System architecture and implementation of a CEBus/Internet gateway

Class structures and an object-oriented software framework to facilitate Internet access to CEBus networks are described. The Internet/CEBus gateway consists of a server application and dynamic data structures which provide a real-time representation of a CEBus network. The CEBus network traffic is continually monitored and interpreted and these data structures updated accordingly. In addition the creation of "virtual" CEBus devices is supported. These "virtual" devices can interact with the real CEBus network. This allows the creation of "new" device personalities whose behaviour can then be characterised through interaction with a real CEBus network.