demand to place home components on the internet. Home computers are an obvious
example, but access to the internet (or another external network) allows operations such
as:
management process
lighting
routing, network management, and traffic control. Although some home networks
might be very simple with low traffic loads, others may be complex and heavily loaded
with multimedia and other high-volume applications.
two-node system consisting of an intelligent thermostat and a furnace. Using simple
broadcast mechanisms, the thermostat applications can find the furnace object without
using a directory service or central server. When a gateway with an appropriate manager
is placed on the network, both devices can be fully interoperable with remote systems.
site such as that of a utility company, then the thermostat can be slaved to the load
management software using TOAD control messages. The thermostat will co-operate
with the load management system when instructed. However, if the network connection
is lost, then the thermostat automatically will revert to autonomous behaviour.
and multimedia operations, as well as the traditional functions which were among the
first to be computerized. With networked office equipment, it becomes desirable for
service objects to make themselves available over the network to potential clients.
would-be clients to potential servers. TOAD offers unique levels of scaleability that
allow office equipment to be networked without centralized directory services. It will
also allow equipment to use those services as the complexity of the office network
increases. In addition, TOAD is not proprietary to any particular object or computing
architecture.