development process

[janosz]

Hello, i'm quite new to buetooth. Exactly: I've no idea at all.
Currently I'm studying communication design in aachen germany. For my diploma i intend to prototype an application which requires a Bluetooth device. I hope somebody of you can help me with an advise. Thanks in Advance. Here my problem:

What I'm thinking of is a small input device, which has 8 buttons. It is more and less something like a wireless nummeric keypad, but smaller in dimensions (Not larger than a matchbox). This device should connect with a Decktop-pc or Notebook equiped with a bluetooth adapter.
On the Pc I will run a Macromedia director application, which should be able to get the last pushed button on the mobile interface. From director i can read the serial port directly or from a textfile on the harddisc.

I have no idea how much effort it is to build such an input device or to program it. Anybody Ideas how to?

Many thanks, best regards
Janosz

[Xoder]

The size limitations I see are based on the size of a Bluetooth Module. However, with regards to the programming, it depends on how proficient you are with such an SDK. And a soldering iron.

The Bluetooth standard supports two "profiles" that might be helpful to you: The Serial Port Profile and the Human Interface Device Profile. Both of those should be able to transmit the data you need easily.

Download the protocol itself at:
www.bluetooth.org

Hope this helps.

Originally Posted by janosz

Hello, i'm quite new to buetooth. Exactly: I've no idea at all.
Currently I'm studying communication design in aachen germany. For my diploma i intend to prototype an application which requires a Bluetooth device. I hope somebody of you can help me with an advise. Thanks in Advance. Here my problem:

What I'm thinking of is a small input device, which has 8 buttons. It is more and less something like a wireless nummeric keypad, but smaller in dimensions (Not larger than a matchbox). This device should connect with a Decktop-pc or Notebook equiped with a bluetooth adapter.
On the Pc I will run a Macromedia director application, which should be able to get the last pushed button on the mobile interface. From director i can read the serial port directly or from a textfile on the harddisc.

I have no idea how much effort it is to build such an input device or to program it. Anybody Ideas how to?

Many thanks, best regards
Janosz

[janosz]

Thanks for the fast response. To solder the things together will not be a problem - I hope. However I had a look at the Serial Port profile and HID - profile specs. It seems impossible for a newbee like me to get familiar with this stuff within an acceptable time. Would you or anybody guide me a little through the developing process, please?

Does it matter which Bluetooth Module i use? You know a real small one?
I don't think I can connect a keypad directly to the receiver? Do i need any additional hardware?
How is the programming process? Where to get the right SDK? You know about sourcecode, which would fit my requirements? From a non programmer point of view if should be just a few lines of extra code to realise the device I need? What do you think?

Originally Posted by Xoder

The size limitations I see are based on the size of a Bluetooth Module. However, with regards to the programming, it depends on how proficient you are with such an SDK. And a soldering iron.

The Bluetooth standard supports two "profiles" that might be helpful to you: The Serial Port Profile and the Human Interface Device Profile. Both of those should be able to transmit the data you need easily.

Download the protocol itself at:
www.bluetooth.org

Hope this helps.

[Xoder]

First, you should pick whether you're going to use the Serial Port Profile or HID Profile.

Once you've got that, you're most of the way there, I'd think.

You would probably need an encoder/decoder to connect to the module, to turn each button (8, right?) into a binary code (you'd only need three bits for it, but you'll probably have trouble finding one with so few bits (You'll probably have to go up to 8)).

You'll almost certainly get an SDK from the people you buy your module from.

To see some sample Bluetooth code, check out the SDK that comes with your Module kit, or the BlueZ project (http://bluez.sourceforge.net), which has developed a Bluetooth stack for Linux. There might be some useful stuff on the Profiles in there.

I know of a few Bluetooth modules. Some companies that offer them:
Baracoda
TDK
Fujitsu
and many more. Google is your friend.

My suggestion would be to use the HID Profile to become a second keyboard for the computer. Then you already know how to interface with it on the computer-side of things.

Good luck!

Originally Posted by janosz

Thanks for the fast response. To solder the things together will not be a problem - I hope. However I had a look at the Serial Port profile and HID - profile specs. It seems impossible for a newbee like me to get familiar with this stuff within an acceptable time. Would you or anybody guide me a little through the developing process, please?

Does it matter which Bluetooth Module i use? You know a real small one?
I don't think I can connect a keypad directly to the receiver? Do i need any additional hardware?
How is the programming process? Where to get the right SDK? You know about sourcecode, which would fit my requirements? From a non programmer point of view if should be just a few lines of extra code to realise the device I need? What do you think?

[janosz]

Hi Xoder, thanks a lot for your advise. I will follow your instructions and try to get familiar with the stuff. I'll try my best.

Originally Posted by Xoder

First, you should pick whether you're going to use the Serial Port Profile or HID Profile.

Once you've got that, you're most of the way there, I'd think.

You would probably need an encoder/decoder to connect to the module, to turn each button (8, right?) into a binary code (you'd only need three bits for it, but you'll probably have trouble finding one with so few bits (You'll probably have to go up to 8)).

You'll almost certainly get an SDK from the people you buy your module from.

To see some sample Bluetooth code, check out the SDK that comes with your Module kit, or the BlueZ project (http://bluez.sourceforge.net), which has developed a Bluetooth stack for Linux. There might be some useful stuff on the Profiles in there.

I know of a few Bluetooth modules. Some companies that offer them:
Baracoda
TDK
Fujitsu
and many more. Google is your friend.

My suggestion would be to use the HID Profile to become a second keyboard for the computer. Then you already know how to interface with it on the computer-side of things.

Good luck!

[pachakili]

The Bluetooth standard supports two "profiles" that might be helpful to you: The Serial Port Profile and the Human Interface Device Profile. Both of those should be able to transmit the data you need easily.

[fast1]

thanks