A system of servers, the system of servers being configured for communicating over a network with a user system, wherein the user system comprises: at least one hardware component (408, 410); characterized in that: the at least one hardware component (408, 410) has a limited processing capability consisting of a control unit configured for multiplexing and demultiplexing of communications to transform native data types employed in at least one hardware component (408, 410) of the user system to/from network messages suitable for communication over the network; and in that the system of servers comprises: a master server configured to communicatively control the at least one hardware component (408, 410) using server-to-user messages communicated over the network, wherein the server-to-user messages provide data/control representing directions or instructions for the at least one hardware component of the user system; and at least one first level slave server (401, 402, 403, 413, 414) communicatively connected to the master server, wherein the master server is configured to provide access rights to the at least one first level slave server to the user system, thereby to permit the at least one first level slave server to communicatively control any one of the at least one hardware component (408, 410) over the network, wherein the at least one first level slave-server is permitted to pass on its access rights to one or more other lower-level slave servers to which it is connected, and wherein the access rights are part of a connect message that commences communication between servers. at least one hardware component (408, 410); characterized in that: the at least one hardware component (408, 410) has a limited processing capability consisting of a control unit configured for multiplexing and demultiplexing of communications to transform native data types employed in at least one hardware component (408, 410) of the user system to/from network messages suitable for communication over the network; and in that the system of servers comprises: a master server configured to communicatively control the at least one hardware component (408, 410) using server-to-user messages communicated over the network, wherein the server-to-user messages provide data/control representing directions or instructions for the at least one hardware component of the user system; and at least one first level slave server (401, 402, 403, 413, 414) communicatively connected to the master server, wherein the master server is configured to provide access rights to the at least one first level slave server to the user system, thereby to permit the at least one first level slave server to communicatively control any one of the at least one hardware component (408, 410) over the network, wherein the at least one first level slave-server is permitted to pass on its access rights to one or more other lower-level slave servers to which it is connected, and wherein the access rights are part of a connect message that commences communication between servers. the at least one hardware component (408, 410) has a limited processing capability consisting of a control unit configured for multiplexing and demultiplexing of communications to transform native data types employed in at least one hardware component (408, 410) of the user system to/from network messages suitable for communication over the network; and in that the system of servers comprises: a master server configured to communicatively control the at least one hardware component (408, 410) using server-to-user messages communicated over the network, wherein the server-to-user messages provide data/control representing directions or instructions for the at least one hardware component of the user system; and at least one first level slave server (401, 402, 403, 413, 414) communicatively connected to the master server, wherein the master server is configured to provide access rights to the at least one first level slave server to the user system, thereby to permit the at least one first level slave server to communicatively control any one of the at least one hardware component (408, 410) over the network, wherein the at least one first level slave-server is permitted to pass on its access rights to one or more other lower-level slave servers to which it is connected, and wherein the access rights are part of a connect message that commences communication between servers. a master server configured to communicatively control the at least one hardware component (408, 410) using server-to-user messages communicated over the network, wherein the server-to-user messages provide data/control representing directions or instructions for the at least one hardware component of the user system; and at least one first level slave server (401, 402, 403, 413, 414) communicatively connected to the master server, wherein the master server is configured to provide access rights to the at least one first level slave server to the user system, thereby to permit the at least one first level slave server to communicatively control any one of the at least one hardware component (408, 410) over the network, wherein the at least one first level slave-server is permitted to pass on its access rights to one or more other lower-level slave servers to which it is connected, and wherein the access rights are part of a connect message that commences communication between servers.