# 5.3.5 Device Linking and Command-Oriented Control

This comparison diagram contrasts the older command-driven path with the current simplified stream request path.

```mermaid
flowchart LR
    subgraph Legacy["Legacy command-oriented path"]
        LClient[Client Device]
        LBackend[Backend]
        LCmd[(commands table)]
        LGateway[Realtime Gateway]
        LCamera[Camera Device]

        LClient -->|request stream| LBackend
        LBackend --> LCmd
        LCmd --> LGateway
        LGateway -->|command:received| LCamera
        LCamera -->|command:ack| LGateway
        LGateway --> LBackend
    end

    subgraph Simple["Simplified linked-device path"]
        SClient[Client Device]
        SBackend[Backend]
        SLinks[(device_links)]
        SSession[(stream_sessions)]
        SCamera[Camera Device]

        SClient -->|request stream| SBackend
        SBackend --> SLinks
        SBackend --> SSession
        SBackend -->|stream:requested| SCamera
        SCamera -->|accept| SBackend
        SBackend -->|stream:started| SClient
    end
```
