Re: Linux and remote control device

Francis Moreau
2008-01-22T10:21:08Z

On Jan 22, 2008 11:14 AM, Vojtech Pavlik <vojtech@suse.cz> wrote:
>
> On Tue, Jan 22, 2008 at 10:47:22AM +0100, Francis Moreau wrote:
> > On Jan 22, 2008 9:19 AM, Vojtech Pavlik <vojtech@suse.cz> wrote:
> > > On Tue, Jan 22, 2008 at 09:01:10AM +0100, Francis Moreau wrote:
> > > > Hello,
> > > >
> > > > I'd like to add support for my Infrared remote control to Linux.
> > > >
> > > > So far I only see LIRCD project that make the kernel support
> > > > such device but I'm not sure if this project is the best choice
> > > > since it's not part of mainline kernels. And there are certainly
> > > > good reasons which I'm not aware of.
> > > >
> > > > Another possibility is to make the remote controle device an input
> > > > device. But I see several flaws:
> > > >
> > > > - The IR receiver on my board can't be use as a transmitter any
> > > > more
> > >
> > > The input subsystem moves events in both directions. It would need some
> > > additional hacking to work with IR transmitters, but it might be
> > > possible.
> > >
> > > > - All scancodes are embedded in the kernel.
> > >
> > > While they reside in the kernel, they can be changed from userspace.
> > >
> > > > Do you think it's still the way to go despite the 2 points raised above ?
> > >
> > > It might be, but I'm not 100% convinced either.
> > >
> >
> > All your answers sound good however.
> >
> > Could you please tell me why you're not sure ?
>
> It would still limit the IR ability to sending/receiving "just"
> keypresses. You may want to send and receive more (arbitrary data) over
> an IR dongle attached to the machine.
>

Don't know about such devices. The device I actually have, an infrared
remote control, seems simple enough to use the input device model. I
have a wheel on it but I think I can make it work too...

Thanks
--
Francis