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diff --git a/Documentation/DocBook/videobook.tmpl b/Documentation/DocBook/videobook.tmpl new file mode 100644 index 0000000..3ec6c87 --- /dev/null +++ b/Documentation/DocBook/videobook.tmpl @@ -0,0 +1,1663 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> +<!DOCTYPE book PUBLIC "-//OASIS//DTD DocBook XML V4.1.2//EN" + "http://www.oasis-open.org/docbook/xml/4.1.2/docbookx.dtd" []> + +<book id="V4LGuide"> + <bookinfo> + <title>Video4Linux Programming</title> + + <authorgroup> + <author> + <firstname>Alan</firstname> + <surname>Cox</surname> + <affiliation> + <address> + <email>alan@redhat.com</email> + </address> + </affiliation> + </author> + </authorgroup> + + <copyright> + <year>2000</year> + <holder>Alan Cox</holder> + </copyright> + + <legalnotice> + <para> + This documentation is free software; you can redistribute + it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public + License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either + version 2 of the License, or (at your option) any later + version. + </para> + + <para> + This program is distributed in the hope that it will be + useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied + warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. + See the GNU General Public License for more details. + </para> + + <para> + You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public + License along with this program; if not, write to the Free + Software Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, + MA 02111-1307 USA + </para> + + <para> + For more details see the file COPYING in the source + distribution of Linux. + </para> + </legalnotice> + </bookinfo> + +<toc></toc> + + <chapter id="intro"> + <title>Introduction</title> + <para> + Parts of this document first appeared in Linux Magazine under a + ninety day exclusivity. + </para> + <para> + Video4Linux is intended to provide a common programming interface + for the many TV and capture cards now on the market, as well as + parallel port and USB video cameras. Radio, teletext decoders and + vertical blanking data interfaces are also provided. + </para> + </chapter> + <chapter id="radio"> + <title>Radio Devices</title> + <para> + There are a wide variety of radio interfaces available for PC's, and these + are generally very simple to program. The biggest problem with supporting + such devices is normally extracting documentation from the vendor. + </para> + <para> + The radio interface supports a simple set of control ioctls standardised + across all radio and tv interfaces. It does not support read or write, which + are used for video streams. The reason radio cards do not allow you to read + the audio stream into an application is that without exception they provide + a connection on to a soundcard. Soundcards can be used to read the radio + data just fine. + </para> + <sect1 id="registerradio"> + <title>Registering Radio Devices</title> + <para> + The Video4linux core provides an interface for registering devices. The + first step in writing our radio card driver is to register it. + </para> + <programlisting> + + +static struct video_device my_radio +{ + "My radio", + VID_TYPE_TUNER, + VID_HARDWARE_MYRADIO, + radio_open. + radio_close, + NULL, /* no read */ + NULL, /* no write */ + NULL, /* no poll */ + radio_ioctl, + NULL, /* no special init function */ + NULL /* no private data */ +}; + + + </programlisting> + <para> + This declares our video4linux device driver interface. The VID_TYPE_ value + defines what kind of an interface we are, and defines basic capabilities. + </para> + <para> + The only defined value relevant for a radio card is VID_TYPE_TUNER which + indicates that the device can be tuned. Clearly our radio is going to have some + way to change channel so it is tuneable. + </para> + <para> + The VID_HARDWARE_ types are unique to each device. Numbers are assigned by + <email>alan@redhat.com</email> when device drivers are going to be released. Until then you + can pull a suitably large number out of your hat and use it. 10000 should be + safe for a very long time even allowing for the huge number of vendors + making new and different radio cards at the moment. + </para> + <para> + We declare an open and close routine, but we do not need read or write, + which are used to read and write video data to or from the card itself. As + we have no read or write there is no poll function. + </para> + <para> + The private initialise function is run when the device is registered. In + this driver we've already done all the work needed. The final pointer is a + private data pointer that can be used by the device driver to attach and + retrieve private data structures. We set this field "priv" to NULL for + the moment. + </para> + <para> + Having the structure defined is all very well but we now need to register it + with the kernel. + </para> + <programlisting> + + +static int io = 0x320; + +int __init myradio_init(struct video_init *v) +{ + if(!request_region(io, MY_IO_SIZE, "myradio")) + { + printk(KERN_ERR + "myradio: port 0x%03X is in use.