Friday, April 6, 2012

DLNA Overview

Digital Living Network Alliance Overview


What is DLNA?

Regardless of brand, you’ll experience a digital world of more convenience, choices and enjoyment regarding your movies, music and photos. All you need to make it work is a DLNA Certified router or LAN network and DLNA devices. DLNA devices are made to discover, connect and communicate with each other over your network without the need for compatibility changes. Gone are the days of ensuring that your devices are all the same brand. Members of the Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) have envisioned a wired and wireless interoperable network for consumer use. Consumers in a digitally connected home have the ability to share content across all DLNA Certified products, regardless of manufacturer, gaining multiple-device access to videos, music and photos, enjoying a better in-home entertainment experience. More information about DLNA can be found at www.DLNA.org.

What can you Choose from?

DLNA Certified devices include hundreds of brand name products, amounting to more entertainment options for consumers. Plus, the DLNA Certified devices you buy now will work with DLNA Certified devices in the future. DLNA Certification results in increased customer satisfaction and loyalty. 

DLNA in Your Home

The use of DLNA in your home will simplify connectivity issues. Have you ever tried to stream video wirelessly from your laptop to your TV? How much of your time was spent attempting to make a connection? Ever tried to play a song from your mp3 player using your HDTV only to realize that your products were not compatible? DLNA Certified products allow for connection and streaming with ease. Devices are discoverable with each other and are ready to use out of the box. Device and service discovery and control enables devices on the home network to automatically self configure networking properties (such as an IP address), discover the presence and capabilities of other devices on the network, and control and collaborate with these devices in a uniform and consistent manner.

DLNA divides consumer devices into key types of domains, including computers, mobile and consumer electronics. DLNA defines devices that can process media as home network devices (HNDs). HNDs can be divided into classes, which include media servers, controllers, players, renderers and printers.

Digital Media Server (DMS)

A digital media server is a computing device that can process requests for and deliver digital media. A DMS may perform the acquisition, storage and transfer of media content, such as videos, pictures and audio files. DMS functions may be included in advanced set top boxes, digital video recorders (DVRs) and digital tuners.

Digital Media Controller (DMC)

A digital media controller is a device or software application that discovers and coordinates access to media on digital media servers for further direction to digital media rendering (DMR) devices. Examples of DMCs include televisions, computers and interactive remote controls.

Digital Media Player (DMP)

A digital media player is a device or software application that can request and receive media such as video, audio or images, and convert it into a form that can be experienced by humans. DMP devices include personal computers with media player software, television monitors and multimedia mobile telephones.

Digital Media Renderer (DMR)

A digital media renderer is a device or software application that can display media to a viewer after the media has been processed by, or made available to another device. DMR devices include video monitors, digital displays and audio speakers.

Digital Media Printer (DMPr)

A digital media printer is a device or a software application that can convert media into a form that can be transferred to printed formats. Examples of DMPrs include photograph printers, inkjet printers and laser printers.

What DLNA Means for Companies

The DLNA format is intended to achieve a foundation for network interoperability while still encouraging new technology for the future. DLNA's Protected Streaming Guidelines allow consumers to securely share commercial content between devices within the home network, but not with third parties. Protected streaming specifies a global standard for protecting content streaming between two devices within the home network, ensuring that commercial content is protected from piracy and illegitimate redistribution. The main complex issue DLNA is faced with is how to control copyrighted material when it is being shared across multiple devices within the home. Obviously, a consumer should be able to rent a pay-per-view movie, begin watching it on a living room HDTV, then switch devices and finish watching on a tablet while cooking in the kitchen. As such, content protection methods must be user-friendly, and avoid limiting the ease of use for which DLNA was originally intended.

Continuing Manageability and Support

Consumer adoption rates of DLNA products will largely depend on overall satisfaction and technical support received. The introduction of a variety of networked products into the home may make the resolution of issues by the consumer and support provider a difficult and expensive prospect. An important aspect of DLNA is ensuring consumers receive the support they need, and normal network maintenance requirements. The more knowledge we can give consumers about their networks, the less likely they will be to need support in the future. DLNA will provide a useful venue for interested members to discuss technical and business issues that illustrate how DLNA Certified devices can best be managed and supported.

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