System, method and computer program product for identifying, configuring and accessing a device on a network
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for identifying, configuring, and accessing a device connected to a network. In operation, a device connected to a network is automatically identified. Additionally, the device is automatically configured. Strictly as an option, the device may be accessed on the network.
1. A method, comprising:
associating a universal device locator (UDL) with a unique identifier of a device connected to a network;
identifying the UDL on the network; and
accessing the device utilizing the UDL;
wherein the association between the UDL and the unique identifier of the device is specific to a first user that is an owner of the device, and wherein a transfer of ownership of the device to a second user is made by changing the association of the unique identifier of the device from being with the UDL to being with another UDL associated with the second user;
wherein the changing the association of the unique identifier of the device from being with the UDL to being with another UDL associated with the second user is utilized as a trigger for a commerce transaction.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the UDL is provided by a service on the network.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the UDL represents an entity separate from the device that is provided by the service.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the service utilizes the UDL to access the device.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein accessing the device utilizing the UDL includes:
logging into the service,
after logging into the service, utilizing the UDL to identify the device and any other devices associated with the UDL.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein accessing the device utilizing the UDL further includes:
after identifying the device, automatically updating at least the device.
7. The method of claim 4 , wherein the service is allowed to utilize the UDL to access the device when a selection is received from the owner of the device to make the UDL searchable via the service.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein accessing the device utilizing the UDL includes utilizing a derivative of the UDL to access the device.
9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising utilizing the UDL to establish a direct peer-to-peer network between the device and a remote device.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the device is associated with a plurality of UDLs by associating each of the UDLs with the unique identifier of the device.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein one of the plurality of UDLs is a master UDL.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the master UDL is predetermined.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the master UDL designates permissions for each of the plurality of UDLs.
14. The method of claim 10 , wherein each of the UDLs is designated as having authority over particular capabilities of the device.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the association between the UDL and the unique identifier of the device is stored in memory of a UDL server.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the association between the UDL and the unique identifier of the device is used for configuring the device for the first user.