Patent ID: 8805992

Claim:
A computerized network having devices that reside in a network having a topology, comprising: a computerized protocol manager in a computer configured to coordinate communications among a plurality of associated devices by sending messages to associated devices in the plurality of associated devices, wherein the messages sent utilize a plurality of communication mechanisms; a dongle, electronically coupled to the computerized protocol manager and configured to receive communications from the computerized protocol manager, wherein the dongle is further configured to interrogate a message address of a received communication and forward the message automatically to another associated device of the plurality of associated devices below the dongle in the network topology unless the message address indicates that the communication is intended for the dongle wherein the dongle's understanding of network topology consists of the computer and the devices of the network topology immediately below the dongle in the network topology; a headset, residing below the dongle in the network typology and electronically coupled to the dongle and configured to receive communications from the computerized protocol manager, wherein the headset is further configured to interrogate a message address of a received communication and forward the communication automatically to another associated device of the plurality of associated devices unless the message address indicates that the communication is intended for the headset wherein the headset's understanding of network topology consists of the dongle and the devices of the network topology immediately below the headset in the network topology; and a third associated device, electronically coupled to the headset and configured to receive communications from the computerized protocol manager, wherein the headset is a native device to the computer and the third associated device is a mapped device to the computer such that the headset formats communications in a communication mechanism acceptable by the third associated device.