Service layer resource management for generic interworking and extensibility

An apparatus comprising a processor, a memory, and communication circuitry, the apparatus being connected to a network via its communication circuitry, the apparatus further comprising computer-executable instructions stored in the memory of the apparatus which, when executed by the processor of the apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform operations comprising:

• receiving, at a service layer of the network, a request to retrieve a custom resource associated with the service layer wherein the custom resource is a custom resource type for resource instances that are stored as entries within a resource tree of the service layer, and wherein information defining for the custom resource type is accessible by the service layer and the one or more custom defined resource attributes specify a data model of the new custom resource type;
• determining that interworking is required in order to access the resource;
• and
• accessing, at the service layer, information for the custom resource comprising one or more custom defined resource attributes of the custom resource type and a data mapping of the custom resource to at least one resource attribute of the one or more custom defined resource attributes associated with a third party device, the at least one resource attribute being defined in accordance with a protocol that is different from a protocol by which resources associated with the service layer are defined.