Approaches to Home Connectivity

T-109.7510 Research Seminar on Telecommunications Business

Marko Berg

Agenda

Background for Home Connectivity Exemplary Use Case Scenarios Current Technologies Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) UPnP and DLNA in the Market Conclusions Questions

Need for Home Connectivity

Technological advances• Picture and voice quality

• Network bandwidth

• Connection options

• Communication mechanisms and mobility

Resulting in more devices and new functions

Need for Home Connectivity (2)

New ways of acquiring content• Over the Internet

• From local network

• Cameras

• Audio and video recording devices

• Broadcast systems

Resulting in the need to transfer content between several devices

Need for Home Connectivity (3)

Technical solutions exist for most problems• Discovery of devices in the network

• Connecting over different types of networks

• Transferring images, audio and video

• Storing and sourcing media in a network

The issue is one of interoperability and transparency – standardization needed

Exemplary Use Cases

Case 1: Image Display from Multiple Sources

Alice’s TV

Alice’s PC

Betty’s MobilePhone

Alice

Betty

2.

4.

3.

1.

Exemplary Use Cases (2)

Case 2: Video Service Mobility

Family room TV Bedroom TV

2.

AliceBobCharlie

1.2.3.

Set-top-Box

1.

Exemplary Use Cases (3)

Case 3: Central Media Source

Internet

1.

2.

Bob

1-2.

3.

3.

Current Technologies

Zeroconf• Bonjour by Apple

Jini• Java technology

Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA

Universal Plug and Play

Standards developed by UPnP Forum• Est. 1999

• More than 800 members Designed as a interoperable M2M, P2P

protocol• Independent of network, protocol, language

• Device-agnostic – mobile, fixed, CE, PC, ...

• Platform-independent, for virtually any purpose

Universal Plug and Play (2)

Defines Device Control Protocols (DCP) in six device categories• Audio/Video

• Home Automation

• Networking

• Printer

• Remoting

• Scanner

Universal Plug and Play (3)

Protocol functionality• Addressing

• Discovery

• Description

• Control

• Eventing

• Presentation

Digital Living Network Alliance

DLNA is an industry consortium• Est. 2003, more than 200 members

• Develops guidelines for home connectivity

Home environment seen as three islands of devices

• Consumer Electronics

• Mobile Devices

• PCs and Peripherals

DLNA (2)

Use cases used as a basis for guidelines• Use cases built on technology-independent

needs – not likely to change soon

Accepted standards and practices used• Not necessarily open, but accessible

DLNA (3)

Guidelines define building blocks for implementation• Technologies defined for all parts of

interconnection• Network technology

• Device discovery

• Media transport

• Content formats

• Communication protocols

DLNA (4)

Three device categories• Home Network Devices

• Mobile Network Devices

• Home Interoperability Devices

Targeted only to home environment• Future extensions possible

UPnP and DLNA in the Market

More UPnP devices• Longer availability

• Suitable for more specific purposes

Devices available in all DLNA categories• More promotion by the consortium

• DLNA also targets consumers

Conclusions

Establisment of DLNA might indicate deficiencies in UPnP

UPnP leaves a lot up to the implementations• Interoperability might remain partial and focused

DLNA provides a heavier, but also more comprehensive solution• Impressive support from the industry

• Might have better chances in the long run

Questions?

Thank you!