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UPnP™ Newsletter
Second Quarter, 2002

Audio/Video Working Committee
Tom Hite, Adaptive Networks
AudioPlayer Subcommittee Chair

Jean Moonen, Philips Electronics NV
Audio/Video Working Committee Chair

John Ritchie, Intel Corp.
Audio/Video Working Committee Assistant Chair

The Audio/Video (AV) Working Committee and its subcommittees are close to finalizing a unified set of specifications for the networked AV domain. The specifications are called unified because the disparate committees within the AV Working Committee have agreed on a canonical view of audio/video UPnP technology for all implementations rather than having separate versions for audio, video and other media. The canonical model hashed out among the many committee participants can represent a wide range of devices from a simple stand-alone audio player to a highly distributed, multi-zone audio/video implementation.

The AV Working Committee and subcommittees are close to offering the specifications for the 45-day review period thanks to the support and participation of industry-leading companies from around the globe. These leaders made significant contributions to the arduous specification task applying significant industry knowledge and a variety of testing facilities. The fruits of their labor are apparent in the quality and interoperability of the works released for the review period.

Before being offered for review, the service specifications were verified in multiple Plug Fests, the last two of which were held in the first quarter of 2002 at Microsoft Corp. in Redmond, Washington and Sony Corp. facilities in Tokyo, Japan. The tests involved scenarios composed of more than 18 devices including MediaServers, MediaRenderers, stand-alone control points and combination-devices that included both AV devices and control points within the same product.

Information about the AV Working Committee's unified approach is highlighted at the Tech Corner in this newsletter issue.

Print Subcommittee Update

The Print Subcommittee recently completed its work on the printer service definitions for UPnP architecture version 1 and awaits approval from the Steering Committee.

Prior to approval by the Steering Committee, three sample implementers (typically three different vendors) must pass the UPnP Implementers Corp. (UIC) test. Thus far, one vendor, Hewlett-Packard Co., has passed the certification test tool. Hewlett-Packard is working with Microsoft Corp. to improve the failure resolution process after initial testing indicated substantial changes to the tool would be required for printer devices to pass. Ensuring timely completion of tests from the remaining sample implementers is the next step. Canon Development Americas, Oak Technologies Inc. and Lexmark International Inc. have volunteered to run the certification tool against their sample implementations.

Documents ready for standardization include:

• PrintBasic:98 Service, which describes the capabilities of the printer service and defines basic printing control.
• Printer:91 Device, which describes the device specific information (e.g., serial number, model number, icons) along with URL links to the services provided by the device.

The printer subcommittee decided to shelve the PrintEnhancedLayout:90 service specification until vendors show more interest in a printer that provides precise positioning such as a photo printer with UPnP support.

Scan Subcommittee Update

The Scan Subcommittee is making progress on its device and service templates. The committee is working on the following specifications:

• Scanner:80 Device, which defines the device characteristics along with URL links to the required Scanner service and optional Feeder and ExternalActivity services.
• Scanner:80 Service, which specifies the scan setup, control and transfer of images.
• ExternalActivity:80 Service, which specifies the control of the front panel on the device (optional).
• Feeder:80 Service, which specifies the control of an optional input feeder on the scanner device.

All of the above services are nearing design completion with minor updates. Canon will host the second scanner Plug Fest, April 2-3 in Irvine, Calif. This Plug Fest will verify the designs of the scanner services and allow moving the specifications to Design Complete status. A teleconference to discuss issues that arise will follow the Plug Fest. The next face-to-face meeting is planned for the week of April 15 to coincide with the WINhec tradeshow in Seattle.

Imaging Working Committee Next Steps

Microsoft is updating the architecture documentation for the next version of the UPnP architecture. The main strategic change includes alignment with the WSDL (Web Services Description Language) technology. The key step in the next version of UPnP technology is for Microsoft to publish the proposed architecture utilizing WSDL. As this is written, Microsoft expects to publish this extensive document in early 2002.

To support the development of the next version of the UPnP architecture, the Imaging Committee discussed its charter. The new Imaging Committee now will focus its effort on moving the PrintBasic Service template forward to support the next version of UPnP architecture, and possibly adding the following extensions:

1. Define a high-level model in support of an All-in-One device under the new architecture. This model would include support of a printer, scanner, and optional fax service.
2. Add a finishing service as an optional UPnP Print service. This aligns UPnP technology efforts with the Printer Working Committee's work on Print Service Interface (PSI) for Print-by-Reference support and other advanced printing functions.
3. Add support for multiple documents within a job, enabling special processing on a per document basis.
4. Add additional mandated formats beyond XHTML-Print that Xerox requested.

The next Imaging Working Committee meeting is scheduled for mid-April in Boston.

