Assigning an agent device from a first device registry to a second device registry

A method for assigning an agent device, which is registered in a first device registry for authenticating agent devices for communicating with one or more first application providing apparatuses, to a second device registry for authenticating agent devices for communicating with one or more second application providing apparatuses, wherein the first device registry comprises first authentication information for authenticating the identity of the agent device and one or more event entries corresponding to the agent device, the event entries providing information about events that have occurred in relation to the agent device;

• the method comprising:
• (a) receiving from a requestor device a device assignment request requesting that the agent device is assigned to the second device registry;
• (b) in response to the device assignment request from the requestor device, checking whether the agent device is allowed to be assigned to the second device registry;
• (c) if the agent device is allowed to be assigned to the second device registry, transmitting, for registration in the second device registry, second authentication information for authenticating the identity of the agent device;
• and
• (d) enabling creation of an event entry for the assignment of the agent device to the second device registry.

A registry apparatus for authenticating agent devices for communicating with one or more application providing apparatuses, comprising:

• storage circuitry configured to store a first device registry of agent devices, the first device registry comprising authentication information for authenticating the identity of the agent devices and one or more event entries corresponding to each agent device, the event entries providing information about events that have occurred in relation to the corresponding agent device;
• communication circuitry configured to receive, from a requestor device, a device assignment request requesting that a specified agent device registered in the first device registry is assigned to a second device registry of agent devices;
• and
• processing circuitry configured to check whether the specified agent device is allowed to be assigned to the second device registry in response to the device assignment request, and if the specified agent device is allowed to be assigned to the second device registry, configured to control the communication circuitry to instruct at least one of the specified agent device, the requestor device and the second device registry that the specified agent device can be assigned to the second device registry, and configured to create an event entry corresponding to the specified agent devices assignment to the second device registry.

A registry apparatus for authenticating agent devices for communicating with one or more application providing apparatuses, comprising:

• means for storing a first device registry of agent devices, the first device registry comprising authentication information for authenticating the identity of the agent devices and one or more event entries corresponding to each agent device, the event entries providing information about events that have occurred in relation to each agent device;
• means for receiving, from a requestor device, a device assignment request requesting that a specified agent device registered in the first device registry is assigned to a second device registry of agent devices;
• and
• means for checking whether the specified agent device is allowed to be assigned to the second device registry in response to the device assignment request, and if the specified agent device is allowed to be assigned to the second device registry, for controlling the means for receiving to instruct at least one of the specified agent device, the requestor device and the second registry that the specified agent device can be assigned to the second device registry, and for creating an event entry corresponding to the specified agent devices assignment to the second device registry.