diff --git a/.vscode/settings.json b/.vscode/settings.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..073e637
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.vscode/settings.json
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+{
+    "todo-tree.tree.showBadges": true,
+    "todo-tree.tree.showCountsInTree": true
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/Communication/MQTT/AutoDiscoveryConfigModel.cs b/Communication/MQTT/AutoDiscoveryConfigModel.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1a610f0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Communication/MQTT/AutoDiscoveryConfigModel.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,130 @@
+using System;
+using System.Collections.Generic;
+
+namespace hass_desktop_service.Communication
+{
+    public class AutoDiscoveryConfigModel
+    {
+        /// <summary>
+        /// (Optional) The MQTT topic subscribed to receive availability (online/offline) updates.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <value></value>
+        public string Availability_topic { get; set; }
+        /// <summary>
+        /// (Optional) Information about the device this sensor is a part of to tie it into the device registry. Only works through MQTT discovery and when unique_id is set.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <value></value>
+        public DeviceConfigModel Device { get; set; }
+        /// <summary>
+        /// (Optional) The type/class of the sensor to set the icon in the frontend. See https://www.home-assistant.io/integrations/sensor/#device-class for options.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <value></value>
+        public string Device_class { get; set; }
+        /// <summary>
+        /// (Optional) Defines the number of seconds after the sensor’s state expires, if it’s not updated. After expiry, the sensor’s state becomes unavailable. Defaults to 0 in hass.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <value></value>
+        public int? Expire_after { get; set; }
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Sends update events even if the value hasn’t changed. Useful if you want to have meaningful value graphs in history.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <value></value>
+        public bool? Force_update { get; set; }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// (Optional) The icon for the sensor.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <value></value>
+        public string Icon { get; set; }
+        /// <summary>
+        /// (Optional) Defines a template to extract the JSON dictionary from messages received on the json_attributes_topic.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <value></value>
+        public string Json_attributes_template { get; set; }
+        /// <summary>
+        /// (Optional) The MQTT topic subscribed to receive a JSON dictionary payload and then set as sensor attributes. Implies force_update of the current sensor state when a message is received on this topic.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <value></value>
+        public string Json_attributes_topic { get; set; }
+        /// <summary>
+        /// (Optional) The name of the MQTT sensor. Defaults to MQTT Sensor in hass.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <value></value>
+        public string Name { get; set; }
+        /// <summary>
+        /// (Optional) The payload that represents the available state.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <value></value>
+        public string Payload_available { get; set; }
+        /// <summary>
+        /// (Optional) The payload that represents the unavailable state.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <value></value>
+        public string Payload_not_available { get; set; }
+        /// <summary>
+        /// (Optional) The maximum QoS level of the state topic.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <value></value>
+        public int? Qos { get; set; }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// The MQTT topic subscribed to receive sensor values.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <value></value>
+        public string State_topic { get; set; }
+        /// <summary>
+        /// (Optional) An ID that uniquely identifies this sensor. If two sensors have the same unique ID, Home Assistant will raise an exception.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <value></value>
+        public string Unique_id { get; set; }
+        /// <summary>
+        /// (Optional) Defines the units of measurement of the sensor, if any.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <value></value>
+        public string Unit_of_measurement { get; set; }
+        /// <summary>
+        /// (Optional) Defines a template to extract the value.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <value></value>
+        public string Value_template { get; set; }
+    }
+
+    public class DeviceConfigModel
+    {
+        /// <summary>
+        /// (Optional) A list of connections of the device to the outside world as a list of tuples [connection_type, connection_identifier]. For example the MAC address of a network interface: "connections": [["mac", "02:5b:26:a8:dc:12"]].
