ISO/IEC plug-and-play standard enables seamless technology

The newest parts of an International Standard for Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) will help devices to seamlessly cross multivendor and multitechnology networks - another step forward for intelligent homes and offices.

UPnP technology together with enabling home automation technologies such as KNX (ISO/IEC 14543-3) or Echonet (ISO/IEC 14543-4) makes this possible, because it allows devices to connect and work together, facilitating multiple applications like entertainment, energy efficiency, security and building control, through data and resource sharing, communications, the internet and simplified network establishment.

International Standard ISO/IEC 29341:2011, Information technology - UPnP Device Architecture, enables this technology by describing an architecture for home connectivity of intelligent appliances, audio and video equipment, wireless devices and PCs. The multipart standard allows a user interface for, and a bridge to, intelligent appliances and Home Electronic Systems that connect and handle the interworking of AV and sensors for lighting, heating, cooling, shading, security and multiple other applications. These sensors and actors may also come from different sources as long as they comply with the standard. UPnP is designed to bring easy-to-use, flexible standards-based connectivity to ad hoc or unmanaged networks whether in the home, a small business or in public spaces. It also offers specifications to control and service the home and its appliances from a distance simply and easily, with device control protocols built on established, open, internet-based communication standards (eg, TCP/IP, UDP, HTTP, XML, etc).

“The UPnP Device Architecture is designed to support zero-configuration, ‘invisible’ networking and automatic discovery for a breadth of device categories in the area of audio, video and data from a wide range of vendors,” explains Dr Walter von Pattay, Secretary of the committee that developed the standard. “The real plus is that it’s network independent, does not require device drivers, can be implemented using any programming language or operating system and supports a wide range of applications from AV to home electronic systems that operate lights, shutters, climate and many more .

“ISO/IEC 29341 will help manufacturers from around the world to comply with the specifications required to make this technology work, so that any compatible device from any vendor can dynamically join/leave a network and interoperate seamlessly,” Dr von Pattay adds.

The standard, which is composed of several parts, was developed by ISO and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) within joint technical committee ISO/IEC JTC 1, Information technology, subcommittee SC 25, Interconnection of information technology equipment. For more details, visit www.iso.org.