A system for enabling components on arbitrary networks to communicate includes a plurality of arbitrary components, such as computers, servers, laptops, facsimile machines, copier machines and cellular telephones, including applications operating on those components, such as word processing or data base applications, connected together by one or more networks that may use the same or different protocols. A method includes a first component, such as a computer, obtaining aggregate objects from other components, such as a laptop or server. Each of the aggregate objects are associated with discovered component objects of the other components, such as the laptop or server. The first component selects at least one of the components associated with the aggregate objects, and invokes universal interfaces associated with the selected arbitrary components to communicate with other arbitrary components.