Set top box for convergence and automation system

1. A process of operating an automation system in a Web Service environment, comprising:

providing at least one client and at least one device, the at least one client and the at least one device configured with a web services for devices (WSD) stack;

connecting a network comprising at least one server configured with the WSD stack to the at least one client and the at least one device;

transmitting automation-based control and communication between the at least one client and at least one device; and

connecting a set top box between the network and at least one of the clients and providing the client coupled thereto with a user interface for controlling the devices,

wherein the at least one device comprises an audio system, a video system, an intercom system, a lighting system, a security system, a link, and a HVAC system, and

wherein the WSD stack comprises:

a first communication layer configured to logically interface the at least one client;

a second communication layer configured to physically interface the at least one device; and

a service provider layer comprising one or more components, each component corresponding to a device category, wherein each component comprises:

one or more Web Services corresponding to one or more devices of the corresponding device category, respectively, each Web Service configured to function as a Web Service host for the corresponding device;

one or more device bridges corresponding to the one or more Web Services, respectively, each device bridge configured to translate communication between the corresponding Web Service and device; and

a controller configured to communicate with the one or more devices of the corresponding device category.

2. The process according to claim 1 wherein the at least one client comprises one of a TV, a personal computer, a personal digital assistant, and a game controller.

3. The process according to claim 1 wherein the first and second communication layers process at least one of a Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), a User Datagram Protocol (UDP), and serial protocols,

wherein the communication via the first communication layer comprises information contained in SOAP packets.

4. The process according to claim 1 wherein the set top box comprises one of a set-top box and a cablecard implemented with an OCAP.

5. The process according to claim 1 wherein the WSD stack is configured to discover the at least one client and the discovery comprises one of multicast announcements, multicast query requests, and unicast responses.

6. The process according to claim 1 wherein the WSD stack is configured for description and the description comprises at least one of WS-Metadata exchange, web services description language, and simple object access protocol/XML protocol.

7. The process according to claim 1 wherein the WSD stack is configured for eventing and wherein the eventing comprises at least one of web services description language for detailed events, a configuration for client subscription to events, and a configuration for the at least one device to push events to the at least one client.

8. A machine-readable storage medium having a stored computer program embodying instructions, which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to establish an automation system in a Web Service environment, the machine-readable storage medium comprising:

instructions for providing automation-based control and communication between at least one client and at least one device, the at least one client and the at least one device configured with a web services for devices (WSD) stack configured to the at least one client and at least one device;

instructions for configuring a network comprising at least one server to be connected to the at least one client and the at least one device with the WSD stack; and

instructions for coupling a set top box between the network and at least one of the clients and configured to provide the client coupled thereto with a user interface for controlling the devices,

wherein the at least one device comprises an audio system, a video system, an intercom system, a lighting system, a security system, a link, and a HVAC system, and

wherein the WSD stack comprises:

a first communication layer configured to logically interface the at least one client;

a second communication layer configured to physically interface the at least one device; and

a service provider layer comprising one or more components, each component corresponding to a device category, wherein each component comprises:

one or more Web Services corresponding to one or more devices of the corresponding device category, respectively, each Web Service configured to function as a Web Service host for the corresponding device;

one or more device bridges corresponding to the one or more Web Services, respectively, each device bridge configured to translate communication between the corresponding Web Service and device; and

a controller configured to communicate with the one or more devices of the corresponding device category.

9. The machine-readable storage medium according to claim 8 wherein the at least one client further comprises one of a TV, a personal computer, a personal digital assistant, and a game controller.

10. The machine-readable storage medium according to claim 8 wherein the first and second communication layers process at least one of a Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), a User Datagram Protocol (UDP), and serial protocols,

wherein the communication via the first communication layer comprises information contained in SOAP packets.

11. The machine-readable storage medium according to claim 8 wherein the WSD stack is configured to send feedback from the at least one device to the at least one client.

12. The machine-readable storage medium according to claim 8 wherein the WSD stack is configured to discover the at least one client and the discovery comprises one of multicast announcements, multicast query requests, and unicast responses.

13. The machine-readable storage medium according to claim 8 wherein the WSD stack is configured for description and the description comprises at least one of WS-Metadata exchange, web services description language, and simple object access protocol/XML protocol.

14. An automation system operating in a Web Service for Devices environment, comprising:

at least one client and at least one device, the at least one client and the at least one device configured with a web services for devices (WSD) stack configured to provide automation-based control and communication between the at least one client and at least one device;

a network comprising at least one server configured to be connected to the at least one client and the at least one device with the WSD stack; and

a set top box coupled between the network and at least one of the clients and configured to provide the client coupled thereto with a user interface for controlling the devices,

wherein the at least one client further comprises one of a TV, a personal computer, a personal digital assistant, and a game controller and the at least one device comprises an audio system, a video system, an intercom system, a lighting system, a security system, a link, and a HVAC system, and

wherein the WSD stack comprises:

a first communication layer configured to logically interface the at least one client;

a second communication layer configured to physically interface the at least one device; and

a service provider layer comprising one or more components, each component corresponding to a device category, wherein each component comprises:

one or more Web Services corresponding to one or more devices of the corresponding device category, respectively, each Web Service configured to function as a Web Service host for the corresponding device;

one or more device bridges corresponding to the one or more Web Services, respectively, each device bridge configured to translate communication between the corresponding Web Service and device; and

a controller configured to communicate with the one or more devices of the corresponding device category.

15. The automation system of claim 14 , wherein the at least one client comprises one of a TV, a personal computer, a personal digital assistant, and a game controller.

16. The automation system of claim 14 , wherein the first and second communication layers process at least one of a Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), a User Datagram Protocol (UDP), and serial protocols.

17. The automation system of claim 14 , wherein the set top box comprises one of a set-top box and a cablecard implemented with an OCAP.

18. The automation system of claim 14 , wherein the WSD stack is configured to send feedback from the at least one device to the at least one client.

19. The automation system of claim 14 , wherein the WSD stack is configured to discover the at least one client and the discovery comprises one of multicast announcements, multicast query requests, and unicast responses.

20. The automation system of claim 14 , wherein the WSD stack is configured for description and the description comprises at least one of WS-Metadata exchange, web services description language, and simple object access protocol/XML protocol.