Patent ID: 8667574

Claim:
A method for virtually extending the functionality of a network device to a server, the method comprising the steps of: creating a virtual device which virtually represents functionality of the network device; storing an association between the network device and a user or a group for the network device, wherein the association indicates one or more network devices that are associated with the user or the group; determining whether the network device and the user or the group for the network device correspond to a local network or to a disparate network, based on the stored association; assigning a network address for the virtual device based on the determination; accessing functionality of the network device via the virtual device, using the assigned network address for the virtual device; determining whether the virtual device is caching information for the network device; in case the virtual device is caching information for the network device, controlling the virtual device to send the cache information to the network device; determining whether the virtual device is caching information for an application; and in case the virtual device is caching information for an application, controlling the virtual device to send the cache information to the application.