\n", io); + return -EBUSY; + } + + if(video_device_register(&my_radio, VFL_TYPE_RADIO)==-1) { + release_region(io, MY_IO_SIZE); + return -EINVAL; + } + return 0; +} + + </programlisting> + <para> + The first stage of the initialisation, as is normally the case, is to check + that the I/O space we are about to fiddle with doesn't belong to some other + driver. If it is we leave well alone. If the user gives the address of the + wrong device then we will spot this. These policies will generally avoid + crashing the machine. + </para> + <para> + Now we ask the Video4Linux layer to register the device for us. We hand it + our carefully designed video_device structure and also tell it which group + of devices we want it registered with. In this case VFL_TYPE_RADIO. + </para> + <para> + The types available are + </para> + <table frame="all"><title>Device Types</title> + <tgroup cols="3" align="left"> + <tbody> + <row> + <entry>VFL_TYPE_RADIO</entry><entry>/dev/radio{n}</entry><entry> + + Radio devices are assigned in this block. As with all of these + selections the actual number assignment is done by the video layer + accordijng to what is free.</entry> + </row><row> + <entry>VFL_TYPE_GRABBER</entry><entry>/dev/video{n}</entry><entry> + Video capture devices and also -- counter-intuitively for the name -- + hardware video playback devices such as MPEG2 cards.</entry> + </row><row> + <entry>VFL_TYPE_VBI</entry><entry>/dev/vbi{n}</entry><entry> + The VBI devices capture the hidden lines on a television picture + that carry further information like closed caption data, teletext + (primarily in Europe) and now Intercast and the ATVEC internet + television encodings.</entry> + </row><row> + <entry>VFL_TYPE_VTX</entry><entry>/dev/vtx[n}</entry><entry> + VTX is 'Videotext' also known as 'Teletext'. This is a system for + sending numbered, 40x25, mostly textual page images over the hidden + lines. Unlike the /dev/vbi interfaces, this is for 'smart' decoder + chips. (The use of the word smart here has to be taken in context, + the smartest teletext chips are fairly dumb pieces of technology). + </entry> + </row> + </tbody> + </tgroup> + </table> + <para> + We are most definitely a radio. + </para> + <para> + Finally we allocate our I/O space so that nobody treads on us and return 0 + to signify general happiness with the state of the universe. + </para> + </sect1> + <sect1 id="openradio"> + <title>Opening And Closing The Radio</title> + + <para> + The functions we declared in our video_device are mostly very simple. + Firstly we can drop in what is basically standard code for open and close. + </para> + <programlisting> + + +static int users = 0; + +static int radio_open(stuct video_device *dev, int flags) +{ + if(users) + return -EBUSY; + users++; + return 0; +} + + </programlisting> + <para> + At open time we need to do nothing but check if someone else is also using + the radio card. If nobody is using it we make a note that we are using it, + then we ensure that nobody unloads our driver on us. + </para> + <programlisting> + + +static int radio_close(struct video_device *dev) +{ + users--; +} + + </programlisting> + <para> + At close time we simply need to reduce the user count and allow the module + to become unloadable. + </para> + <para> + If you are sharp you will have noticed neither the open nor the close + routines attempt to reset or change the radio settings. This is intentional. + It allows an application to set up the radio and exit. It avoids a user + having to leave an application running all the time just to listen to the + radio. + </para> + </sect1> + <sect1 id="ioctlradio"> + <title>The Ioctl Interface</title> + <para> + This leaves the ioctl routine, without which the driver will not be + terribly useful to anyone. + </para> + <programlisting> + + +static int radio_ioctl(struct video_device *dev, unsigned int cmd, void *arg) +{ + switch(cmd) + { + case VIDIOCGCAP: + { + struct video_capability v; + v.type = VID_TYPE_TUNER; + v.channels = 1; + v.audios = 1; + v.maxwidth = 0; + v.minwidth = 0; + v.maxheight = 0; + v.minheight = 0; + strcpy(v.name, "My Radio"); + if(copy_to_user(arg, &v, sizeof(v))) + return -EFAULT; + return 0; + } + + </programlisting> + <para> + VIDIOCGCAP is the first ioctl all video4linux devices must support. It + allows the applications to find out what sort of a card they have found and + to figure out what they want to do about it. The fields in the structure are + </para> + <table frame="all"><title>struct video_capability fields</title> + <tgroup cols="2" align="left"> + <tbody> + <row> + <entry>name</entry><entry>The device text name. This is intended for the user.</entry> + </row><row> + <entry>channels</entry><entry>The number of different channels you can tune on + this card. It could even by zero for a card that has + no tuning capability. For our simple FM radio it is 1. + An AM/FM radio would report 2.