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <value></value>
+        public ICollection<Tuple<string, string>> Connections { get; set; }
+        /// <summary>
+        /// (Optional) An Id to identify the device. For example a serial number.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <value></value>
+        public string Identifiers { get; set; }
+        /// <summary>
+        /// (Optional) The manufacturer of the device.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <value></value>
+        public string Manufacturer { get; set; }
+        /// <summary>
+        /// (Optional) The model of the device.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <value></value>
+        public string Model { get; set; }
+        /// <summary>
+        /// (Optional) The name of the device.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <value></value>
+        public string Name { get; set; }
+        /// <summary>
+        /// (Optional) The firmware version of the device.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <value></value>
+        public string Sw_version { get; set; }
+        /// <summary>
+        /// (Optional) Identifier of a device that routes messages between this device and Home Assistant. Examples of such devices are hubs, or parent devices of a sub-device. This is used to show device topology in Home Assistant.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <value></value>
+        public string Via_device { get; set; }
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/Communication/MQTT/MqttPublisher.cs b/Communication/MQTT/MqttPublisher.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4c890ea
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Communication/MQTT/MqttPublisher.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,93 @@
+using System;
+using System.Text.Json;
+using System.Threading;
+using System.Threading.Tasks;
+using hass_desktop_service.Communication.Util;
+using Microsoft.Extensions.Logging;
+using MQTTnet;
+using MQTTnet.Client;
+using MQTTnet.Client.Options;
+
+namespace hass_desktop_service.Communication
+{
+
+    public class MqttPublisher
+    {
+        private readonly IMqttClient _mqttClient;
+        private readonly ILogger<MqttPublisher> _logger;
+        public DateTime LastConfigAnnounce { get; private set; }
+        public DeviceConfigModel DeviceConfigModel { get; private set; }
+        public bool IsConnected
+        {
+            get
+            {
+                return this._mqttClient.IsConnected;
+            }
+        }
+
+        public MqttPublisher(
+            ILogger<MqttPublisher> logger,
+            IMqttClientOptions options,
+            DeviceConfigModel deviceConfigModel)
+        {
+
+            this._logger = logger;
+            this.DeviceConfigModel = deviceConfigModel;
+
+
+            var factory = new MqttFactory();
+            this._mqttClient = factory.CreateMqttClient();
+
+            // connect to the broker
+            this._mqttClient.ConnectAsync(options);
+
+            // configure what happens on disconnect
+            this._mqttClient.UseDisconnectedHandler(async e =>
+            {
+                _logger.LogWarning("Disconnected from server");
+                await Task.Delay(TimeSpan.FromSeconds(5));
+
+                try
+                {
+                    await this._mqttClient.ConnectAsync(options, CancellationToken.None);
+                }
+                catch
+                {
+                    _logger.LogError("Reconnecting failed");
+                }
+            });
+        }
+
+        public async Task Publish(MqttApplicationMessage message)
+        {
+            if (this._mqttClient.IsConnected)
+            {
+                await this._mqttClient.PublishAsync(message);
+            }
+            else
+            {
+                this._logger.LogInformation($"message dropped because mqtt not connected: {message}");
+            }
+        }
+
+        public async Task PublishAutoDiscoveryConfig(AutoDiscoveryConfigModel config, bool clearPreviousConfig = false)
+        {
+            if (this._mqttClient.IsConnected)
+            {
+                var options = new JsonSerializerOptions
+                {
+                    PropertyNamingPolicy = new CamelCaseJsonNamingpolicy(),
+                    IgnoreNullValues = true,
+                    PropertyNameCaseInsensitive = true
+                };
+                var message = new MqttApplicationMessageBuilder()
+                .WithTopic($"homeassistant/sensor/{config.Device.Identifiers}/config")
+                .WithPayload(clearPreviousConfig ? "" : JsonSerializer.Serialize(config, options))
+                .WithRetainFlag()
+                .Build();
+                await this.Publish(message);
+                LastConfigAnnounce = DateTime.UtcNow;
