Home audio/video network with two level device control

A home audio visual network including a plurality of devices coupled to a bus, wherein at least one of the devices includes a host device including a processor coupled to a computer readable memory, the memory containing computer readable instructions which when executed by the processor implement a method for providing communication and control between the devices, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) querying a new device of the network to obtain a description of functions supported by the new device;
• b) generating a first level control software module for the new device based upon the description of functions supported by the new device;
• c) controlling the new device by using objects of the network, the objects of the network using the first level control software module;
• d) determining whether the new device includes a software program for a second level control software module having increased functionality with respect to the first level control software module;
• e) generating a second level control software module by using the software program;
• and
• f) controlling the new device by using objects of the network, the objects of the network using the second level control software module.

A home audio visual network including a plurality of devices coupled to a bus, wherein at least one of the devices includes a host device having a processor coupled to a computer readable memory, the memory containing computer readable instructions which when executed implement a method for providing communication and control between the devices, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) querying a new device to obtain a description of functions supported by the new device;
• b) generating a first level control software module for the new device based upon the description, wherein the first level control software module provides a predetermined minimum degree of interoperability for the device by providing a generalized interoperability interface;
• c) controlling the new device using the first level control software module;
• d) determining whether the new device includes software code for a second level control software module having increased functionality with respect to the first level control software module;
• e) generating a second level control software module by using the software code, wherein the second level control software module provides an enhanced degree of interoperability for the device in comparison to the first level control software module by providing a device specific interoperability interface;
• and
• f) controlling the new device using the second level control software module, wherein the new device is accessed by one of the plurality of devices by accessing the first level control software module or the second level control software module on the host device, thereby providing a first level of control or an enhanced second level of control.

An apparatus for providing device control and communication for a plurality of devices in a network, comprising:

• a) means for coupling a device to the network, the network having a first set of devices previously coupled thereto;
• b) means for querying the device to obtain a description of first level functions supported by the device;
• c) means for generating a first level control software module for the device based upon the description of first level functions;
• d) means for receiving pseudo code from the device which implements second level functions for the device;
• e) means for generating a second level control software module for the device using the pseudo code;
• and
• f) means for accessing the device via the first level control software module or the second level control software module to access the first level functions or the second level functions, respectively, such that communication and control of the device is provided by the first set of devices.