</entry> + </row><row> + <entry>audios</entry><entry>The number of audio inputs on this device. For our + radio there is only one audio input.</entry> + </row><row> + <entry>minwidth,minheight</entry><entry>The smallest size the card is capable of capturing + images in. We set these to zero. Radios do not + capture pictures</entry> + </row><row> + <entry>maxwidth,maxheight</entry><entry>The largest image size the card is capable of + capturing. For our radio we report 0. + </entry> + </row><row> + <entry>type</entry><entry>This reports the capabilities of the device, and + matches the field we filled in in the struct + video_device when registering.</entry> + </row> + </tbody> + </tgroup> + </table> + <para> + Having filled in the fields, we use copy_to_user to copy the structure into + the users buffer. If the copy fails we return an EFAULT to the application + so that it knows it tried to feed us garbage. + </para> + <para> + The next pair of ioctl operations select which tuner is to be used and let + the application find the tuner properties. We have only a single FM band + tuner in our example device. + </para> + <programlisting> + + + case VIDIOCGTUNER: + { + struct video_tuner v; + if(copy_from_user(&v, arg, sizeof(v))!=0) + return -EFAULT; + if(v.tuner) + return -EINVAL; + v.rangelow=(87*16000); + v.rangehigh=(108*16000); + v.flags = VIDEO_TUNER_LOW; + v.mode = VIDEO_MODE_AUTO; + v.signal = 0xFFFF; + strcpy(v.name, "FM"); + if(copy_to_user(&v, arg, sizeof(v))!=0) + return -EFAULT; + return 0; + } + + </programlisting> + <para> + The VIDIOCGTUNER ioctl allows applications to query a tuner. The application + sets the tuner field to the tuner number it wishes to query. The query does + not change the tuner that is being used, it merely enquires about the tuner + in question. + </para> + <para> + We have exactly one tuner so after copying the user buffer to our temporary + structure we complain if they asked for a tuner other than tuner 0. + </para> + <para> + The video_tuner structure has the following fields + </para> + <table frame="all"><title>struct video_tuner fields</title> + <tgroup cols="2" align="left"> + <tbody> + <row> + <entry>int tuner</entry><entry>The number of the tuner in question</entry> + </row><row> + <entry>char name[32]</entry><entry>A text description of this tuner. "FM" will do fine. + This is intended for the application.</entry> + </row><row> + <entry>u32 flags</entry> + <entry>Tuner capability flags</entry> + </row> + <row> + <entry>u16 mode</entry><entry>The current reception mode</entry> + + </row><row> + <entry>u16 signal</entry><entry>The signal strength scaled between 0 and 65535. If + a device cannot tell the signal strength it should + report 65535. Many simple cards contain only a + signal/no signal bit. Such cards will report either + 0 or 65535.</entry> + + </row><row> + <entry>u32 rangelow, rangehigh</entry><entry> + The range of frequencies supported by the radio + or TV. It is scaled according to the VIDEO_TUNER_LOW + flag.</entry> + + </row> + </tbody> + </tgroup> + </table> + + <table frame="all"><title>struct video_tuner flags</title> + <tgroup cols="2" align="left"> + <tbody> + <row> + <entry>VIDEO_TUNER_PAL</entry><entry>A PAL TV tuner</entry> + </row><row> + <entry>VIDEO_TUNER_NTSC</entry><entry>An NTSC (US) TV tuner</entry> + </row><row> + <entry>VIDEO_TUNER_SECAM</entry><entry>A SECAM (French) TV tuner</entry> + </row><row> + <entry>VIDEO_TUNER_LOW</entry><entry> + The tuner frequency is scaled in 1/16th of a KHz + steps. If not it is in 1/16th of a MHz steps + </entry> + </row><row> + <entry>VIDEO_TUNER_NORM</entry><entry>The tuner can set its format</entry> + </row><row> + <entry>VIDEO_TUNER_STEREO_ON</entry><entry>The tuner is currently receiving a stereo signal</entry> + </row> + </tbody> + </tgroup> + </table> + + <table frame="all"><title>struct video_tuner modes</title> + <tgroup cols="2" align="left"> + <tbody> + <row> + <entry>VIDEO_MODE_PAL</entry><entry>PAL Format</entry> + </row><row> + <entry>VIDEO_MODE_NTSC</entry><entry>NTSC Format (USA)</entry> + </row><row> + <entry>VIDEO_MODE_SECAM</entry><entry>French Format</entry> + </row><row> + <entry>VIDEO_MODE_AUTO</entry><entry>A device that does not need to do + TV format switching</entry> + </row> + </tbody> + </tgroup> + </table> + <para> + The settings for the radio card are thus fairly simple. We report that we + are a tuner called "FM" for FM radio. In order to get the best tuning + resolution we report VIDEO_TUNER_LOW and select tuning to 1/16th of KHz. Its + unlikely our card can do that resolution but it is a fair bet the card can + do better than 1/16th of a MHz. VIDEO_TUNER_LOW is appropriate to almost all + radio usage. + </para> + <para> + We report that the tuner automatically handles deciding what format it is + receiving - true enough as it only handles FM radio. Our example card