ISO IEC 29341-14-12-2011 PDF

Full title and description

Information technology — UPnP Device Architecture — Part 14-12: Audio, Video Device Control Protocol — Level 3 — Audio Video Content Directory Service. This International Standard defines the ContentDirectory service template compliant with the UPnP Device Architecture v1.0, specifying the service type, actions, state variables and data models that allow server devices to expose, browse, locate and (optionally) store multimedia content such as songs, movies and pictures for control points and user-interface devices.

Abstract

ISO/IEC 29341-14-12:2011 describes a ContentDirectory service for UPnP AV systems. The standard specifies the object model (containers, items, metadata), service actions for browsing and searching content, eventing/state variables, XML namespace and schema handling, and vendor-extension mechanisms. Its goal is to provide a uniform mechanism for UI/control devices to discover and retrieve detailed information about media objects hosted on server devices and to support lookup/storage operations for individual objects.

General information

• Status: Published (International Standard; confirmed in 2025).
• Publication date: Edition 1 — September 2011 (issued September 2011; some records show 12 September 2011 as the issue date).
• Publisher: ISO and IEC (ISO/IEC JTC 1 committee work).
• ICS / categories: 35.200 (Information technology — hardware, software, and communications equipment).
• Edition / version: Edition 1 (2011).
• Number of pages: 219 pages.

Scope

This part of ISO/IEC 29341 defines the Audio Video Content Directory Service (ContentDirectory) as a Device Control Protocol (DCP) for UPnP AV. It covers service modeling, the ContentDirectory object model (containers, items and metadata), the set of actions and state variables used for browsing, searching, retrieving metadata and locating/storing objects, namespace and schema rules for XML, vendor extension rules, and conformance requirements for Level 3 AV devices and services. It is intended to be used where networked media servers and control points need a standardized content-browsing and lookup mechanism.

Key topics and requirements

• Definition of the ContentDirectory service type and service template for UPnP AV Level 3.
• Object model: container/item hierarchy, object identity, lifetime and modification semantics.
• Mandatory and optional actions for Browse, Search, GetMetadata and related operations (including arguments and expected responses).
• State variables and eventing model to support change notifications and tracking.
• XML namespace, schema versioning and rules for embedding strings and derived data types (CSV lists, EBNF for syntax).
• Vendor-defined extension mechanisms for actions, state variables and XML elements.
• Conformance and interoperability considerations within the broader UPnP Device Architecture (DA) framework.

Typical use and users

Device manufacturers (media servers, NAS devices, smart TVs, set-top boxes), software developers building UPnP control points and media renderers, integrators creating AV systems, and test/verification labs use this standard to ensure consistent content discovery and browsing behavior across devices. It is also used by standards authors and implementers working on device interoperability in home and consumer AV networks.

Related standards

ISO/IEC 29341 is a multi-part standard (UPnP Device Architecture). Closely related parts include other AV Device Control Protocol parts such as MediaServer device definitions and ConnectionManager services, and additional 29341 parts addressing device types, security, remote user interface and QoS. Implementers typically consult multiple 29341 parts to cover device description, connection management, AV transport and related services.

Keywords

UPnP, ContentDirectory, UPnP AV, Device Control Protocol, DCP, media server, control point, browse, search, metadata, XML namespace, eventing, ISO/IEC 29341, Level 3.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO/IEC 29341-14-12:2011 is the UPnP Audio Video Content Directory Service definition — a Device Control Protocol (DCP) that specifies how media servers expose content and how control points browse, search and retrieve metadata.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers the ContentDirectory service template: object model (containers/items), actions (Browse, Search, GetMetadata, etc.), state variables and eventing, XML namespace and schema rules, and extension mechanisms for vendors. It defines conformance behavior for Level 3 AV implementations.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Media-server and consumer-electronics manufacturers, software developers of UPnP control points and renderers, system integrators and test labs who need interoperable content-browsing and lookup functionality in UPnP AV environments.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: This edition was published in September 2011 and the ISO record shows the standard was reviewed and confirmed (remained current) in 2025. Users should check the issuing bodies for any later revisions or withdrawal notices before deployment.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — it is Part 14-12 of the ISO/IEC 29341 series (UPnP Device Architecture). The 29341 series contains multiple parts covering device types, AV protocols, security, QoS, remote user interface and other device-control protocols.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: UPnP, ContentDirectory, media server, control point, browse, search, metadata, XML namespace, DCP, ISO/IEC 29341.