A first network apparatus implementing a first service capabilities layer entity of a machine-to-machine communications network and providing a first set of common service functions in the machine-to-machine communications network, the first network apparatus comprising a memory that stores executable instructions and a processor that, when executing the executable instructions, causes the first service capabilities layer entity to perform operations comprising: receiving, via the machine-to-machine communications network, a first message from a second service capabilities layer entity providing a second set of common service functions implemented on a second network apparatus on the machine-to-machine communications network, the first message comprising a request that the first service capabilities layer entity announce via the machine-to-machine communications network, to a plurality of other service capabilities layer entities providing other sets of common service functions on the machine-to-machine communications network, a resource stored on the second network apparatus and representing the second service capabilities layer entity itself, the resource representing the second service capabilities layer entity itself being addressable on the machine-to-machine communications network via a uniform resource indicator (URI), wherein the request comprises a list of the plurality of other service capabilities layer entities to which the resource representing the second service capabilities layer entity itself is to be announced by the first service capabilities layer entity ; sending an announcement of the resource representing the second service capabilities layer entity itself to each of the plurality of other service capabilities layer entities in the list; and sending a second message to the second service capabilities layer entity confirming that the requested announcement of the resource representing the second service capabilities layer entity itself is authorized. receiving, via the machine-to-machine communications network, a first message from a second service capabilities layer entity providing a second set of common service functions implemented on a second network apparatus on the machine-to-machine communications network, the first message comprising a request that the first service capabilities layer entity announce via the machine-to-machine communications network, to a plurality of other service capabilities layer entities providing other sets of common service functions on the machine-to-machine communications network, a resource stored on the second network apparatus and representing the second service capabilities layer entity itself, the resource representing the second service capabilities layer entity itself being addressable on the machine-to-machine communications network via a uniform resource indicator (URI), wherein the request comprises a list of the plurality of other service capabilities layer entities to which the resource representing the second service capabilities layer entity itself is to be announced by the first service capabilities layer entity ; sending an announcement of the resource representing the second service capabilities layer entity itself to each of the plurality of other service capabilities layer entities in the list; and sending a second message to the second service capabilities layer entity confirming that the requested announcement of the resource representing the second service capabilities layer entity itself is authorized. <EOS>