is + also incapable of detecting stereo or signal strengths so it reports a + strength of 0xFFFF (maximum) and no stereo detected. + </para> + <para> + To finish off we set the range that can be tuned to be 87-108Mhz, the normal + FM broadcast radio range. It is important to find out what the card is + actually capable of tuning. It is easy enough to simply use the FM broadcast + range. Unfortunately if you do this you will discover the FM broadcast + ranges in the USA, Europe and Japan are all subtly different and some users + cannot receive all the stations they wish. + </para> + <para> + The application also needs to be able to set the tuner it wishes to use. In + our case, with a single tuner this is rather simple to arrange. + </para> + <programlisting> + + case VIDIOCSTUNER: + { + struct video_tuner v; + if(copy_from_user(&v, arg, sizeof(v))) + return -EFAULT; + if(v.tuner != 0) + return -EINVAL; + return 0; + } + + </programlisting> + <para> + We copy the user supplied structure into kernel memory so we can examine it. + If the user has selected a tuner other than zero we reject the request. If + they wanted tuner 0 then, surprisingly enough, that is the current tuner already. + </para> + <para> + The next two ioctls we need to provide are to get and set the frequency of + the radio. These both use an unsigned long argument which is the frequency. + The scale of the frequency depends on the VIDEO_TUNER_LOW flag as I + mentioned earlier on. Since we have VIDEO_TUNER_LOW set this will be in + 1/16ths of a KHz. + </para> + <programlisting> + +static unsigned long current_freq; + + + + case VIDIOCGFREQ: + if(copy_to_user(arg, &current_freq, + sizeof(unsigned long)) + return -EFAULT; + return 0; + + </programlisting> + <para> + Querying the frequency in our case is relatively simple. Our radio card is + too dumb to let us query the signal strength so we remember our setting if + we know it. All we have to do is copy it to the user. + </para> + <programlisting> + + + case VIDIOCSFREQ: + { + u32 freq; + if(copy_from_user(arg, &freq, + sizeof(unsigned long))!=0) + return -EFAULT; + if(hardware_set_freq(freq)<0) + return -EINVAL; + current_freq = freq; + return 0; + } + + </programlisting> + <para> + Setting the frequency is a little more complex. We begin by copying the + desired frequency into kernel space. Next we call a hardware specific routine + to set the radio up. This might be as simple as some scaling and a few + writes to an I/O port. For most radio cards it turns out a good deal more + complicated and may involve programming things like a phase locked loop on + the card. This is what documentation is for. + </para> + <para> + The final set of operations we need to provide for our radio are the + volume controls. Not all radio cards can even do volume control. After all + there is a perfectly good volume control on the sound card. We will assume + our radio card has a simple 4 step volume control. + </para> + <para> + There are two ioctls with audio we need to support + </para> + <programlisting> + +static int current_volume=0; + + case VIDIOCGAUDIO: + { + struct video_audio v; + if(copy_from_user(&v, arg, sizeof(v))) + return -EFAULT; + if(v.audio != 0) + return -EINVAL; + v.volume = 16384*current_volume; + v.step = 16384; + strcpy(v.name, "Radio"); + v.mode = VIDEO_SOUND_MONO; + v.balance = 0; + v.base = 0; + v.treble = 0; + + if(copy_to_user(arg. &v, sizeof(v))) + return -EFAULT; + return 0; + } + + </programlisting> + <para> + Much like the tuner we start by copying the user structure into kernel + space. Again we check if the user has asked for a valid audio input. We have + only input 0 and we punt if they ask for another input. + </para> + <para> + Then we fill in the video_audio structure. This has the following format + </para> + <table frame="all"><title>struct video_audio fields</title> + <tgroup cols="2" align="left"> + <tbody> + <row> + <entry>audio</entry><entry>The input the user wishes to query</entry> + </row><row> + <entry>volume</entry><entry>The volume setting on a scale of 0-65535</entry> + </row><row> + <entry>base</entry><entry>The base level on a scale of 0-65535</entry> + </row><row> + <entry>treble</entry><entry>The treble level on a scale of 0-65535</entry> + </row><row> + <entry>flags</entry><entry>The features this audio device supports + </entry> + </row><row> + <entry>name</entry><entry>A text name to display to the user. We picked + "Radio" as it explains things quite nicely.</entry> + </row><row> + <entry>mode</entry><entry>The current reception mode for the audio + + We report MONO because our card is too stupid to know if it is in + mono or stereo. + </entry> + </row><row> + <entry>balance</entry><entry>The stereo balance on a scale of 0-65535, 32768 is + middle.</entry> + </row><row> + <entry>step</entry><entry>The step by which the volume control jumps. This is + used to help make it easy for applications to set + slider behaviour.