Has anyone had an opportunity to look at this script yet? I've attached an
updated version of it to this message so, if you're interested, please look at
this copy instead.

I don't mean to nag, but the unfortunate fact is that blind users, especially
those with braille displays which connect via bluetooth, have a very difficult
time with the current bluepin helper script. This script, I believe, resolves
their (our) problems while still remaining a reasonable solution for sighted
users. As I mention below, I'll be glad to address any issues which any of you
feel might further improve its functionality.

----- Forwarded message from Dave Mielke <dave@mielke.cc> -----

Date: Sun, 12 Dec 2004 02:33:54 -0500
From: Dave Mielke <dave@mielke.cc>
To: bluez-devel@lists.sourceforge.net
Subject: Text-mode Bluetooth PIN helper script.

The PIN helper script which is currently being distributed, a python script
named bluepin, uses an X dialog to prompt the user for a PIN. This poses a
two-fold problem for blind users. Firstly, it's essentially unusable since X
support for both speech and braille isn't yet at the point where blind users
use the X environment on anything more than an experimental basis. Secondly,
those using braille displays which connect via Bluetooth can't "see" the screen
in order to respond to the prompt so that their braille displays can become
connected.

I've written a script (attached to this message as "bluepin") which resolves
both of these problems, and which, I think, is still a good solution for
sighted users as well. It first searches the file /etc/bluetooth/pins for a
line matching the Bluetooth address of the device. Each line in this file
consists of the address and the PIN separated from one another by space. If a
matching line is found then the script responds automatically. If one can't be
found then a text-mode dialog is presented on a free virtual terminal. As soon
as the PIN is entered, the console returns to the virtual terminal which was
previously being used.

Would you people please have a look at the attached script and let me know what
you think of it and if you'd consider it for inclusion within the base
Bluetooth software? I'll be glad to make any further enhancements to it which
you feel would improve its functionality.

-- 
Dave Mielke           | 2213 Fox Crescent | I believe that the Bible is the
Phone: 1-613-726-0014 | Ottawa, Ontario   | Word of God. Please contact me
EMail: dave@mielke.cc | Canada  K2A 1H7   | if you're concerned about Hell.
http://familyradio.com/                   | http://mielke.cc/bible/

#!/bin/sh
# This script has been written by Dave Mielke <dave@mielke.cc>. It's a light 
# weight, text mode, Bluetooth PIN helper script. Its dependencies are:
# *  /bin/sh  The standard system command shell.
# *  open     A command which opens a free virtual terminal.
# *  dialog   A command which presents a text-mode dialog.
#
# The file /etc/bluetooth/pins is searched for a line corresponding to the 
# Bluetooth address of the device. Each line of this file should contain the
# address of a device and its PIN, in that order, separated by space. If the
# address is found then the corresponding PIN is automatically supplied. If
# it's not found then the user is prompted via a text-mode dialog in a free 
# virtual terminal. The console automatically returns to the original virtual
# terminal as soon as the PIN is entered.

pinsFile="/etc/bluetooth/pins"
pinLimit=16

[ "${#}" -gt 0 ] && {
   direction="${1}"
   shift

   [ "${#}" -gt 0 ] && {
      address="${1}"
      shift

      if [ "${#}" -gt 0 ]
      then
         name="${1}"
         shift
      else
         name=""
      fi

      [ -f "${pinsFile}" -a -r "${pinsFile}" ] && exec <"${pinsFile}" && {
         while read a p x
         do
            [ "${a}" = "${address}" ] && {
               echo "PIN:${p}"
               exit 0
            }
         done
      }

      if [ "${direction}" = "out" ]
      then
         adjective="outgoing"
         preposition="to"
      else
         adjective="incoming"
         preposition="from"
      fi

      time="$(date '+%Y-%m-%d@%H:%M:%S')"
      pin="$(open 3>&1 -s -w -- dialog --output-fd 3 --clear --cr-wrap --title "Bluetooth PIN Prompt" --max-input "${pinLimit}" --inputbox "${time}\n\nEnter PIN for ${adjective} Bluetooth connection ${preposition} ${name}[${address}]" 0 0 "")"
      [ -n "${pin}" ] && {
         echo "PIN:${pin}"
	 exit 0
      }
   }
}

echo ERR
exit 0


----- End forwarded message -----

-- 
Dave Mielke           | 2213 Fox Crescent | I believe that the Bible is the
Phone: 1-613-726-0014 | Ottawa, Ontario   | Word of God. Please contact me
EMail: dave@mielke.cc | Canada  K2A 1H7   | if you're concerned about Hell.
http://FamilyRadio.com/                   | http://Mielke.cc/bible/