Embracing Mobile with UPnP

UPnP is the world’s leading standard defining device interoperability interfaces and provides a set of protocols enabling IP-networked devices to seamlessly discover each other and control services for communications, and entertainment.

When it comes to mobile, many modern handheld devices are able to take and store media content, and using a UPnP framework users can conveniently share media content stored in their devices and play them on other home networked devices.

This technology allows networked devices to discover each other and automatically establish working configurations that enable data sharing, media streaming, media playback control and other services.

In one common scenario a file-sharing application running on a computer can tell a router via UPnP to open a specific port and map it to the computer's local network address in order to open its video conference service to Internet users. In the past, users have had to carry separate devices for capturing pictures, taking videos and listening to music, however with Smart devices all these are combined into one, and with UPnP, content can easily be consumed, no matter what the device.

A classic use case is the Smartphone, which is highly connected and can easily connect with the home network. The Smartphone is generally considered as ‘the’ leading device for generating content – its popularity highlighted by the fact that it was predicted that 837 million Smartphones would be sold globally in 2013. UPnP networking enables these intelligent devices and home networked devices to communicate with each other, allowing Smartphone users to share content across multiple devices within the home.

UPnP acts as a link between various products so that users can view a video or images from a Smartphone on a big-screen TV, or send pictures to a wireless printer via a tablet. Likewise, consumers can utilise applications such as Skype, which uses UPnP to automatically open a port in the home router.

UPnP enables mobile devices to discover other devices in the local network without requiring users to negotiate complex configuration issues before using such devices. As a result, users can conveniently and effectively share their favourite media content, without needing any unfriendly manual connection set ups or data file transfers.

The combination of music, technology and services has aligned in a way that makes it more convenient for people to consume music within the home. The Smartphone’s portability, ease of use and prodigious computing power, as well as the always-on connection it provides, means it’s rapidly becoming a key hub for users managing their relationships with music, powering a digital music boom.

UPnP gives consumers the opportunity to listen to music anywhere within the home, for instance users can play an MP3 from a Smartphone on a home audio system with just a few clicks.

Where does UPnP come from?

UPnP architecture was initiated by the UPnP Forum, which is focused on standardising and promoting the technology. The Forum drives and sets the standards behind these mobile devices in order to enable UPnP-certified products to be compatible with each other in a home or small business network, even if manufactured by different companies.

Key features of UPnP Forum’s specifications enable the seamless connection of a mobile device to a home network. This allows UPnP devices, or control points in the mobile network, to discover and interact with a UPnP device and control point in another home, or small business network using existing UPnP protocols.

What’s new for the future?

As UPnP evolves, the UPnP Forum has developed the UPnP+ initiative, which is focused on delivering new technical capabilities to enhance functionalities and meet the need for the always-on services as new paradigms for mobile connected computing evolves. This includes cloud-based service delivery, Smartphone content sharing, and the Internet of Things.

UPnP+ will deliver improved interoperability baselines, incorporating the latest specifications, including AV, device protection, security, energy management, protocol bridging and sensor management capabilities. It expands on UPnP, enabling mobile phones to roam around the world by extending standards-based machine-to-machine (M2M) communications and enabling the discovery of cloud services, content and other devices.

It also incorporates cloud architecture which allows cloud-capable devices and control points to register in the cloud. With recent developments in cloud services, as well as innovations in content delivery, such as OTT, UPnP+ delivers new architectural features and is driving UPnP devices to the core of the Internet of Things. Ultimately, it’s about adapting and adopting as opposed to reinventing.

UPnP+ Certification will improve reliability, security and feature sets for compliant implementations and demonstrates the commitment of UPnP Forum to updating and maintaining UPnP specifications to support the billions of products already deployed. This provides even greater value to UPnP implementers as cloud connectivity and the Internet of Things enable new connected experiences.