Computer Hardware Terms, Glossary and Dictionary

Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) is an architecture for pervasive peer-to-peer network connectivity of intelligent appliances, wireless devices, and PCs of all form factors. The scope of UPnP is large enough to encompass many existing, as well as new and exciting scenarios including home automation, printing and imaging, audio/video entertainment, kitchen appliances, automobile networks, and proximity networks in public venues. UPnP is a distributed, open networking architecture that leverages TCP/IP and the Web technologies to enable seamless proximity networking in addition to control data transfer among networked devices. Under UPnP, there are no device drivers; common protocols are used instead. UPnP networking is media independent. UPnP devices can be implemented using any programming language, and on any operating system.

Related Terms

UPnP: Universal Plug and Play