[PythonCE] using PythonCE to cluster a set of Axim X5 devices interact and display images/video as single device...

Ischebeck, Jan jan.ischebeck at p3-gmbh.de
Wed Feb 15 00:39:35 CET 2006 

Dear Zeljko,

I just can confirm Fuzzyman's opinion. 
Using irda is quite troublesome and probably impossible for >1 device.
Just for one device its even bad, as you have to hold the device in 10cm distance to the
transmitter / laptop all the time.

Instead using Wifi is really convinient. 
The connection is really reliable and is very easy to setup. 
You just need aditional hardware (WLAN-extension cards) for the Axim X5.

In my opinion, there are only two possible scenarios.
a) using wifi (quite superior, easy to setup and enough bandwith - but extra cost)
b) using usb cables and a usb hub

Concerning the cable solution you probably have to switch to linux as a host os, as
I don't think that ActiveSync support more than one device at a time. With linux it is
feasible.

Good luck,

Jan

-----Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----
Von: pythonce-bounces at python.org im Auftrag von Fuzzyman
Gesendet: Di 14-Feb-06 23:21
An: zeljko blace
Cc: pythonce at python.org
Betreff: Re: [PythonCE] using PythonCE to cluster a set of Axim X5 devices interact and display images/video as single device...
 
zeljko blace wrote:

>no tests done...
>devices would stay next to each other anyway
>so it should not be an issue
>  
>
Ok, fair enough. :-)

On the other hand, bluetooth is only as unreliable as Irda and wifi is
better. I don't *know* of any ways to access the Irda port through
PythonCE (except perhaps through the new ctypes library). On the other
hand you will be able to use TCP/IP over bluetooth/wifi. You should be
able to do this through the socket module or using urllib/urllib2 as a
wrapper.

I would be tempted to run a python proxy server on the PDA (based on
HTTPSimpleServer) - making requests to a server running on the PC. That
means you would use Pocket IE to display the images. If you don't need
to modify your requests too much you could just run a server on the main
computer and not use Python on the PDAs at all.

Alternatively there is an implementation of PyGame with *some*
functionality compiled for PocketPC (I believe - search the archives of
this list). TCP/IP is still a good way to push your data around.

All the best,

Fuzzyman
http://www.voidspace.org.uk/python//index.shtml

>On 2/14/06, Fuzzyman <fuzzyman at voidspace.org.uk> wrote:
>  
>
>>zeljko blace wrote:
>>
>>    
>>
>>>Hm... that sounds like it would add to slow response time.
>>>
>>>I am looking for way to avoid use of any extra cabeling or interfaces
>>>(WiFi or Bluetooth) to keep the situation as simple and as reliable.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>      
>>>
>>Irda is a notoriously unreliable connection (certainly in my
>>experience). It is line of sight only and normally only over a very
>>short distance - have you tested that this is possible ?
>>
>>Fuzzyman
>>http://www.voidspace.org.uk/python/index.shtml
>>
>>    
>>
>>>On 2/14/06, javirosa at eden.rutgers.edu <javirosa at eden.rutgers.edu> wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>      
>>>
>>>>One possibility might be to set up a local website and have the pocketPCs
>>>>communicate . Using windows I get internet access on my pda when its
>>>>connected through usb. On the other hand, I'm not sure if you can have
>>>>multiple computers connected via one irda port.
>>>>
>>>>I don't want to pretend to know what I'm doing but it seems like an
>>>>interesting idea. I'm not quite sure that I understand what the big
>>>>picture is though.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>        
>>>>
>>>>>Send PythonCE mailing list submissions to
>>>>>     pythonce at python.org
>>>>>
>>>>>To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
>>>>>     http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/pythonce
>>>>>or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
>>>>>     pythonce-request at python.org
>>>>>
>>>>>You can reach the person managing the list at
>>>>>     pythonce-owner at python.org
>>>>>
>>>>>When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
>>>>>than "Re: Contents of PythonCE digest..."
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>Today's Topics:
>>>>>
>>>>>  1. using PythonCE to cluster a set of Axim X5 devices to
>>>>>     interact and display images/video as single device... (zeljko blace)
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>----------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>>>
>>>>>Message: 1
>>>>>Date: Sun, 12 Feb 2006 12:34:54 +0100
>>>>>From: zeljko blace <zblace at gmail.com>
>>>>>Subject: [PythonCE] using PythonCE to cluster a set of Axim X5 devices
>>>>>     to      interact and display images/video as single device...
>>>>>To: pythonce at python.org
>>>>>Cc: Aleksandar Erkalovic <aco at mi2.hr>
>>>>>Message-ID:
>>>>>     <ffdd16f00602120334i79d4a0f1r12adedd15c996bf6 at mail.gmail.com>
>>>>>Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>>>>>
>>>>>Dear list members,
>>>>>here is a post from curious newbie (so pardon my lack of Python overview)
>>>>>
>>>>>I am brainstorming on how to visualize a software project that deals
>>>>>with per-frame video editing (obviously very short animations) and
>>>>>make it excessible to the kids...
>>>>>
>>>>>I own Axim X5 (thinking of getting few more) and have a friend that is
>>>>>expert Python programer with whome I might try to test this scenario:
>>>>>1) Have 4 (up to 8) Axim X5 devices running PocketPC 2003,
>>>>>2) single PC running whatever (Windows/Linux/MacOSX)
>>>>>3) connect them through IrDa connection to PC
>>>>>4) get them to display in full screen locally storred images
>>>>>5) when any of them is touched - notify PC which would send update to
>>>>>the devices what would be the next image to display...
>>>>>
>>>>>So what is needed is:
>>>>>* (reliable) way to communicate fast (tiny amount of info on images)
>>>>>in-between individual devices and PC and back
>>>>>* software that would display in full screen images and videos
>>>>>(hopefully open source so it can be made to send out signals on
>>>>>interaction with PC and pick up images without relaying much on system
>>>>>software)
>>>>>
>>>>>Anyone done anything similar or has ideas on how to approach this?
>>>>>
>>>>>--
>>>>>http://basis.desk.org:8080/ASU2/TravelPlan
>>>>>Goethe - "What is important in life is life, and not the result of life."
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>------------------------------
>>>>>
>>>>>_______________________________________________
>>>>>PythonCE mailing list
>>>>>PythonCE at python.org
>>>>>http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/pythonce
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>End of PythonCE Digest, Vol 31, Issue 5
>>>>>***************************************
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>          
>>>>>
>>>>_______________________________________________
>>>>PythonCE mailing list
>>>>PythonCE at python.org
>>>>http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/pythonce
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>        
>>>>
>>>--
>>>http://basis.desk.org:8080/ASU2/TravelPlan
>>>
>>>Goethe - "What is important in life is life, and not the result of life."
>>>_______________________________________________
>>>PythonCE mailing list
>>>PythonCE at python.org
>>>http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/pythonce
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>      
>>>
>>_______________________________________________
>>PythonCE mailing list
>>PythonCE at python.org
>>http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/pythonce
>>
>>    
>>
>
>
>--
>http://basis.desk.org:8080/ASU2/TravelPlan
>
>Goethe - "What is important in life is life, and not the result of life."
>
>  
>

_______________________________________________
PythonCE mailing list
PythonCE at python.org
http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/pythonce

More information about the PythonCE mailing list