20 March 2009
Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) allows for seamless connectivity in the home between a vast variety of devices, computers, and operating systems, over virtually any type of connection.
A recently published international Standard, ISO/IEC 29341:2008, Information technology – UPnP device architecture, was developed by the UPnP Forum. 'With the adoption of ISO/IEC 29341, UPnP has become the first Standard for IP-based home networking in the industry to become a worldwide recognised international Standard,' says Dr Alan Messer, Chair of the UPnP Forum's Steering Committee.
The Forum is an industry initiative designed to provide simple and robust connectivity among consumer electronics, intelligent appliances, and mobile devices, from many different vendors. The Forum consists of more than 868 vendors, including industry leaders in computing, printing and networking; consumer electronics; home appliances, automation, control and security; and mobile products.
The goal of the Forum in preparing this series of Standards was to enable the broadest possible adoption of UPnP technology, not only for industry professionals but also for consumers and end-users.
'The UPnP Forum's specifications have become "the" standard for worldwide device interoperability in IP-based home networks,' says Dr Alan Messer. 'The adoption of UPnP specifications as ISO/IEC 29341 validates that position and enables the UPnP's specifications to be adopted more widely in the international community.'
ISO/IEC 29341 has 73 parts that address the various aspects of the technology.
- Part 1 describes the UPnP Device Architecture and defines the protocols for communication between controllers, or control points, and devices.
- Part 2 deals with basic device control protocol, providing a mechanism for products that wish to use UPnP but for which there is not yet an appropriate standard base device type.
- The remaining 71 parts cover several device categories: Internet gateways/routers, audio-video media devices, printers, scanners, climate control, lighting and wireless LAN access points and digital security cameras, as well as advanced features such as security, remote user interface and quality of service.
To browse the parts of the Standard, visit www.standards.co.nz, click ISO under the 'Catalogue' section, and enter keyword 29341. You can order the Standard online, email enquiries@standards.co.nz, or call 0800 782 632 during business hours.
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