</entry> + </row> + </tbody> + </tgroup> + </table> + + <table frame="all"><title>struct video_audio flags</title> + <tgroup cols="2" align="left"> + <tbody> + <row> + <entry>VIDEO_AUDIO_MUTE</entry><entry>The audio is currently muted. We + could fake this in our driver but we + choose not to bother.</entry> + </row><row> + <entry>VIDEO_AUDIO_MUTABLE</entry><entry>The input has a mute option</entry> + </row><row> + <entry>VIDEO_AUDIO_TREBLE</entry><entry>The input has a treble control</entry> + </row><row> + <entry>VIDEO_AUDIO_BASS</entry><entry>The input has a base control</entry> + </row> + </tbody> + </tgroup> + </table> + + <table frame="all"><title>struct video_audio modes</title> + <tgroup cols="2" align="left"> + <tbody> + <row> + <entry>VIDEO_SOUND_MONO</entry><entry>Mono sound</entry> + </row><row> + <entry>VIDEO_SOUND_STEREO</entry><entry>Stereo sound</entry> + </row><row> + <entry>VIDEO_SOUND_LANG1</entry><entry>Alternative language 1 (TV specific)</entry> + </row><row> + <entry>VIDEO_SOUND_LANG2</entry><entry>Alternative language 2 (TV specific)</entry> + </row> + </tbody> + </tgroup> + </table> + <para> + Having filled in the structure we copy it back to user space. + </para> + <para> + The VIDIOCSAUDIO ioctl allows the user to set the audio parameters in the + video_audio structure. The driver does its best to honour the request. + </para> + <programlisting> + + case VIDIOCSAUDIO: + { + struct video_audio v; + if(copy_from_user(&v, arg, sizeof(v))) + return -EFAULT; + if(v.audio) + return -EINVAL; + current_volume = v/16384; + hardware_set_volume(current_volume); + return 0; + } + + </programlisting> + <para> + In our case there is very little that the user can set. The volume is + basically the limit. Note that we could pretend to have a mute feature + by rewriting this to + </para> + <programlisting> + + case VIDIOCSAUDIO: + { + struct video_audio v; + if(copy_from_user(&v, arg, sizeof(v))) + return -EFAULT; + if(v.audio) + return -EINVAL; + current_volume = v/16384; + if(v.flags&VIDEO_AUDIO_MUTE) + hardware_set_volume(0); + else + hardware_set_volume(current_volume); + current_muted = v.flags & + VIDEO_AUDIO_MUTE; + return 0; + } + + </programlisting> + <para> + This with the corresponding changes to the VIDIOCGAUDIO code to report the + state of the mute flag we save and to report the card has a mute function, + will allow applications to use a mute facility with this card. It is + questionable whether this is a good idea however. User applications can already + fake this themselves and kernel space is precious. + </para> + <para> + We now have a working radio ioctl handler. So we just wrap up the function + </para> + <programlisting> + + + } + return -ENOIOCTLCMD; +} + + </programlisting> + <para> + and pass the Video4Linux layer back an error so that it knows we did not + understand the request we got passed. + </para> + </sect1> + <sect1 id="modradio"> + <title>Module Wrapper</title> + <para> + Finally we add in the usual module wrapping and the driver is done. + </para> + <programlisting> + +#ifndef MODULE + +static int io = 0x300; + +#else + +static int io = -1; + +#endif + +MODULE_AUTHOR("Alan Cox"); +MODULE_DESCRIPTION("A driver for an imaginary radio card."); +module_param(io, int, 0444); +MODULE_PARM_DESC(io, "I/O address of the card."); + +static int __init init(void) +{ + if(io==-1) + { + printk(KERN_ERR + "You must set an I/O address with io=0x???\n"); + return -EINVAL; + } + return myradio_init(NULL); +} + +static void __exit cleanup(void) +{ + video_unregister_device(&my_radio); + release_region(io, MY_IO_SIZE); +} + +module_init(init); +module_exit(cleanup); + + </programlisting> + <para> + In this example we set the IO base by default if the driver is compiled into + the kernel: you can still set it using "my_radio.irq" if this file is called <filename>my_radio.c</filename>. For the module we require the + user sets the parameter. We set io to a nonsense port (-1) so that we can + tell if the user supplied an io parameter or not. + </para> + <para> + We use MODULE_ defines to give an author for the card driver and a + description. We also use them to declare that io is an integer and it is the + address of the card, and can be read by anyone from sysfs. + </para> + <para> + The clean-up routine unregisters the video_device we registered, and frees + up the I/O space. Note that the unregister takes the actual video_device + structure as its argument. Unlike the file operations structure which can be + shared by all instances of a device a video_device structure as an actual + instance of the device. If you are registering multiple radio devices you + need to fill in one structure per device (most likely by setting up a + template and copying it to each of the actual device structures). + </para> + </sect1> + </chapter> + <chapter> + <title>Video Capture Devices</title> + <sect1 id="introvid"> + <title>Video Capture Device Types</title> + <para> + The video capture devices