Exploring the Universal Plug and Play Architecture
Custom Connections
© designalldone, Fotolia
Universal Plug and Play provides an easy framework for seamless integration of network devices. Learn how to build your own UPnP solution using the open source BRisa framework.
The arrival of consumer electronic devices such as PDAs, cell phones, and Internet tablets has placed new emphasis on techniques for connecting and sharing information [1]. The Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) standard [2] is a good candidate to provide pervasive services for a new generation of electronic devices.
The original concept of Plug and Play focused on dynamically attaching devices directly to a computer. A device driver controlled by the operating system detected the peripheral and made it available to the user via system calls. The new Universal Plug and Play standard offers a radically different approach: Devices operate on a network and are detected with the use of network protocols. The system calls used in the previous plug and play architecture are replaced by remote method invocation with the use of SOAP web services.
A UPnP network is a collection of interconnected computers, network appliances, and wireless devices that use UPnP to discover, advertise, and access network services. The goal is to provide an easy-to-use framework for creating tools to support the communication of network-based devices. UPnP achieves this goal by defining and publishing UPnP device control protocols built on open, Internet-based communication standards [3]. As you might expect, UPnP supports connections for devices such as cell phones or MP3 players, but UPnP also offers benefits for connecting to conventional peripherals such as printers, as well as wireless household electronic gadgets for controlling appliances, lights, doors, and curtains.
[...]
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Digital Autonomy
• The Answer Was Already on the Shelf
• Changing the Chip Industry: How Public Investment Has Grown Open Silicon
• United Nations Open Source Portal Goes Live
• EU Open Source Strategy Plays Key Role in Tech Sovereignty Package
• France Says “Au Revoir” to Microsoft
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
Pine64 Halts Production of Linux Devices
With continued DRAM and eMMC shortages, Pine64 has decided to discontinue production of Linux devices.
-
The Bullet-Proof KDE Software Initiative Is Coming
KDE, Techpaladin, and Kubuntu Focus have announced a new initiative that will provide at least three years of support for KDE Plasma 6.6 LTS and related software.
-
Linux Mint Shares a Possible Kernel Cleanup Solution
For those on Linux Mint who like to keep multiple kernels around but don't want them to take up too much space, you might be getting a new automated tool.
-
CachyOS Gets an Update
CachyOS August 2026 release is now available with the latest version of KDE, some new features, and plenty of improvements.
-
The Linux Kernel Dev Staging Area Now Rejects AI-Generated Patches
Unless a kernel patch is a valid security fix, it will be rejected if it was created using AI.
-
Linux Surpasses Double-Digit Market Share
According to two sources, the Linux operating system has hit a major milestone in market share that naysayers thought would never happen.
-
AI Helped Develop a Linux Exploit
A use-after-free race exploit was discovered and exploited on CentOS Stream 9.
-
Yet Another Linux Kernel Vulnerability Discovered
Affecting millions of systems, a kernel flaw discovered by Qualys could allow users to gain root privileges.
-
Ubuntu 26.10 to Include Ubuntu Certified Hardware Check
If you've ever wondered if your laptop or PC is officially certified to run Ubuntu, that curiosity will soon be met.
-
Substantial Update to IPFire Now Available
The lastest version of IPFire features a fundamental change to how the system handles DNS.