search based on search criteria: browsing all the content items in at least one of the containers to determine changed content items; and updating (S341,S343) the index in accordance with the browsing. when the capability information indicates that the device is capable of responding to a search based on search criteria: performing a content item search using search criteria, wherein the search criteria is based on the index of content items and wherein the content item search is designed to exclude content items already indexed; and updating the index based on the results of the content item search; performing a content item search using search criteria, wherein the search criteria is based on the index of content items and wherein the content item search is designed to exclude content items already indexed; and updating the index based on the results of the content item search; when the capability information indicates that the device is not capable of responding to a search based on search criteria: browsing all the content items in at least one of the containers to determine changed content items; and updating (S341,S343) the index in accordance with the browsing. browsing all the content items in at least one of the containers to determine changed content items; and updating (S341,S343) the index in accordance with the browsing.