Patent ID: 7305680

Claim:
An electronic device adapted for use in a distributed network of electronic devices, the device comprising: a processor; a communications layer in electronic communication with the processor for communications with the distributed network; memory in electronic communication with the processor for storing data; a software element configured to send a request to a plurality of receiver components where the request requires a response from each receiver component of the plurality of receiver components, and wherein the software element is further configured to send a request profile with the request, and wherein each request profile comprises profile data selected from the group consisting of response failure data, device removed data, device added data, state change data, partial response data, timing limits data, network related event data and response configuration data; and a smart listener configured to receive the request from the software element and to receive the request profile, and to store the request in the memory, and configured to transmit the request to the plurality of receiver components through the distributed network and to listen for responses from any of the plurality of receiver components, and further configured to report to the software element information relating to the responses.