Context data in upnp service information

Abstract

A system, device, and method provide for the selection of a device to perform a service using context information for the device. The context information may be included in a request from a control point device to the device or may be included in a response from the device to the control point device. The context information provides additional information relative to the services provided by the device or relative to the device itself. For example, if the device is a camera, the camera may include for each photograph taken by the camera a date the photograph is taken, a time the photograph is taken, a location at which the photograph is taken, a subject matter of the photograph, a temperature at the photograph location, a photographer, etc in the context information. Additionally, the camera may include the current geographic location of the camera in the context information.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 retrieving a first device service description contained in a first file from a first device using a universal plug and play network, the first device service description comprising information about the first device and the services provided by the first device, and further comprising information associated with a second file containing context information, the context information comprising additional information of at least one of the first device, the services provided by the first device, and one or more items related to the first device; and   selecting the first device to perform a first service for a second device based on the context information in the first device service description by pointing the second device at the first device;   retrieving a second device service description contained in a third file from a third device using the universal plug and play network, the second device service description including information associated with a fourth file containing context information of the third device; and   selecting the third device to perform a second service related to the first service for the second device based on the context information of the third device included in the second device service description by pointing the second device at the third device, the second service involving a copy action,   wherein the copy action comprises selecting an item in a display at the second device while pointing the second device at the first device, and releasing the item in the display at the second device while pointing the second device at the third device, thereby copying the item from the first device to the third device.