Method and mechanism for correlating and matching mutually supported protocol features of system devices

The present invention relates to a method for correlating or matching the features supported by a device with the features that may be requested by other devices communicating with that device through one or more versions of a protocol for communication between the devices. A features matching method and mechanism for use in a system wherein devices communicate through a protocol to request features to be performed by others of the devices and each device supports at least a subset of the feature set of the system. A first device stores information identifying the features supported by the first device and a match mechanism generates and transmits a declaration to second devices wherein each declaration identifies the features supported by the first device. The first device receives declarations from second devices wherein each declaration identifies the features supported by the second device and identifies the features supported in common by the first and second devices. The first device then monitors each request for a feature that is directed to a second device to determine whether the feature is supported by the second device. A second device may identify the features supported by the second device, compare the features identified in the declaration from the first device with the features identified as supported by the second device to identify the features supported in common by the first and second devices, and transmit to the first device a declaration identifying the features supported in common by the first and second devices. Alternately, the declaration from a second device may identify the features supported by the second device and the first device will determine the features supported in common by the first and second devices.