News

Key Industry Groups Adopt UPnP Technology and Standards (2/2/2005)

DLNA, CableLabs and DSLForum Leverage UPnP Technology to Accelerate Product and Service Opportunities in New Connected, Digital Home Applications

The UPnP(TM) Implementers Corporation (UIC) announced today that UPnP technology and the UPnP device certification program is being adopted by a diverse set of industry groups, providing further momentum to the UPnP architecture as a key foundation for the connected, digital home.

"UPnP technology is the common thread in emerging connected home applications", said Mike Stelts, Director, Industry Group Liaisons, UIC. "We are cooperating and collaborating with key industry groups such as DLNA, CableLabs and the DSLForum to ensure that UPnP technology provides the broadest architectural framework for self-configuring, self-describing products. There are now more than 120 products that have been UPnP certified with many exciting new introductions this week at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas."

The Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) recently announced that in order for Digital Media Server products to enter the "Designed to DLNA Guidelines" program, the products must first be UPnP certified by the UPnP Implementers Corporation. Comprised of more than 190 member companies, the DLNA is dedicated to the simplified sharing of digital content, such as digital music, photos and video, among networked consumer electronics (CE), mobile devices and PCs. The DLNA delivers technical design guidelines based on open industry standards that companies can use to develop digital home products.

In November 2004, CableLabs(R) issued a request for proposal (RFP) that identifies a common set of product requirements for a CableHome(R) based residential gateway (integrated cable modem and router/wireless access device). The gateway will enable the delivery of value-added services for home networking and high-speed data service subscribers, including but not limited to, services requiring quality of service (QoS) guarantees. Consistent with CableLabs' participation in the UPnP Forum Steering Committee, the RFP includes requirements for residential gateways to implement discovery, prioritized QoS, and Network Address Translation configuration features as defined by UPnP standards.

In August 2004, the DSLForum announced its Technical Report (TR) specification, "Multi-Service Delivery Framework for Home Networks", that defines the DSLHome(TM) home networking architecture and highlights the importance of providing a "plug it in and it works" user experience. The DSLForum TR-064 specification, "LAN-side DSL CPE Configuration Specification", released in May 2004, references and defines compliancy with the UPnP standards (for more information, see http://dslforum.org/aboutdsl/Technical_Reports/TR-066.doc).

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