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Device Representation

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Devices have two main behaviors that are addressed by the WPD architecture:

  • Accessing and storing content. For example, applications must be able to add music files to a portable music player.
  • Programming the device. This includes simple operations such as changing settings and preparing the device for data capture, or more complex operations such as uploading firmware. For example, a Take Picture command might be issued to a digital still camera.

In WPD, these behaviors are described by representing the device as a hierarchy of objects. The following picture shows a WPD object representation for a multifunction device, in this case, a mobile phone.

wpd hierarchy.

This hierarchy illustrates the following functionality and contents.

Functionality

  • Storage object. This device has data storage.
  • Contacts Service. This service is a functional object that can be used to synchronize and store contacts on the phone.
  • SMS Service. This service is a functional object that can be used to send, receive, and store SMS messages.

Contents

  • Media objects. This device stores images, music, and video files in folders on the Storage object. While the files shown above are stored under one folder, a device can subdivide content into folders organized by the type of media stored (such as an image folder, a music folder, or a video folder).
  • Contact objects. This device stores contact information (such as name, phone number, address, and so on) as children of the Contacts Service.
  • Message objects. This device stores SMS (Short Message Service) messages as children of the SMS Service.

WPD Drivers Overview