the invention illustrates a system and method of translating commands between a 1394 network and an ip network . the invention is configured to allow 1394 enabled devices to communicate with a variety of interfaces and devices through an ip network . the method for translating a command comprises : receiving the command via an ip network ; translating the command into a 1394 message ; and transmitting the 1394 message to a recipient 1394 device . the method may further parse the command into a unique device identifier portion and an av / c command portion . the av / c command portion would comprise the 1394 message , and the unique device identifier portion would correspond to a dynamic address for the 1394 message addressed to the recipient 1394 device . in addition to translating , the method of tracking a 1394 device comprising : receiving a status change message from the 1394 device ; updating a unique identifier representing the 1394 device ; updating a dynamic address of the 1394 device ; and selectively broadcasting the unique identifier and the dynamic address through a tcp / ip message .