System and method using a client-local proxy-server to access a device having an assigned network address

A method comprising:

• receiving at a device an assigned address that identifies a virtual location of said device on a network;
• said device configured to transmit said received assigned address to a client-local proxy-server that receives a request to access said device from a web client;
• said request comprising a device identifier that uniquely identifies said device;
• and
• delivering data from said device to said web client over a communications path established by said client-local proxy-server using said assigned address to act as an intermediary between said web client and said device.

An apparatus for opening a communications path to a device, the apparatus comprising:

• a client-local proxy-server that receives an address assigned to the device and stores said assigned address in a memory location;
• said client-local proxy-server including a URL that receives a request to access the device;
• said request comprising a device identifier that uniquely identifies the device;
• and
• said client-local proxy-server in response to said request to access the device, identifying the device's stored address based on said device identifier, and acting as an intermediary to open a communications path between a sender of said request and said device, based on said stored assigned address.

A system comprising:

• a device that receives an assigned address identifying a virtual location of said device on a network;
• said device comprising commercially available and substantially non-proprietary mobile web server software configured to transmit said assigned address to a client-local proxy-server that receives requests to access said device from a web client;
• said requests comprising a device identifier that uniquely identifies said device;
• and
• said mobile web server software further configured to deliver data from said device to said web client over a communication link established by said client-local proxy-server acting as an intermediary between said web client and said device based on said assigned address.