What UPnP support (Universal Plug and Play) could bring to VLC media player and VideoLAN Server, a general suggestion/request/discussion for "UPnP support (Universal Plug'n'Play Protocol)" in VideoLAN:
UPnP can really be devided up into four parts (listed here according to my personal prefered priority):
- UPnP MediaServer DCP support, (to be a UPnP-server and share/stream media to UPnP-clients on the network).
- UPnP MediaRenderer DCP support, (to auto-detect UPnP-servers on the network and stream/play media from them).
- UPnP Remote User Interface support, (control UPnP-servers over network, like record, schedule, play, stop, change channel, etc.).
- UPnP RenderingControl DCP support, (control MediaRenderer settings; volume, brightness, RGB, sharpness...).
Some "About" information on UPnP (Universial Plug'n'Play), for developers and end-users alike:
UPnP™ (Universial Plug'n'Play) looks set to be the default standard among media-share network-protocols of the future, it's an open spec/format developed by the
Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA), (Formely: Digital Home Working Group). Those who are familiar with Apple's ZeroConf/Rendezvous/DAAP will understand the basic concept of UPnP as it works in a very similar way from the end-users point-of-view, however UPnP is designed to compete with ZeroConf/Rendezvous, plus UPnP is much more aimed from the start to be an open community project. Basicaly the MediaRenderer is the network-client (and media-player) which will auto-detect all UPnP MediaServers on the local-network, and you can then stream audio/video/pictures from them, (UPnP can also be used over the internet if a "UPnP Internet Gateway Device" is implemented too). Then there is also a Remote UI part which can be implemented into both the client and server, when it is supported by both the client can fully control the server, (example change channel or select media, play, pause, and stop, etc.). Because UPnP is an open standard any UPnP-client can detect and stream from any UPnP-server without any configuration/settings have to be made by the user, plus any software or hardware developer can implement the UPnP standard into their application/device.
Philips/
Sony already revieled UPnP standalone set-on-top-boxes,
D-Link has unvieled a UPnP-enabled "Central Home Storage Drive", and on the software side latest
MusicMatch,
SnapStream's BTV beta, and even
Microsoft's Media Center Extenders feature UPnP support, plus "
"* for Windows XP with a acompaning website called [URL=http://www.playsforsure.com]PlaysForSure.com. So far the UPnP forums has
over 40 members, (among them giants like Intel, AMD, Microsoft, IBM, HP, DELL, Sony, Nokia, Samsung, Panasonic).
For a bigger overview on the basic concept behind UPnP I recommend you read these:
"
The UPnP™ Forum, About UPnP (link)" and "
Digital Home Group Touts Convergence Spec (link)"
Personaly I really like to see UPnP MediaServer support in VideoLAN server because then UPnP MediaRenderer and Remote UI (RUI) could be implemented
XBMC and thus XBMC will both be able to auto-detect VideoLAN servers on the network to remotly control them and stream/play media over the network via the XBMC GUI (to send command such as record, schedule, play, stop, change channel) and thus be able to fully function as a front-end for VideoLAN, (you could then have one VideoLAN PC functioning as a back-end hub and have several Xboxes in the house and control VideoLAN from each one of them). Of course XBMC is not the only thing that would benifit from UPnP MediaServer and Remote UI support in VideoLAN, but because UPnP is an open standard anyone who add MediaRenderer and Remote UI to their application or device would (at least in theory) be able to stream audio/video/pictures from VideoLAN, and you could for example make a small application (with RUI) PDA or TabletPC that simply functions as a remote control for VideoLAN (and that would then also be compatible with other UPnP devices that feature RUI).
Official UPnP websites (with free specs, source code, samples and SDK's):
www.upnp.org and
DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance)
Documentation:
http://www.upnp.org/standardizeddcps/mediaserver.asp
http://www.upnp.org/standardizeddcps/remoteui.asp
http://www.upnp.org/download/MediaRenderer%201.0.pdf
http://www.upnp.org/download/RenderingC ... .prtad.pdf
DLNA Home Networked Device Interoperability Guidelines v1.0 PDF
DLNA Overview and Vision White Paper (PDF)
DLNA Use Case Scenarios White Paper (PDF)
http://www.intel.com/technology/upnp/index.htm
http://www.intel.com/technology/UPnP/tutorial.htm
Universal Plug and Play in Windows XP (Microsoft TechNet)
Description of Universal Plug and Play Features in Windows XP (MSDN)
Hosting Devices on Windows XP Using Universal Plug and Play (MSDN)
Other resourses: source code exampels, full applications and more:
UPnP official specs, source and SDK's (it's free):
www.upnp.org/
www.upnp.com
Intel's UPnP SDK/toolset (donno if open source?, but it's free to use for non-commercial software):
http://developer.intel.com/ial/upnp/
CyberLink for C++
http://sourceforge.net/projects/clinkcc/
Yet Another UPnP Control Point
http://sourceforge.net/projects/upnp2k/
UPnP SDK for Linux
http://sourceforge.net/projects/upnp/
Linux UPnP Internet Gateway Device
http://sourceforge.net/projects/linux-igd/
Linux UPNP Internet Gateway
http://sourceforge.net/projects/ligd/
SharpIGD (Internet Gateway Device)
http://sourceforge.net/projects/sharp-igd/
openIGD (Internet Gateway Device)
http://sourceforge.net/projects/openigd/
Pseudo ICS daemon
http://sourceforge.net/projects/pseudoicsd/
ESDP for Linux (UPnP over Bluetooth)
http://sourceforge.net/projects/esdp4linux/
igd (Internet Gateway Device)
http://sourceforge.net/projects/igd/
ReplayTV Remote Control
http://sourceforge.net/projects/replaytvremote/