Some service providers are going to find it easier to maintain a somewhat more consistent user interface across DLNA-capable products in home networks now that the RVU Alliance Remote User Interface (RUI) has been incorporated into the DLNA Interoperability Guidelines.
The RVU protocol is based largely on DLNA. DirecTV and Verizon are among the companies backing the home networking technology, joined by a set of network gear and consumer electronics manufacturers, including Cisco, EchoStar, Huawei, Humax, LG, Sony and Samsung; a set of silicon developers, including Entropic, STMicroelectronics and Qualcomm Atheros; and others.
The new guidelines allow service providers to export the look and feel of their features to DLNA-certified devices.
“Imagine being able to access DVR functionality on a non-DVR device. RVU RUI makes this possible and can now be included in DLNA-certified products,” said Nidhish Parikh, chairman and president of DLNA. “DLNA understands that today’s consumers aren’t tied to the living room for watching movies. They expect to be able to access the premium content that they receive from their service provider subscriptions on a multitude of devices. By incorporating RVU RUI into our Interoperability Guidelines, we’re providing consumers with new, innovative ways to connect and consume their digital content.”
The group describes the RVU RUI as a technology that provides for pixel-accurate display of a service provider’s user interface on compliant client devices when used with a compliant RVU server, which could be a set-top or a gateway, for example.
RVU systems already on the market include DirecTV’s HR34 RVU server, introduced in late 2011. At the 2012 International CES event in January, Samsung showcased the protocol in three of their 2011 connected TV models and indicated that RVU support will be in all 2012 connected TV models.
Romulo Pontual, chief technology officer and executive vice president at DirecTV, said that following the incorporation of RVU protocols in DLNA, his company will accelerate its rollout of products capable of delivering our service directly to DLNA-certified devices.