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/Communication/Util/CamelCaseJsonNamingpolicy.cs b/Communication/Util/CamelCaseJsonNamingpolicy.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a4c02c2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Communication/Util/CamelCaseJsonNamingpolicy.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+using System.Text.Json;
+
+namespace hass_desktop_service.Communication.Util
+{
+    public class CamelCaseJsonNamingpolicy : JsonNamingPolicy
+    {
+        public override string ConvertName(string name) => name.ToLowerInvariant();
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/Data/ConfiguredSensor.cs b/Data/ConfiguredSensor.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d720ec8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Data/ConfiguredSensor.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+using System;
+
+namespace hass_desktop_service.Data
+{
+    public class ConfiguredSensor
+    {
+        public string Type { get; set; }
+        public Guid Id { get; set; }
+        public string Name { get; set; }
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/Data/ConfiguredSensorsService.cs b/Data/ConfiguredSensorsService.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..210abaa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Data/ConfiguredSensorsService.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+using System;
+using System.Collections.Generic;
+using System.IO;
+using System.IO.IsolatedStorage;
+using System.Text.Json;
+using hass_desktop_service.Communication;
+using hass_desktop_service.Domain.Sensors;
+using Microsoft.Extensions.Configuration;
+
+namespace hass_desktop_service.Data
+{
+    public class ConfiguredSensorsService
+    {
+        public ICollection<AbstractSensor> ConfiguredSensors { get; private set; }
+        public IConfiguration Configuration { get; private set; }
+        private readonly MqttPublisher _publisher;
+        private readonly IsolatedStorageFile _fileStorage;
+
+        public ConfiguredSensorsService(MqttPublisher publisher)
+        {
+            this._fileStorage = IsolatedStorageFile.GetUserStoreForApplication();
+
+            ConfiguredSensors = new List<AbstractSensor>();
+            _publisher = publisher;
+            ReadSettings();
+        }
+
+        public async void ReadSettings()
+        {
+            IsolatedStorageFileStream stream = this._fileStorage.OpenFile("configured-sensors.json", FileMode.OpenOrCreate);
+            List<ConfiguredSensor> sensors = await JsonSerializer.DeserializeAsync<List<ConfiguredSensor>>(stream);
+
+            foreach (ConfiguredSensor configuredSensor in sensors)
+            {
+                AbstractSensor sensor;
+                #pragma warning disable IDE0066
+                switch (configuredSensor.Type)
+                {
+                    case "UserNotificationStateSensor":
+                        sensor = new UserNotificationStateSensor(_publisher, configuredSensor.Name, configuredSensor.Id);
+                        break;
+                    default:
+                        throw new InvalidOperationException("unsupported sensor type in config");
+                }
+                this.ConfiguredSensors.Add(sensor);
+            }
+        }
+
+        public void AddConfiguredSensor(AbstractSensor sensor)
+        {
+            
+        }
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/Domain/Device.cs b/Domain/Device.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..993d92c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Domain/Device.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+using System;
+using System.Collections.Generic;
+using hass_desktop_service.Domain.Sensors;
+
+namespace hass_desktop_service.Domain
+{
+    public abstract class Device
+    {
+        public Guid Id { get; private set; }
+        public string Name { get; private set; }
+        public string Manufacturer { get; private set; }
+        public string Model { get; private set; }
+        public string Version { get; private set; }
+
+        public ICollection<AbstractSensor> Sensors { get; set; }
+
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/Domain/Sensors/AbstractSensor.cs b/Domain/Sensors/AbstractSensor.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5da0ae7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Domain/Sensors/AbstractSensor.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+using System;
+using System.Threading.Tasks;
+using hass_desktop_service.Communication;
+using MQTTnet;
+
+namespace hass_desktop_service.Domain.Sensors
+{
+    public abstract class AbstractSensor
+    {
+        public Guid Id { get; protected set; }
+        public string Name { get; protected set; }
+        public MqttPublisher Publisher { get; protected set; }
+        protected AutoDiscoveryConfigModel _autoDiscoveryConfigModel;
+        protected AutoDiscoveryConfigModel SetAutoDiscoveryConfigModel(AutoDiscoveryConfigModel config)
+        {
+            this._autoDiscoveryConfigModel = config;
+            return config;
+        }
+
