Software

Charter

The MIPI Software Working Group, formed in 2014, facilitates software solutions to improve the integration and management of MIPI components enabling end-to-end solutions. It is chartered to define software processes and policies to coordinate solutions across MIPI working groups. MIPI-developed software provides a uniform approach for discovering and describing components and devices, offers consistent capabilities for each class of devices it supports, and minimizes costs for component vendors and software developers.

Among its accomplishments, the group developed a base software framework (MIPI Discovery and Configuration (DisCo) Base Specification) and a family of specifications for specific device classes to standardize software discovery and configuration of devices interconnected with MIPI specifications.

In 2026, the group updated its charter to focus on supporting efforts related to new applications of software and updating processes and policies. As MIPI software specifications are folded into related interface specifications, the group continues to actively support other working groups with the development of software specifications that help streamline integration and reduce development requirements.

Industry Need

MIPI Alliance created the working group because I/O protocols typically do not have uniform software interfaces that enable an OS or other software to discover, enumerate and manage controllers, devices and functions. The lack of a uniform technique increases the cost and complexity of device integration, slows time to market with new solutions, and impedes innovation.

A consistent MIPI software strategy is designed to reduce implementation cost and system complexity, improve time-to-market and software use across specifications, and enhance scalability and adoption in I/O ecosystems.

Focus

The Software Working Group functions independently but collaborates with other MIPI Alliance working groups to understand their respective software integration requirements. The group oversees cross-working group software alignment, focusing on shared conventions and architectural guidance to streamline specification development efforts, and to ensure consistent software interfaces across specifications.

A primary focus is the continued development of the MIPI DisCo base specification. Used with the MIPI DisCo class specifications, MIPI DisCo eliminates the need to rewrite or update drivers when integrating different devices or working on different platforms or operating systems. The approach gives MIPI Alliance members a new set of building blocks that will help vendors expand their designs to address new markets that are emerging in mobile and in new vertical industries, such as the Internet of Things.

Other areas of concentration include specifications to support developers working with MIPI I3C, Audio Class Software, as well as tools to streamline the integration of MIPI CSI-2.

The group also develops MIPI process and policy related to software, such as:

• Register conventions to address software pain points
• Semantic consistency of software-facing interfaces
• Consistency of MIPI software project maintenance and administration
• Tools and software to support specification adoption

In addition, the group supports efforts related to new applications of software in MIPI. Those activities include advancing MIPI or open-source driver development; supporting working groups in the development of consistent and effective software-facing interfaces; creating conformance tools, specifications and collateral as necessary; and participating in software-related education efforts.