The Security Working Committee has reached the version 0.8 milestone for three major specification documents: DeviceSecurity service template, SecurityConsole service template, and SecureDevice device template:

• The DeviceSecurity service contains the actions a secure device would implement to permit configuration of its access control.
• The SecurityConsole service is implemented by a device that configures security on other devices.
• The SecureDevice document describes the overall architecture and also is used as a generic device type for devices that only disclose their true identities and characteristics to authorized control points.

The Security Working Committee is now moving to the implementation and interoperability testing phase of the standardization process. Intel Corp. and Siemens AG have volunteered to develop sample implementations of UPnP Security for version 1 of the UPnP architecture. The committee seeks a sample implementation from a third vendor, although if necessary, Intel could create two independent implementations. The committee expects to have its first Plug Fest as soon as practical, possibly this May.

Microsoft announced its intention to enhance the certification test tool to support testing version 1 devices that implement UPnP security services. This decision helps clear a significant roadblock for completion of the security specifications. Given Microsoft's commitment, the Security Working Committee expects to complete the version 1 security services by November. As noted in the previous newsletter, other working committees and manufacturers are encouraged to begin reviewing the draft service and device template documents. Feedback is welcome regarding implementation of UPnP security services in real devices. Control point implementers should likewise begin planning for security enhancements so their products can discover and control security-aware devices.

An archived mail list (security@forum.upnp.org ) has been established for the Security Working Committee in addition to scheduled weekly teleconferences. All Forum members are welcome to join the committee's mail list. To do so, visit forum.upnp.org/archives/SECURITY.html and follow the "Join or leave the list" link.

Three topics are covered in this report: Marketing Committee leadership assignments, the significance of progress toward AV and printer specifications, and a call for additional UPnP product category standards.

Leadership Assignments Within the Committee

The Marketing Committee has designated owners for events, member relations and other core marketing disciplines, and specific product categories. Individuals and assignments are as follows:

• Events director. Rich Geasey, Lantronix Inc.
• Asia geography director. Hitoshi Sekine, Ricoh Corp .
• Newsletter and public relations director. Mark Lee, Microsoft Corp .
• Web site directors. Arlene Binuya Murray and Mark Lee, Microsoft Corp.
• Internet gateway category directors. Philip Poulidis, GlobeSpanVirata Inc., and Andrew Liu, Intel Corp.
• AV category director. Herman Elenbaas, Philips Electronics NV and Joe Pitarresi, Intel Corp.  
• Printing and imaging category director. Joe Keller, Hewlett-Packard Company
• Member relations director. OPEN
• Europe geography director. OPEN

Thank you to these individuals and their organizations for their willingness to contribute to the UPnP Forum.

To fill one of the two open positions, please contact Mark Lee at marklee@microsoft.com for more information.

This distributed marketing organization is progressing on several fronts including updating the event plan and speaker roster, planning for a potential first ever UPnP Forum event in Asia later this year, and implementing other marketing plan elements.

The AV and Printing Standards on the Horizon

Completing additional standards this year is a high priority for the Forum. More standards allow more vendors to introduce UPnP-certified products, benefiting users, the industry and the UPnP brand.

AV and printing standards represent a great opportunity to drive mainstream customer usage of home networks. AV entertainment scenarios are expected to drive many first-time home network deployments. The AV Working Committee's standards lay a vendor-independent foundation for an amazing variety of audio, video and digital image products working together in new ways. Similarly, the Imaging Working Committee's standards contribute to innovative uses of printers, driving mainstream adoption of UPnP technology.

These standards will be complete soon. Will your company benefit? When? To capitalize on these standards, implement them in products, join the UPnP Implementers Corp. (UIC), pass the certification test to earn the UPnP mark, and promote the mark on product packaging and in other materials. The Marketing Committee will actively support these standards and development of market development plans by category as these standards get completed. The UIC then drives development of UPnP brand equity.

For more information about the AV standard specification progress, see the AV Tech Corner article.

Additional Product Categories

While AV and printing standards complement the Internet gateway standard finalized late last year, additional efforts are needed in other product categories. Implementers are needed for Home Automation specifications to become standards. This effort is SO close! Your UPnP-enabled home automation product or prototype is needed to complete one or more of the UPnP home automation standards. For more information see the Home Automation Working Committee update .

What about other product categories? If a committee is not currently engaged in your product category, you are encouraged to propose and lead a new working committee. Remember, the UPnP mark cannot be conferred on a product without a defined UPnP standard in that category.

For example, some members are interested in establishing UPnP standard requirements for software development kits. Other members are interested in establishing a standard for biometric/authentication devices. The Marketing Committee is available to help members bring these and other ideas to fruition. The Marketing Committee can help Forum Members establish a UPnP Forum working committee. For an overview on proposing a new working committee, please see "Guidelines for Forming a New Working Committee".  More detailed information about Forum Working Committees is available in the members only section.  If you would like Marketing Committee help, contact Mark Lee (marklee@microsoft.com) or Andrew Liu (andrew.liu@intel.com).

 
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