Wireless Projection over an existing Wi-Fi network

It has been observed that in 90% of cases, when a User starts a Wireless Projection stream, the device they are using is already connected to an existing Wi-Fi network, either in a home or a business. In response to this, Microsoft has extended the ability to send a Miracast stream over a local network rather than over a direct wireless link in the Windows 10 Creators Update.

Wireless Projection over an existing Wi-Fi network offers several benefits:

This solution leverages an existing connection which can significantly reduce the time it takes to project content.

The PC does not need to manage two simultaneous connections (a Wi-Fi connection and a Wi-Fi Direct connection to the receiver), each of which would only get half the maximum bandwidth.

Using an existing connection simplifies the work that the wireless device needs to perform, which both increases reliability and provides a very stable stream.

The user does not have to change how they connect to a receiver because they use the same UX (as is shown in Figures 2-4).

Windows will only choose to project over an existing connection if the connection is trusted, either over an Ethernet or a secure Wi-Fi network.

There are no required changes to the wireless drivers or hardware on a PC.

This also works well with older wireless hardware that is not optimized for Miracast over Wi-Fi Direct.

Windows automatically detects when a receiver supports this functionality and will send the video stream over the existing network path when applicable.