Device Description Language: Factorizing the Control of Arbitrary Networked Devices

Device Description Language (DDL) has been developed to allow an arbitrary device on a network to provide a description of its functionality and capabilities so that a controller or monitor can interpret it and automatically configure itself to control or monitor that device simultaneously with many others of differing types and applications without imposing domain specific conventions or restrictions. The structure of DDL and the mechanisms it uses are outlined and directions for ongoing development discussed.