Accepting Video Input over USB

[seeker]

Hi Wolfgar,
Thank you very much for bringing out such a great product. Absolutely fabulous both in shape and substance.

Is it possible to read the video over the usb port and display it? This will enable to connect a usb camera and use it as a backup camera.

[wolfgar]

Thank you very much,
For now it is not possible but i plan to investigate whether it is possible to switch the USB interface as a master to be able to connect devices ( mass storage, wifi, camera etc...)
Of course that will only be a stand alone image option as i will have to build a new kernel to add drivers....

I will let you know if i manage to get encouraging results...

[seeker]

Wolfgar,
I did a find a site that explains how to switch the usb port to a host mode, so that a usb devie can be connected:
http://wiki.opentom.org/Hardware_USB#In ... e_disabled

My understading is that the usb device and or the cable needs to be modified, to switch port into host mode. Let me know what your thoughts are.

[wolfgar]

yes thank you very much for this link
In fact i don't want to promise anything but i have read that recent devices could switch to usb master by software ( an IO would toggle the resistances or something like that) I am not sure about this and need to investigate...

[somedude]

Hello everybody, Merry Christmas, Joyeux Noel,

This is also the first thing I thought of after learning that the Tomtom can be hacked - back-up camera.
Knowing a few things about computers and Linux, I thought it might be possible, but I certainly don't have the expertise to even attempt to look into it.
I could try to splice up a power cable and see if I can make a connector that would still be able to supply power to the unit and also accept input from a USB camera.
I am also wondering if a Video for Linux device driver could be recompiled for ARM, once the kernel is able to accept a module or is able to read the USB directly. I would assume that Mplayer's code can sill accept video streaming from a camera.

Thank you very much for the opportunity and for this AWESOME product that is TomPlayer.

Best regards, somedude

[wolfgar]

Hi

I am sorry for my late answer,
i was away during the late days of the years...
Anyway i wish a happy new year to everyone !

The issue with usb is that basically the tomtom does not act as the master (the host) on the usb bus but as a slave... Turning to master is required to be able to communicate with a usb device and this is the main issue : i have heard about some models that can switch (physically - because the difference is also physical) by driving an io but i have not been able to check...
Anyway this is the only real issue because once this problem is settled , then the linux kernel has everything we need to to be able to use a camera (and yes of course we can recompile for arm the required modules...)
If some persons have information about the way to switch the usb to master on the tomtom side i would be very interested !

Best regards

[Bruno]

Hi,

This is my first post. I registered because i now how to ACTIVATE USB ON TOMTOM

What you need to do:

1 "usb-storage.ko" this is the usb storage module that must be compiled for each tt system version

2 Mount USB device "mkdir /mnt/sda1 ; mount /dev/sda1 /mnt/sda1" this will mont the usb device to /mnt/sda1

I have tomplayer working with usb suport. im using the usb module from mobilnova (google it) demo is free and done some changes is tomplayergui.sh to isnert the modules and mount the usb devices

I HOPE THIS IS USEFUL

Bye

NOTE: Im portuguese sorry for bad english

EDIT:

THE USB CABLE
is simple to do i done it in a more simple way.

YOU NEED:

1 USB ESTENSION CABLE like this http://www.nexus-computers.co.uk/shop/i ... ension.jpg
1 mini usb male like this http://cache.gizmodo.com/assets/images/ ... b_male.jpg

then you only need to coneect the cables
i will try to make a image shoing the cables connections

[wolfgar]

Hi bruno

Many thanks for your post. And no problem for your English : Mine is not so good neither

Yet i have some questions : Have you tried by yourself your solution ? What is your exact tomtom model ?

OK i understand perfectly the need for the module usb-storage and the way to handle usb devices on linux (mount and so on)
But i cannot see how you switch your tomtom from slave to master on the USB bus and this is required for the whole thing to work... That 's why i am curious about your model and about the exact procedure : haven't you performed any other action ?

Thanks again for your post and your help !

Stephan

[Bruno]

Hi,

My model is TOMTOM one and its fully working (SO 190943 v8.010)

The only think i need was to make the cable

YOU NEED:

1 USB ESTENSION CABLE like this http://www.nexus-computers.co.uk/shop/i ... ension.jpg
1 mini usb male like this http://cache.gizmodo.com/assets/images/ ... b_male.jpg

you only need to connect all the cables (4) exept for the power cable usb male that conects to some power suply (ac charger;car charger;pc)

i made a simple squematic see if you understand it....



BTW if you want we can talk throught MSN

About the modules i think you can use it for free because are linux code that is free...

What i have done to make work:

0- make cable
1- insert modules
2 mount usb
done!

I HOPE IS USEFULL AGAIN

Code: Select all

TOMPLAYERGUI.SH

(...)
killall -9 refresh_wdg
./refresh_wdg &

#Inserir Modulos USB (Insert USB MODULES)
cd res
cd modules
cd `uname -r`
insmod sd_mod.ko
insmod usb-storage.ko


#Montar o USB (Mount USB)
mkdir "/mnt/sda1"
mkdir "/mnt/sdb1"
mkdir "/mnt/sdc1"
mount "/dev/sda1" "/mnt/sda1"
mount "/dev/sdb1" "/mnt/sdb1"
mount "/dev/sdc1" "/mnt/sdc1"

cd $TOMPLAYER_DIR
(...)


[wolfgar]

OK

Thanks for the scheme i understand better now ! Even if i still wonder how the Tomtom is not seen as a slave (because of the internal 1500 ohm pullup)
Anyway, many thanks for this i will give a try to your solution !
I just have a last question : Are you sure that D+ and D- should not be pulled down through some 15kohms resistances ?

Thanks again for your valuable help !

Stéphan

[Bruno]

i didnt put any resistances and its working so... i think is not realy needed

EDIT:I think you shuld add a option to disable video preview because its very slow!

[wolfgar]

i add the preview disable option on my todo list...

[Bruno]

can you help me creating a cross compile in Linux?

What I have done so far:

1-Installed ubuntu (lastest version)

2-Downloaded "toolchain_redhat_gcc-3.3.4_glibc-2.3.2-20060131a.tar.gz" from tomtom website

3- extracted to "/usr/local/cross"

4 - export PATH=/usr/local/cross/gcc-3.3.4_glibc-2.3.2/arm-linux/bin:/usr/local/cross/gcc-3.3.4_glibc-2.3.2/bin:$PATH

But when i try to compile for example TTconsole it gives lots of errors and exits..

EDIT:I get these when i type "make depend" as root

Code: Select all

MakeFile:82 ***empty variable name. Stop.

Have you already tried the usb ?

[wolfgar]

Hi Bruno,

The only required path in your PATH environement variable should be :
/usr/local/cross/gcc-3.3.4_glibc-2.3.2/bin/
and you should use arm-linux-gcc to compile...
I would try to compile a little piece of code before a whole makefile...

For the USB : not yet : i have to buy the required cable ans connector to perform the tests...

Regards

Stephan

[somedude]

Gentlemen,


I thought I'd mention this because it's probably easier to find the cable:
A mini USB to regular USB cable is easy to find, as it's used for cameras and mp3 players.
So the splicing can be done by using a USB extension cable's female end and the mp3 player cable.
My local dollar store has both, so they don't cost much either.

I know it's the same thing, but I figured it may be easier to find.

Thank you,
somedude