Overview
ISO/IEC 29341-4-10:2011 specifies the Audio Video Transport Service (AVTransport) as part of the UPnP Device Architecture (UPnP DA) Level 2. This international standard defines a common service model and control protocol for managing the transport of audio and video streams on consumer devices. It is a technical revision (second edition, 2011) replacing the 2008 first edition and is compliant with UPnP Device Architecture version 1.0.
Key technical topics and requirements
- Service model and state variables: Defines the AVTransport service type, a comprehensive set of state variables (e.g., TransportState, CurrentTrack, AVTransportURI, RelativeTimePosition) and their allowed values and ranges.
- Action set (control API): Specifies standard actions to control media transport such as SetAVTransportURI, SetNextAVTransportURI, Play, Pause, Stop, Seek, Next, Previous, GetMediaInfo, GetPositionInfo, GetTransportInfo and others. Tables list arguments and error codes for each action.
- Eventing and moderation: Describes the UPnP event model for state change notifications (LastChange and event moderation rules) to support responsive control points and UIs.
- Theory of operation: Explains transport state transitions, play modes, navigation, AVTransportURI concepts and support for multiple virtual transports and playlists.
- XML service description and testing: Provides XML service descriptors for implementation and conformance test material for interoperability testing.
- Protocol-specific guidance (Annex A): Details how SetAVTransportURI and transport controls apply to streaming transports such as HTTP streaming, RTSP/RTP/UDP, internal streaming, IEC 61883, and vendor-specific streaming implementations.
Practical applications
- Control interfaces for consumer A/V devices: CD/DVD/Blu-ray players, VCRs, MP3 players, network media renderers and recorders.
- Media server and control point software that needs a standardized transport API for play, pause, seek, playlist management and URIs.
- Minimal implementations supporting tuner control or simple transport devices.
- Interoperability testing and device certification where UPnP AV transport behavior must be validated.
Who should use this standard
- Device manufacturers implementing UPnP-compliant audio/video players, recorders and streamers.
- Firmware and application developers building control point apps, media servers or renderers.
- System integrators and test labs ensuring interoperability of UPnP AV devices.
- Standards and compliance engineers who need a reference for AV transport state/event models and action definitions.
Related standards
- Other parts of the ISO/IEC 29341 series (UPnP Device Architecture) for device and service definitions.
- UPnP Device Architecture (version 1.0) specifications referenced for architecture and eventing behavior.
Keywords: ISO/IEC 29341-4-10:2011, UPnP Device Architecture, Audio Video Transport Service, AVTransport, SetAVTransportURI, media transport control, UPnP eventing, streaming control.