Patent ID: 8001219

Claim:
A convergence and automation system, comprising: an Internet Protocol (IP) based network and a plurality of devices connected to the network, each device being configured to perform at least one operation; at least one client connected to the network and configured to control at least a portion of the operations of the plurality of devices; and a server connected to the network and configured to operate the convergence and automation system in accordance with a Web Services for Device (WSD) protocol, wherein at least one of the server and the at least one client is configured with a control panel application allowing a user to configure and test the convergence and automation system, wherein said control panel application is configured to allow the user to create, test, edit and delete a script of the convergence and automation system, to create and edit a trigger of the convergence and automation system, to create, edit and delete a schedule of the convergence and automation system, to start, stop and restart the operations of the devices, to create a template for the convergence and automation system and add the template to a configuration of the convergence and automation system, wherein the WSD protocol comprises: 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 comprising one or more components provided corresponding to one or more device categories, respectively, each component including at least one of the plurality of devices of the same device category, wherein each component comprises: one or more Web Services provided corresponding to one or more of the plurality of devices of the corresponding device category, respectively, each Web Service configured to function as a Web Service host for the corresponding device; one or more device bridges provided corresponding to the one or more Web Services, respectively, each device bridge configured to translate communication between the corresponding Web Service and device; and a controller configured to communicate with the one or more of the plurality of devices of the corresponding device category.