Patent ID: 7404187

Claim:
A computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions for registering control objects, the computer-executable instructions performing: broadcasting a control message from an enabled control object to inform other registered control objects that said enabled control object exists; determining if said enabled control object is a first registered control object; appointing said first registered object to be a manager object to administer a list of logical attributes of software controllable devices, all control objects being capable of being a manager object in a system for controlling a plurality of software controllable devices having embedded operating systems and represented by a plurality of control objects that maintain said list of logical attributes of respective ones of said software controllable devices, said control object accepting and issuing control messages to and from said respective ones of said software controllable devices, and said control object being a component object model object and polymophic such that said control object is adapted to take on the logical attributes and command and control capabilities of any of said software controllable devices.