New plugin to control XBMC through UPnP ?

Plugins & Plugin Development General Plugin Discussion
1

Hi

I just checked that it is possible to control XBMC through UPnP (there is option to enable in XBMC). Then, I can control XBMC playback from Device Spy (play, pause, stop, next, previous, … volume, mute, … starting playback of a file … etc ).
That means it would be easy (especially for me who is involved in the Sonos plugin) to create a new Vera plugin to control XBMC, more or less like for the Sonos plugin.
There would be no need to install anything in XBMC, just enabling control through UPnP is required.

A plugin seems to already exist: XBMCState. I have no exact idea what controls it allows and what control method it uses.
What are the current limits of this existing plugin ?
A new plugin based on UPnP control: is it something that could interest someone here ?

2

Yes, this would be very useful.

3

Yes, this would be a good thing. The XBMC team is adding more UPnP access with the Gotham builds. This plugin idea would be a good way to control XBMC player features.

One of the nice things about XBMCState is that it can report what specific menu XBMC is on (Music, Movies, Settings, etc). I’m not sure you can get this kind of feedback with UPnP?

4

Yes. I’ve been looking for a reason to install XBMC again, so that would certainly do it…

5

Any idea where I can get more information about these addings ?

One of the nice things about XBMCState is that it can report what specific menu XBMC is on (Music, Movies, Settings, etc). I'm not sure you can get this kind of feedback with UPnP?

No, you’re right, it is not possible with UPnP.
XBMCState will remain necessary for these features.

6

After one day of work, I have a new plugin for XBMC. I derived the Sonos plugin to create a new simplified plugin for XBMC.
I even reused the generic library L_Sonos1.lua (and fixed a little bug).
I think this file L_Sonos1.lua could be renamed into L_UPnPUtility.lua as it can be used by any plugin that wants to control a media device through UPnP.

There is still some work before I release something for everybody but I have all the bases and I can confirm that it works well:

  • more tests, in particular start the playback of a new file
  • TTS feature
  • adjustment of media information, in particular for video playback
  • …
7

Oh man,

It will be wonderfull if you publish your work, or maybe you can Help me to know where to start because I have a pretty same need than your :

I’ve compliled GmediaRender (GitHub - hzeller/gmrender-resurrect: Resource efficient UPnP/DLNA renderer, optimal for Raspberry Pi, CuBox or a general MediaServer. Fork of GMediaRenderer to add some features to make it usable.) on a Raspberry PI to do a standalone uPnP Renderer and it work great ! I use Bubbleupnp on a android tablet to grab some music on my plex media server and send them to the raspberry for playing. I think this little item can be userfull for lot of people ! a cheap wifi upnp media renderer ! (and I also add Airplay support for the fun ^^)

I have also an Sony Bluray Home Theater that actually work as my Audio Amplifier for my AV system, and it is an uPnP renderer too.

Now I wich to control my Raspberry (and my Sony Amp in a second time) like you do with XBMC, or like the Sono plugin do, with my Verabox …

I think I have to adapt Sono plugin with the same way you hacked it to play with XMBC… I tried to edit the L_Sonos1.lua as you said, but I don’t understand where to start to do my own GmediaRender Plugin.

First need is to be able to play / pause, and to load some webradio with a fixed URL, so no need to parse the plex library ATM.

So if you can give me some help in any way, it will be very appreciated !

Thanks you very much.

8

Pretty interessting project! I hope it will be published sometime as a plugin.

9

Yes, it will.
The discussion has moved to the topic “DLNA Media Renderer Controller plugin”
http://forum.micasaverde.com/index.php/topic,16905.0.html
This new plugin will allow to control XBMC, but other DLNA Media Renderers too.