Patent ID: 7590703

Claim:
A process of operating an automation system in a Web Service environment, comprising: providing at least one client and at least one device, the at least one client and the at least one device configured with a web services for devices (WSD) stack; connecting a network comprising at least one server configured with the WSD stack to the at least one client and the at least one device; transmitting automation-based control and communication between the at least one client and at least one device; and connecting a set top box between the network and at least one of the clients and providing the client coupled thereto with a user interface for controlling the devices, wherein the at least one device comprises an audio system, a video system, an intercom system, a lighting system, a security system, a link, and a HVAC system, and wherein the WSD stack comprises: a first communication layer configured to logically interface the at least one client; a second communication layer configured to physically interface the at least one device; and a service provider layer comprising one or more components, each component corresponding to a device category, wherein each component comprises: one or more Web Services corresponding to one or more devices of the corresponding device category, respectively, each Web Service configured to function as a Web Service host for the corresponding device; one or more device bridges corresponding to the one or more Web Services, respectively, each device bridge configured to translate communication between the corresponding Web Service and device; and a controller configured to communicate with the one or more devices of the corresponding device category.