+        public abstract AutoDiscoveryConfigModel GetAutoDiscoveryConfig();
+        public abstract string GetState();
+
+        public async Task PublishStateAsync()
+        {
+            var message = new MqttApplicationMessageBuilder()
+            .WithTopic(this.GetAutoDiscoveryConfig().State_topic)
+            .WithPayload(this.GetState())
+            .WithExactlyOnceQoS()
+            .WithRetainFlag()
+            .Build();
+            await Publisher.Publish(message);
+        }
+        public async Task PublishAutoDiscoveryConfigAsync()
+        {
+            await this.Publisher.PublishAutoDiscoveryConfig(this.GetAutoDiscoveryConfig());
+        }
+
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/StateDetectors/FullscreenDetector/UserNotificationStateDetector.cs b/Domain/Sensors/UserNotificationStateSensor.cs
similarity index 56%
rename from StateDetectors/FullscreenDetector/UserNotificationStateDetector.cs
rename to Domain/Sensors/UserNotificationStateSensor.cs
index 91a9f0b..96188c1 100644
--- a/StateDetectors/FullscreenDetector/UserNotificationStateDetector.cs
+++ b/Domain/Sensors/UserNotificationStateSensor.cs
@@ -1,10 +1,54 @@
+using System;
 using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
-using PInvoke;
-using static PInvoke.Shell32;
+using System.Threading.Tasks;
+using hass_desktop_service.Communication;
 
-namespace hass_desktop_service.StateDetectors.Windows.Fullscreen
+namespace hass_desktop_service.Domain.Sensors
 {
-public enum UserNotificationState
+    public class UserNotificationStateSensor : AbstractSensor
+    {
+        public UserNotificationStateSensor(MqttPublisher publisher, string name = "NotificationState")
+        {
+            this.Id = new Guid();
+            this.Name = name;
+            this.Publisher = publisher;
+        }
+
+        public UserNotificationStateSensor(MqttPublisher publisher, string name, Guid id)
+        {
+            this.Id = id;
+            this.Name = name;
+            this.Publisher = publisher;
+        }
+        public override AutoDiscoveryConfigModel GetAutoDiscoveryConfig()
+        {
+            return this._autoDiscoveryConfigModel ?? SetAutoDiscoveryConfigModel(new AutoDiscoveryConfigModel()
+            {
+                Name = this.Name,
+                Unique_id = this.Id.ToString(),
+                Device = this.Publisher.DeviceConfigModel,
+                State_topic = $"homeassistant/sensor/{this.Name}/state",
+                Icon = "mdi:laptop",
+            });
+        }
+
+        public override string GetState()
+        {
+            return GetStateEnum().ToString();
+        }
+
+        [DllImport("shell32.dll")]
+        static extern int SHQueryUserNotificationState(out UserNotificationState state);
+
+        public UserNotificationState GetStateEnum()
+        {
+            SHQueryUserNotificationState(out UserNotificationState state);
+
+            return state;
+        }
+    }
+
+    public enum UserNotificationState
     {
         /// <summary>
         /// A screen saver is displayed, the machine is locked,
@@ -43,17 +87,4 @@ public enum UserNotificationState
         /// </summary>
         QuietTime = 6
     };
-
-    public class UserNotificationStateDetector
-    {
-        [DllImport("shell32.dll")]
-        static extern int SHQueryUserNotificationState(out UserNotificationState state);
-
-        public UserNotificationState GetState(){
-            UserNotificationState state;
-            SHQueryUserNotificationState(out state);
-
-            return state;
-        }
-    }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/Program.cs b/Program.cs
index b10e81a..cf8973a 100644
--- a/Program.cs
+++ b/Program.cs
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
 using System;
-using System.Collections.Generic;
-using System.Linq;
 using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
-using System.Threading.Tasks;
 using Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection;
 using Microsoft.Extensions.Hosting;
-using hass_desktop_service.StateDetectors.Windows.Fullscreen;
+using hass_desktop_service.Communication;
+using Microsoft.Extensions.Configuration;
+using MQTTnet.Client.Options;
+using hass_desktop_service.Data;
 
 namespace hass_desktop_service
 {
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@ namespace hass_desktop_service
     {
         public static void Main(string[] args)
         {
-
             if (RuntimeInformation.IsOSPlatform(OSPlatform.Windows))
             {
                 CreateHostBuilder(args).Build().Run();
@@ -29,7 +28,25 @@ namespace hass_desktop_service
             Host.CreateDefaultBuilder(args)
                 .ConfigureServices((hostContext, services) =>
                 {
-                    services.AddSingleton<UserNotificationStateDetector>();
+                    IConfiguration configuration = hostContext.Configuration;
+                    IConfigurationSection mqttSection = configuration.GetSection("MqttBroker");
+                    var mqttClientOptions = new MqttClientOptionsBuilder()
