Device Discovery has evolved over the years and become a key mechanism by which infrastructures and their clients have become easier to setup.
A number of device discovery protocols now exist including the commonly known mDNS and NetBIOS protocols.
The primary purpose of techniques such as mDNS is to quickly and easily resolve host names to IP addresses within small networks that don’t necessarily include local Domain Name Servers (DNS) such as the typical home network. The technique uses much of the same programming interface, packet format and conversational structure as unicast DNS systems but they are designed to work in a stand-alone configuration.
ACKme just pushed out a new device discovery app into Google Play for all those interested in easy device discovery.
(Yes, this is a prelude to just one of the many new features added to next weeks WiConnect firmware update, but shhhhh dont tell anyone about it in any of the forums..... doh!)
ACKme Device Discovery - Android Apps on Google Play
Description
The ACKme Discovery App scans local networks to find ACKme WiConnect devices and other network devices, such as printers and routers, using the Zeroconf-based mDNS protocol.
The app shows services offered by devices and provides a way to look at the details of each service.
To develop custom embedded mDNS compatible devices, try any of the ACKme line of Wi-Fi modules.
More information can be found online here:
https://www.ack.me
https://wiconnect.ack.me