Approaches to Home
Connectivity
T-109.7510 Research Seminar on
Telecommunications Business
Marko Berg
Agenda
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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

Resulting in more devices and new
functions
• Picture and voice quality
• Network bandwidth
• Connection options
• Communication mechanisms and mobility
Need for Home Connectivity (2)

New ways of acquiring content

Resulting in the need to transfer content
between several devices
• Over the Internet
• From local network
• Cameras
• Audio and video recording devices
• Broadcast systems
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
2.
1.
Alice’s PC
Alice
4.
Alice’s TV
3.
Betty’s Mobile
Phone
Betty
Exemplary Use Cases (2)
Case 2: Video Service Mobility
1.
Family room TV
2.
Set-top-Box
3.
Bedroom TV
2.
1.
Charlie Bob
Alice
Exemplary Use Cases (3)
Case 3: Central Media Source
2.
1.
1-2.
3.
Internet
3.
Bob
Current Technologies
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Zeroconf
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Jini
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Universal Plug and Play (UPnP)
Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA

• Bonjour by Apple
• Java technology
Universal Plug and Play
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Standards developed by UPnP Forum

Designed as a interoperable M2M, P2P
protocol
• Est. 1999
• More than 800 members
• Independent of network, protocol, language
• Device-agnostic – mobile, fixed, CE, PC, ...
• Platform-independent, for virtually any
purpose
Universal Plug and Play (2)
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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

Home environment seen as three islands
of devices
• Est. 2003, more than 200 members
• Develops guidelines for home connectivity
• 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)
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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)
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Three device categories

Targeted only to home environment
• Home Network Devices
• Mobile Network Devices
• Home Interoperability Devices
• Future extensions possible
UPnP and DLNA in the Market
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More UPnP devices

Devices available in all DLNA categories
• Longer availability
• Suitable for more specific purposes
• More promotion by the consortium
• DLNA also targets consumers
Conclusions
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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
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Impressive support from the industry
Might have better chances in the long run
Questions?
Thank you!