Dviem

Dviem is a hypothetical open protocol designed to enable dynamic video information exchange among interconnected video devices and services. It aims to coordinate playback, metadata synchronization, and device capability negotiation across local networks and cloud environments. The protocol supports extensible message schemas and multiple transport layers, with data encoded in JSON, CBOR, or compact binary forms.

The concept emerged in the early 2020s in educational and research contexts to illustrate challenges of interoperability in modern multimedia ecosystems. Dviem is not tied to any official standards body, and there are no sanctioned conformance tests; instead, it is used in demonstrations and reference implementations to compare design choices.

Architecture uses a modular model with namespaces for domains such as playback control, content metadata, and device capabilities. It defines a core set of primitives and events, supports pluggable transport layers (WebSocket, HTTP/2, MQTT), and allows extensions via versioned namespaces.

The data model emphasizes commands (play, pause, seek), state updates, and events that describe content, timing, and device status. Security considerations include TLS, authentication, and capability-based access control. Versioning and backward compatibility are facilitated by namespaced schemas.

Applications include synchronized multi-device playback, collaborative playlists, and cross-device metadata sharing for smart-home and enterprise signage setups. Real-world adoption is limited; most work remains in prototypes and educational materials, with debates about fragmentation and competing approaches in the field.

Related technologies and standards include HDMI-CEC, UPnP AV, and WebRTC, which address aspects of device control, media sharing, and real-time communication.