Discovery and Launch

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Discovery and Launch (DIAL) is a protocol co-developed by Netflix and YouTube with help from Sony and Samsung. [1] It is a mechanism for discovering and launching applications on a single subnet, typically a home network. It relies on Universal Plug and Play (UPnP), Simple Service Discovery Protocol (SSDP), and HTTP protocols. The protocol works without requiring a pairing between devices. It was formerly used by the Chromecast media streaming adapter that was introduced in July 2013 by Google. (Chromecast now uses mDNS instead of DIAL.) [2] DIAL enables what the TV industry calls second screen devices, such as tablet computers and mobile phones to send content to first screen devices, such as televisions, Blu-ray players, and set-top boxes. [3]

Contents

Terminology and operation

The DIAL protocol has two components, DIAL Service Discovery and the DIAL REST Service. [4] The DIAL Service Discovery enables a DIAL client device to discover DIAL servers on its local network segment and obtain access to the DIAL REST Service on those devices. The DIAL REST Service enables a DIAL client to query, launch and optionally stop applications on a DIAL Server device.

See also

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References

  1. "The story behind DIAL: How Netflix and YouTube want to take on AirPlay — Tech News and Analysis". Gigaom.com. Retrieved 2014-06-04.
  2. Naddaf, Ali (May 1, 2014). "Google Cast Developers (Chromecast developer post)". Google+ .
  3. "In the U.S., Tablets are TV Buddies while eReaders Make Great Bedfellows". Archived from the original on 2013-01-22. Retrieved 2014-06-04.
  4. "Protocol Specification - DIAL". 2014-05-20. Retrieved 2014-06-04.