Network device and network device control method

A network device having a communication interface for connecting to a first network, comprising:

• a target service part that
• creates function information owned by the network device, and control information constituted of information for controlling the network device and control function invocation information in a data format accessible in a message format common to the first network, according to requests of other network devices, provides pertinent device information and pertinent control information, and converts control functions invoked in a message format common to the first network into a command format specific to the network device;
• and
• an information exchange protocol processing part that creates and transmits messages in the message format common to the first network, interprets received messages created in the message format common to the first network, and passes them to the target service part.

A network device control method used in a network system in which plural network devices are connected to a first network, wherein at least one network device in the network system has gateway functions, is connectable with a second network, and has the function of managing and controlling network devices connected to the second network, the network device:

• creates function information owned by the network device, control information constituted of information for controlling the network device and control function invocation information, function information owned by network devices connected to the second network, and control information constituted of information for controlling the network devices connected to the second network and control function invocation information, in a data format accessible in a message format common to the first network, according to requests of other network devices;
• according to requests of other network devices, provides pertinent device information and pertinent control information without distinguishing between the network device and the network devices connected to the second network, managed by the network device;
• and
• converts control functions of network devices connected to the second network, invoked in the message format common to the first network, into a command format known in the second network, and transmits control commands produced as a result of the conversion to the network devices connected to the second network to control the network devices connected to the second network.

A network device control method used in a network system in which plural network devices are connected to a first network, wherein the network devices have the function of exchanging messages in a message format common to a first network, and network devices having the function of controlling other network devices:

• transmit messages of the message format common to the first network to other network devices;
• obtain function information owned by the network devices and control information constituted of information for controlling the network devices and control function invocation information;
• create messages for controlling the network devices, based on the obtained function information and control information;
• and create messages in the message format common to the first network and transmit them to the network devices to control the other network devices.

A network device control method used in a network system in which plural first network devices are connected, wherein the network devices:

• have the function of exchanging messages in a common message format;
• create function information owned by the network devices and control information constituted of information for controlling the network devices and control function invocation information, in a data format accessible in a message format common to a first network;
• provide pertinent device information and pertinent control information according to requests of other network devices;
• and
• convert control functions invoked in the message format common to the first network into a command format specific to the network devices to control the network devices.