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From the Call for Participation at: http://lists.oasis-open.org/archives/tc-announce/200508/msg00004.html
Additional non-normative information, not included in this Charter, may be found in the Call for Participation
a. Name
OASIS Remote Control XML (RCXML) Technical Committee
b. Statement of purpose
The purpose of the proposed Technical Committee is to develop a set of XML standards to support control of devices to be accessed and controlled remotely. There are a growing number of devices available and under development that can be controlled remotely, including a wide variety of household and industrial implements, and using a broad variety of transmission methods (including infrared, radiofrequency and other methods). However, there is not yet a dominant standard for the commands and command syntax for this control. XML provides a suitable and very flexible framework for this content.
The problem to be solved is standardization of the growing number of independent product-specific solutions to the control problem as products and devices proliferate. The standards to be developed should address as wide a range of controllable devices as possible. However, it is not possible to anticipate the complete range of commands and syntax that will be needed as new devices are developed. For example, it is easy to anticipate that there will be a need for an "ON" or "OFF" command, or for a need to map "settable" controls on the device to a logically controllable identifier, and to also be able to map the domain of acceptable settings (either discrete or continuously variable over a range) to that identifier. However, there likely will be devices in the future with controls not easily accommodated by this first level of syntax. The proposed standard should anticipate this by defining the procedure for periodic expansion and extension.
This Committee will propose RCXML (Remote Control XML). The RCXML technology will allow users to interact with any appliance which can be controlled by remote control such as TV's, PVR's, VCR's, lighting, heating/cooling systems, security systems, watering systems etc from a remote location. Any appliance which has the RCXML interpreter as a middleware can be operated through the RCXML scenario sent via wire/wireless network. Even a remote control service provider that doesn't have detailed information about a certain device should be able to develop and provide control service based on RCXML.
1) International Standard Technology
In Korea, RCXML is already being adopted as the domestic standard under TTA's support (Telecommunications Technology Association, Korea). Approval of this standard internationally should encourage a broader range of electric/electronic device manufacturers to apply it to their products. The result will be that the provider can easily create a business model for new service, and, since this is based on XML, it will be readily available on a standardized and readily tooled basis.
2) Low Communication Load
RCXML, as contributed, currently anticipates only a low communication bandwidth. Because of this, it can more easily control AV Digital Appliances (Digital TV, Digital STB, PVR (Personal Video Recorder), etc) than it can more complex Information Appliances (PC, etc). Even though a high speed communication network (ADSL, VDSL, etc) may be installed at home, this network is most often used for Information Appliances, and may not be suitable or available for the control of common appliances at home. But RCXML is a small volume protocol, so it can be delivered through telephone line (via modem) unlike a high bandwidth network. It is not necessarily reliant on a PC remote control system based on HTTP.
3) Small Interpreter
RCXML does not require a large number of important tags, so it should be very easy to develop a standard interpreter. Compared to other platforms such as Java Virtual Machine, its size will be small so that it would be easy to embed the system on very simple devices.
4) Web Based Language
Use of XML will enable development of the service and the platform (appliances to be controlled) separately in WEB/WAP (World Wide Web -and- Wireless Access Protocol) environments, so it is well suited for personalized approaches. This service may be delivered through the web or the telephone line to provide WEB/WAP control through RCXML regardless of the device and the maker.
In the end, through the standardization of RCXML, it is hoped that manufacturers will embed the RCXML interpreter on all relevant devices they sell.
c. Scope
The TC will develop and publish the syntax definition of XML schemas to enable the control of devices remotely. Since it cannot be completely known what devices may be developed in the future which may be candidates for remote control, the TC will also develop the procedure for extending this syntax to accommodate devices which may require additional syntax not included in the initial definition. Since the native code requirements for future devices to be controlled cannot be known, only the surface syntax that they must accommodate for control will be defined, the interpreters for each device being left to the device developers.
The TC anticipates a contribution of the RCXML Technical Specification ver. 0.5 Rev.1.02 as a starting point.
d. Deliverables
The TC shall produce two deliverables,
1) the recommended syntax definition (with examples and clarifying notes) for RCXML, and
2) the recommended procedure for extending it in the future as needed.
The delivery date for both shall be six months from the start date for the TC. The TC may also choose to define specific extensions after completing the first two deliverables
e. IPR Mode
RF on Limited Terms Mode (as specified in the OASIS IPR Policy)
f. Anticipated audience
The anticipated audience (users) of RCXML will be the developers of devices that may be controlled remotely, those who would want to create control instruments or offer control routines or control services for those devices, and their respective industry and distributor associations.
g. Language
The TC will conduct its business in English. The TC may elect to form subcommittees that produce localized documentation of the TC's work in additional languages.
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