I would like to know more about the Universal Plug and Play Features in Windows Me.

I would like to know more about the Universal Plug and Play Features in Windows Me.

Universal Plug and Play is an architecture that supports peer-to-peer Plug and Play functionality for network devices. Universal Plug and Play devices can accept network configuration from a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server. Universal Plug and Play devices can also discover other Universal Plug and Play devices, exchange descriptions of the services they perform, and use these services.

Universal Plug and Play support in Windows Me can be installed from [Control Panel]. When Universal Plug and Play support is installed in Windows Me, and a Universal Plug and Play device is added to the network, the Windows Me-based computer acts as a control point for that device, and notification is provided on the taskbar.

The following list defines key Universal Plug and Play terms:

[Action]: A command used to trigger services to perform a function.

[Control point]: Software that retrieves Universal Plug and Play service and device descriptions, sends actions to services, and receives events from services.

[Device]: A container object for one or more services, whether a physical device such as a camcorder, or a logical device such as a computer that is acting as a camcorder.

[Event]: A message from a device to a control point that is used to keep subscribed control points informed of device status.

[Service]: Device functionality that can be controlled via control points.

[Subscription]: A relationship between a control point and a service.

Universal Plug and Play functionality involves five processes:

[Discovery]: A Universal Plug and Play device advertises its presence on the network to other devices and control points by using the Simple Service Discovery Protocol (SSDP). A newly added control point uses SSDP to discover Universal Plug and Play devices on the network. The information exchanged between the device and the control point is limited to discovery messages that provide basic information about the devices and their services, along with a description URL, which can be used to gather additional information about the device.

[Description]: Using the URL provided in the discovery process, a control point receives XML information about the device, such as its make, model, and serial number. In addition, the description process can also include a list of embedded devices, embedded services, and URLs used to access device features.

[Control]: Control points use URLs provided during the description process to access additional XML information that describes actions to which the Universal Plug and Play device services respond, along with parameters for each action. Control messages are formatted in XML and use the Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) protocol.

[Eventing]: When a control point subscribes to a service, the service sends event messages to the control point to announce changes in device status. Event messages are formatted in XML and use General Event Notification Architecture (GENA).

[Presentation]: If a Universal Plug and Play device provides a presentation URL, a browser can be used to access interface control features, device or service information, or any device-specific abilities implemented by the manufacturer.

In Windows Me, Universal Plug and Play functionality is provided by the following files:

[Ssdpapi.dll]: This component provides the Simple Service Discovery Protocol (SSDP) Application Programming Interface (API) for Universal Plug and Play.

[Ssdpsrv.exe]: This component provides SSDP and GENA services.

[Upnp.dll]: This component provides the core Universal Plug and Play search and description functions for devices and services.

[Upnpui.dll]: This component provides the interface for device notification and manipulation.

For further information, please refer to the following in the Microsoft Technical Support website:

--Microsoft Technical Support Information--
[Article ID] Q262458
[Last Reviewed] January 29, 2001
[Title] Description of Universal Plug and Play Features in Windows Me
[Link] http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q262/4/58.ASP