share the same interfaces as radio devices. In + order to explain the video capture interface I will use the example of a + camera that has no tuners or audio input. This keeps the example relatively + clean. To get both combine the two driver examples. + </para> + <para> + Video capture devices divide into four categories. A little technology + backgrounder. Full motion video even at television resolution (which is + actually fairly low) is pretty resource-intensive. You are continually + passing megabytes of data every second from the capture card to the display. + several alternative approaches have emerged because copying this through the + processor and the user program is a particularly bad idea . + </para> + <para> + The first is to add the television image onto the video output directly. + This is also how some 3D cards work. These basic cards can generally drop the + video into any chosen rectangle of the display. Cards like this, which + include most mpeg1 cards that used the feature connector, aren't very + friendly in a windowing environment. They don't understand windows or + clipping. The video window is always on the top of the display. + </para> + <para> + Chroma keying is a technique used by cards to get around this. It is an old + television mixing trick where you mark all the areas you wish to replace + with a single clear colour that isn't used in the image - TV people use an + incredibly bright blue while computing people often use a particularly + virulent purple. Bright blue occurs on the desktop. Anyone with virulent + purple windows has another problem besides their TV overlay. + </para> + <para> + The third approach is to copy the data from the capture card to the video + card, but to do it directly across the PCI bus. This relieves the processor + from doing the work but does require some smartness on the part of the video + capture chip, as well as a suitable video card. Programming this kind of + card and more so debugging it can be extremely tricky. There are some quite + complicated interactions with the display and you may also have to cope with + various chipset bugs that show up when PCI cards start talking to each + other. + </para> + <para> + To keep our example fairly simple we will assume a card that supports + overlaying a flat rectangular image onto the frame buffer output, and which + can also capture stuff into processor memory. + </para> + </sect1> + <sect1 id="regvid"> + <title>Registering Video Capture Devices</title> + <para> + This time we need to add more functions for our camera device. + </para> + <programlisting> +static struct video_device my_camera +{ + "My Camera", + VID_TYPE_OVERLAY|VID_TYPE_SCALES|\ + VID_TYPE_CAPTURE|VID_TYPE_CHROMAKEY, + VID_HARDWARE_MYCAMERA, + camera_open. + camera_close, + camera_read, /* no read */ + NULL, /* no write */ + camera_poll, /* no poll */ + camera_ioctl, + NULL, /* no special init function */ + NULL /* no private data */ +}; + </programlisting> + <para> + We need a read() function which is used for capturing data from + the card, and we need a poll function so that a driver can wait for the next + frame to be captured. + </para> + <para> + We use the extra video capability flags that did not apply to the + radio interface. The video related flags are + </para> + <table frame="all"><title>Capture Capabilities</title> + <tgroup cols="2" align="left"> + <tbody> + <row> +<entry>VID_TYPE_CAPTURE</entry><entry>We support image capture</entry> +</row><row> +<entry>VID_TYPE_TELETEXT</entry><entry>A teletext capture device (vbi{n])</entry> +</row><row> +<entry>VID_TYPE_OVERLAY</entry><entry>The image can be directly overlaid onto the + frame buffer</entry> +</row><row> +<entry>VID_TYPE_CHROMAKEY</entry><entry>Chromakey can be used to select which parts + of the image to display</entry> +</row><row> +<entry>VID_TYPE_CLIPPING</entry><entry>It is possible to give the board a list of + rectangles to draw around. </entry> +</row><row> +<entry>VID_TYPE_FRAMERAM</entry><entry>The video capture goes into the video memory + and actually changes it. Applications need + to know this so they can clean up after the + card</entry> +</row><row> +<entry>VID_TYPE_SCALES</entry><entry>The image can be scaled to various sizes, + rather than being a single fixed size.</entry> +</row><row> +<entry>VID_TYPE_MONOCHROME</entry><entry>The capture will be monochrome. This isn't a + complete answer to the question since a mono + camera on a colour capture card will still + produce mono output.</entry> +</row><row> +<entry>VID_TYPE_SUBCAPTURE</entry><entry>The card allows only part of its field of + view to be captured. This enables + applications to avoid copying all of a large + image into memory when only some section is + relevant.