Patent ID: 7509402

Claim:
A process of operating an automation system in a Web Service environment, comprising the steps of: providing at least one client and at least one device, the at least one client and the at least one device configured with a web services for devices (WSD) protocol; connecting a network comprising at least one server configured with the WSD stack to the at least one client and the at least one device; and transmitting automation-based control and communication between the at least one client and at least one device, wherein the at least one client comprises one of a touch screen display and a handheld controller and the at least one device comprises an audio system, a video system, an intercom system, a lighting system, a security system, a link, and a HVAC system, wherein the WSD stack comprises: a first communication layer configured to logically interface the at least one automation client; a second communication layer configured to physically interface the at least one automation device; and a service provider layer comprising one or more components, each component corresponding to a device category, wherein each component comprises: one or more Web Services corresponding to one or more automation devices of the corresponding device category, respectively, each Web Service configured to function as a Web Service host for the corresponding automation device; one or more device bridges corresponding to the one or more Web Services, respectively, each device bridge configured to translate communication between the corresponding Web Service and automation device; and a controller configured to communicate with the one or more automation devices of the corresponding device category.