Patent ID: 8271881

Claim:
An automation system operating in a Web Service for Devices (WSD) environment, comprising: a server, at least one client and a plurality of devices implemented with a WSD stack interface, each client configured to control the at least one of the plurality of devices, the plurality of devices grouped into one or more device categories based on functions thereof; an Internet Protocol (IP) based network among the server, the at least one client and the plurality of devices, wherein the WSD stack interface is configured to establish communication among the server, the at least one client and the plurality of devices regardless of a difference thereamong in at least one of a proprietary language and communication protocol via the IP based network according to a WSD protocol architecture, the WSD protocol architecture comprising: a first communication layer configured to logically interface the at least one client; a second communication layer configured to physically interface the plurality of devices; and a service provider layer stacked between the first and second communication layers and hosting one or more components, each component provided for a particular device category in a one-to-one relationship and hosting one or more Web Services, one or more device bridges and a controller, wherein each Web Service is provided for a particular device of the device category corresponding to the component in a one-to-one relationship and configured to function as a Web Service host for the particular device, wherein each device bridge is provided for a particular Web Service in a one-to-one relationship and configured to translate communication between the particular Web Service and the particular device corresponding thereto, each device bridge being specific to a specific make of the particular device, and wherein the controller is provided for the component in a one-to-one relationship and configured to communicate with the one or more devices of the same device category corresponding to the component and receive feedback from the one or more devices of the corresponding device category to the component.