Apparatus, method and system for providing automated services to heterogenous devices across multiple platforms

A method to provide automated services to heterogeneous devices in a network environment across multiple platforms, comprising:

• providing a single messaging interface on each device via a device agent, which communicates with a device communicator via a device-specific connectivity and communication protocol;
• registering each of the devices via the device communicator to record device capabilities of each of the devices;
• aggregating data from multiple content sources via a portal server;
• caching the data;
• and
• downloading and synchronizing the data via the device communicator;
• wherein:
• the registration of the heterogeneous devices by the device communicator includes the device communicator recording in a device table a list of applications supported by at least one of the heterogeneous devices;
• a first one of the heterogeneous devices triggers the device agent residing on the first heterogeneous device to send a request for an application;
• the device agent residing on the first heterogeneous device responsively transmits the request to the device communicator;
• the device communicator searches the device table to locate a second one of the heterogeneous devices that supports the application;
• the device communicator forwards the request to the second heterogeneous device;
• responsive to the forwarded request, the second heterogeneous device transmits a response to the device communicator;
• and
• the device communicator forwards the response to the first heterogeneous device.

A system to provide automated services to heterogeneous devices in a network environment across multiple platforms, comprising:

• a single messaging interface on each device via a device agent which communicates with a device communicator via a device-specific connectivity and communication protocol;
• an arrangement to register each of the devices via the device communicator to record device capabilities of each of the devices;
• an arrangement to aggregate data from multiple content sources via a portal server;
• an arrangement to cache the data;
• and
• an arrangement to download and synchronize the data via the device communicator;
• wherein:
• the registration of the heterogeneous devices by the device communicator includes the device communicator recording in a device table a list of applications supported by at least one of the heterogeneous devices;
• a first one of the heterogeneous devices triggers the device agent residing on the first heterogeneous device to send a request for an application;
• the device agent residing on the first heterogeneous device responsively transmits the request to the device communicator;
• the device communicator searches the device table to locate a second one of the heterogeneous devices that supports the application;
• the device communicator forwards the request to the second heterogeneous device;
• responsive to the forwarded request, the second heterogeneous device transmits a response to the device communicator;
• and
• the device communicator forwards the response to the first heterogeneous device.