</entry> + </row> + </tbody> + </tgroup> + </table> + <para> + We set VID_TYPE_CAPTURE so that we are seen as a capture card, + VID_TYPE_CHROMAKEY so the application knows it is time to draw in virulent + purple, and VID_TYPE_SCALES because we can be resized. + </para> + <para> + Our setup is fairly similar. This time we also want an interrupt line + for the 'frame captured' signal. Not all cards have this so some of them + cannot handle poll(). + </para> + <programlisting> + + +static int io = 0x320; +static int irq = 11; + +int __init mycamera_init(struct video_init *v) +{ + if(!request_region(io, MY_IO_SIZE, "mycamera")) + { + printk(KERN_ERR + "mycamera: port 0x%03X is in use.\n", io); + return -EBUSY; + } + + if(video_device_register(&my_camera, + VFL_TYPE_GRABBER)==-1) { + release_region(io, MY_IO_SIZE); + return -EINVAL; + } + return 0; +} + + </programlisting> + <para> + This is little changed from the needs of the radio card. We specify + VFL_TYPE_GRABBER this time as we want to be allocated a /dev/video name. + </para> + </sect1> + <sect1 id="opvid"> + <title>Opening And Closing The Capture Device</title> + <programlisting> + + +static int users = 0; + +static int camera_open(stuct video_device *dev, int flags) +{ + if(users) + return -EBUSY; + if(request_irq(irq, camera_irq, 0, "camera", dev)<0) + return -EBUSY; + users++; + return 0; +} + + +static int camera_close(struct video_device *dev) +{ + users--; + free_irq(irq, dev); +} + </programlisting> + <para> + The open and close routines are also quite similar. The only real change is + that we now request an interrupt for the camera device interrupt line. If we + cannot get the interrupt we report EBUSY to the application and give up. + </para> + </sect1> + <sect1 id="irqvid"> + <title>Interrupt Handling</title> + <para> + Our example handler is for an ISA bus device. If it was PCI you would be + able to share the interrupt and would have set SA_SHIRQ to indicate a + shared IRQ. We pass the device pointer as the interrupt routine argument. We + don't need to since we only support one card but doing this will make it + easier to upgrade the driver for multiple devices in the future. + </para> + <para> + Our interrupt routine needs to do little if we assume the card can simply + queue one frame to be read after it captures it. + </para> + <programlisting> + + +static struct wait_queue *capture_wait; +static int capture_ready = 0; + +static void camera_irq(int irq, void *dev_id, + struct pt_regs *regs) +{ + capture_ready=1; + wake_up_interruptible(&capture_wait); +} + </programlisting> + <para> + The interrupt handler is nice and simple for this card as we are assuming + the card is buffering the frame for us. This means we have little to do but + wake up anybody interested. We also set a capture_ready flag, as we may + capture a frame before an application needs it. In this case we need to know + that a frame is ready. If we had to collect the frame on the interrupt life + would be more complex. + </para> + <para> + The two new routines we need to supply are camera_read which returns a + frame, and camera_poll which waits for a frame to become ready. + </para> + <programlisting> + + +static int camera_poll(struct video_device *dev, + struct file *file, struct poll_table *wait) +{ + poll_wait(file, &capture_wait, wait); + if(capture_read) + return POLLIN|POLLRDNORM; + return 0; +} + + </programlisting> + <para> + Our wait queue for polling is the capture_wait queue. This will cause the + task to be woken up by our camera_irq routine. We check capture_read to see + if there is an image present and if so report that it is readable. + </para> + </sect1> + <sect1 id="rdvid"> + <title>Reading The Video Image</title> + <programlisting> + + +static long camera_read(struct video_device *dev, char *buf, + unsigned long count) +{ + struct wait_queue wait = { current, NULL }; + u8 *ptr; + int len; + int i; + + add_wait_queue(&capture_wait, &wait); + + while(!capture_ready) + { + if(file->flags&O_NDELAY) + { + remove_wait_queue(&capture_wait, &wait); + current->state = TASK_RUNNING; + return -EWOULDBLOCK; + } + if(signal_pending(current)) + { + remove_wait_queue(&capture_wait, &wait); + current->state = TASK_RUNNING; + return -ERESTARTSYS; + } + schedule(); + current->state = TASK_INTERRUPTIBLE; + } + remove_wait_queue(&capture_wait, &wait); + current->state = TASK_RUNNING; + + </programlisting> + <para> + The first thing we have to do is to ensure that the application waits until + the next frame is ready. The code here is almost identical to the mouse code + we used earlier in this chapter. It is one of the common building blocks of + Linux device driver code and probably one which you will find occurs in any + drivers you write. + </para> + <para> + We wait for a frame to be ready, or for a signal to interrupt our waiting. If a + signal occurs we need to return from the system call so that the signal can + be sent to the application itself. We also check to see if the user actually + wanted to avoid waiting - ie if they are using non-blocking I/O and have other things + to get on with. + </para> + <para> + Next we copy the data from the card to the