[thechut]

The AllJoyn [1] protocol supports local communication between devices. It gives devices of certain types the ability to tie into defined APIs for specific shareable functions. So that your door lock could turn on your lights for example.

Not saying this is a perfect and open system, but it could be a step in the right direction and does not require a live internet connection for your things ot talk to each other.

AllJoyn has a lot of major backers but has yet to take off.

1: https://www.alljoyn.org/