Patent ID: 7684438

Claim:
An apparatus for providing virtual linking between geographically distributed devices in a communication system in a network environment, comprising: a controller, comprised in a virtual linking system of said communication system and coupled to said communication system, configured to facilitate said virtual linking of at least one user device with one of devices or further devices in response to a request from said at least one user device, wherein said one device of the devices or the further devices is selected for the virtual linking with said at least one user device using a virtual device table comprising entries of capabilities for said devices and said further devices, and by checking for a match of permission rights for connection between said at least one user device and said one device based on a corresponding entry for said one device in said virtual device table, wherein: said at least one user device is configured to communicate using a first wireless protocol, said devices are configured to communicate using one or more wireless protocols, each of said one or more wireless protocols being similar or dissimilar to said first wireless protocol, wherein said at least one user device cannot communicate directly with one or more of said devices under said first wireless protocol because of dissimilar wireless protocols or different or absent profiles between said at least one user device and said one or more of said devices, or because of wireless range limitations under said first wireless protocol or said one or more wireless protocols, said further devices are configured communicate signals under a communication protocol different than said first wireless protocol, and wherein said virtual linking comprises connecting said at least one user device with said virtual linking system using said first wireless protocol, and further connecting said virtual linking system with said one device of said devices or said further devices using said one of said one or more wireless protocols, or using said communication protocol different than said first wireless protocol, respectively.