Using UPnP-CWMP integration for operator-assisted management of domestic LANs

Abstract

the Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) protocol framework was conceived to allow seamless device discovery, control and configuration on domestic LANs, with minimum user intervention. It supports a wide range of devices, from printers to network equipment, having become an important mechanism for automatic configuration of devices within domestic LANs.With the increasing need for Internet Service Providers to manage devices inside broadband customers' LANs (such as settop-boxes, VoIP handsets, DVRs and media players), the information and mechanisms provided by UPnP could be valuable for remote equipment configuration and diagnostics. However, UPnP was not designed to operate in the environment of current broadband access networks (GPON, DSL, cable...). In this paper we propose a solution that addresses this issue by means of an extension that integrates UPnP with BroadbandForum's CPE WAN Management Protocol (CWMP), a de facto standard for remote management of devices on the customer premises, enabling operators to use their CWMP infrastructure to manage UPnP devices located on the customer LAN.