+                    .WithTcpServer(mqttSection.GetValue<string>("Host"))
+                    // .WithTls()
+                    .WithCredentials(mqttSection.GetValue<string>("Username"), mqttSection.GetValue<string>("Password"))
+                    .Build();
+                    var deviceConfig = new DeviceConfigModel
+                    {
+                        Name = "hass-workstation-service3",
+                        //TODO: make this more dynamic
+                        Identifiers = "hass-workstation-service_unique4",
+                        Sw_version = "0.0.4"
+                    };
+                    services.AddSingleton(configuration);
+                    services.AddSingleton(deviceConfig);
+                    services.AddSingleton(mqttClientOptions);
+                    services.AddSingleton<ConfiguredSensorsService>();
+                    services.AddSingleton<MqttPublisher>();
                     services.AddHostedService<Worker>();
                 });
     }
diff --git a/Worker.cs b/Worker.cs
index 5bc61fb..b2ade0d 100644
--- a/Worker.cs
+++ b/Worker.cs
@@ -3,30 +3,55 @@ using System.Collections.Generic;
 using System.Linq;
 using System.Threading;
 using System.Threading.Tasks;
-using hass_desktop_service.StateDetectors.Windows.Fullscreen;
+using hass_desktop_service.Communication;
+using hass_desktop_service.Data;
+using hass_desktop_service.Domain.Sensors;
 using Microsoft.Extensions.Hosting;
 using Microsoft.Extensions.Logging;
+using MQTTnet.Client;
 
 namespace hass_desktop_service
 {
     public class Worker : BackgroundService
     {
         private readonly ILogger<Worker> _logger;
-        private readonly UserNotificationStateDetector _userNotificationStateDetector;
+        private readonly ConfiguredSensorsService _configuredSensorsService;
+        private readonly MqttPublisher _mqttPublisher;
 
-        public Worker(ILogger<Worker> logger, UserNotificationStateDetector userNotificationStateDetector)
+        public Worker(ILogger<Worker> logger,
+            ConfiguredSensorsService configuredSensorsService,
+            MqttPublisher mqttPublisher)
         {
             _logger = logger;
-            this._userNotificationStateDetector = userNotificationStateDetector;
+            this._configuredSensorsService = configuredSensorsService;
+            this._mqttPublisher = mqttPublisher;
         }
 
         protected override async Task ExecuteAsync(CancellationToken stoppingToken)
         {
+            while (!_mqttPublisher.IsConnected)
+            {
+                _logger.LogInformation("Connecting to MQTT broker...");
+                await Task.Delay(2000);
+            }
+            _logger.LogInformation("Connected. Sending auto discovery messages.");
+            foreach (AbstractSensor sensor in _configuredSensorsService.ConfiguredSensors)
+            {
+                await sensor.PublishAutoDiscoveryConfigAsync();
+            }
             while (!stoppingToken.IsCancellationRequested)
             {
-                _logger.LogInformation("Worker running at: {time}", DateTimeOffset.Now);
-                _logger.LogInformation($"Notificationstate: {this._userNotificationStateDetector.GetState()}");
+                _logger.LogDebug("Worker running at: {time}", DateTimeOffset.Now);
 
+                foreach (AbstractSensor sensor in _configuredSensorsService.ConfiguredSensors)
+                {
+                    await sensor.PublishStateAsync();
+                }
+                // announce autodiscovery every 30 seconds
+                if (_mqttPublisher.LastConfigAnnounce < DateTime.UtcNow.AddSeconds(-30))
+                {
+                    // TODO: make every sensor publish its auto discovery config
+                }
                 await Task.Delay(1000, stoppingToken);
             }
         }
diff --git a/appsettings.Development.json b/appsettings.Development.json
index 8983e0f..ed75265 100644
--- a/appsettings.Development.json
+++ b/appsettings.Development.json
@@ -5,5 +5,15 @@
       "Microsoft": "Warning",
       "Microsoft.Hosting.Lifetime": "Information"
     }
-  }
+  },
+  "MqttBroker": {
+    "Host": "192.168.2.6",
+    "Username": "tester",
+    "Password": "tester"
+  },
+  "ConfiguredSensors": [
+    {"Type": "UserNotificationStateSensor", "Ïd": "17fec74e-5d82-4334-8d40-45cfa8449228", "Name": "Sensor1"},
+    {"Type": "UserNotificationStateSensor", "Ïd": "27fec74e-5d82-4334-8d40-45cfa8449228", "Name": "Sensor2"},
+    {"Type": "UserNotificationStateSensor", "Ïd": "37fec74e-5d82-4334-8d40-45cfa8449228", "Name": "Sensor3"}
+  ]
 }
diff --git a/hass-desktop-service.csproj b/hass-desktop-service.csproj
index f5b201e..73a8085 100644
--- a/hass-desktop-service.csproj
+++ b/hass-desktop-service.csproj
@@ -8,5 +8,6 @@
 
   <ItemGroup>
     <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.Extensions.Hosting" Version="3.1.10" />
+    <PackageReference Include="MQTTnet" Version="3.0.13" />
   </ItemGroup>
 </Project>