user application. This is rarely + as easy as our example makes out. We will add capture_w, and capture_h here + to hold the width and height of the captured image. We assume the card only + supports 24bit RGB for now. + </para> + <programlisting> + + + + capture_ready = 0; + + ptr=(u8 *)buf; + len = capture_w * 3 * capture_h; /* 24bit RGB */ + + if(len>count) + len=count; /* Doesn't all fit */ + + for(i=0; i<len; i++) + { + put_user(inb(io+IMAGE_DATA), ptr); + ptr++; + } + + hardware_restart_capture(); + + return i; +} + + </programlisting> + <para> + For a real hardware device you would try to avoid the loop with put_user(). + Each call to put_user() has a time overhead checking whether the accesses to user + space are allowed. It would be better to read a line into a temporary buffer + then copy this to user space in one go. + </para> + <para> + Having captured the image and put it into user space we can kick the card to + get the next frame acquired. + </para> + </sect1> + <sect1 id="iocvid"> + <title>Video Ioctl Handling</title> + <para> + As with the radio driver the major control interface is via the ioctl() + function. Video capture devices support the same tuner calls as a radio + device and also support additional calls to control how the video functions + are handled. In this simple example the card has no tuners to avoid making + the code complex. + </para> + <programlisting> + + + +static int camera_ioctl(struct video_device *dev, unsigned int cmd, void *arg) +{ + switch(cmd) + { + case VIDIOCGCAP: + { + struct video_capability v; + v.type = VID_TYPE_CAPTURE|\ + VID_TYPE_CHROMAKEY|\ + VID_TYPE_SCALES|\ + VID_TYPE_OVERLAY; + v.channels = 1; + v.audios = 0; + v.maxwidth = 640; + v.minwidth = 16; + v.maxheight = 480; + v.minheight = 16; + strcpy(v.name, "My Camera"); + if(copy_to_user(arg, &v, sizeof(v))) + return -EFAULT; + return 0; + } + + + </programlisting> + <para> + The first ioctl we must support and which all video capture and radio + devices are required to support is VIDIOCGCAP. This behaves exactly the same + as with a radio device. This time, however, we report the extra capabilities + we outlined earlier on when defining our video_dev structure. + </para> + <para> + We now set the video flags saying that we support overlay, capture, + scaling and chromakey. We also report size limits - our smallest image is + 16x16 pixels, our largest is 640x480. + </para> + <para> + To keep things simple we report no audio and no tuning capabilities at all. + </para> + <programlisting> + + case VIDIOCGCHAN: + { + struct video_channel v; + if(copy_from_user(&v, arg, sizeof(v))) + return -EFAULT; + if(v.channel != 0) + return -EINVAL; + v.flags = 0; + v.tuners = 0; + v.type = VIDEO_TYPE_CAMERA; + v.norm = VIDEO_MODE_AUTO; + strcpy(v.name, "Camera Input");break; + if(copy_to_user(&v, arg, sizeof(v))) + return -EFAULT; + return 0; + } + + + </programlisting> + <para> + This follows what is very much the standard way an ioctl handler looks + in Linux. We copy the data into a kernel space variable and we check that the + request is valid (in this case that the input is 0). Finally we copy the + camera info back to the user. + </para> + <para> + The VIDIOCGCHAN ioctl allows a user to ask about video channels (that is + inputs to the video card). Our example card has a single camera input. The + fields in the structure are + </para> + <table frame="all"><title>struct video_channel fields</title> + <tgroup cols="2" align="left"> + <tbody> + <row> + + <entry>channel</entry><entry>The channel number we are selecting</entry> + </row><row> + <entry>name</entry><entry>The name for this channel. This is intended + to describe the port to the user. + Appropriate names are therefore things like + "Camera" "SCART input"</entry> + </row><row> + <entry>flags</entry><entry>Channel properties</entry> + </row><row> + <entry>type</entry><entry>Input type</entry> + </row><row> + <entry>norm</entry><entry>The current television encoding being used + if relevant for this channel. + </entry> + </row> + </tbody> + </tgroup> + </table> + <table frame="all"><title>struct video_channel flags</title> + <tgroup cols="2" align="left"> + <tbody> + <row> + <entry>VIDEO_VC_TUNER</entry><entry>Channel has a tuner.</entry> + </row><row> + <entry>VIDEO_VC_AUDIO</entry><entry>Channel has audio.</entry> + </row> + </tbody> + </tgroup> + </table> + <table frame="all"><title>struct video_channel types</title> + <tgroup cols="2" align="left"> + <tbody> + <row> + <entry>VIDEO_TYPE_TV</entry><entry>Television input.</entry> + </row><row> + <entry>VIDEO_TYPE_CAMERA</entry><entry>Fixed camera input.</entry> + </row><row> + <entry>0</entry><entry>Type is unknown.</entry> + </row> + </tbody> + </tgroup> + </table> + <table frame="all"><title>struct video_channel norms</title> + <tgroup cols="2" align="left"> + <tbody> + <row> + <entry>VIDEO_MODE_PAL</entry><entry>PAL encoded Television</entry> + </row><row> + <entry>VIDEO_MODE_NTSC</entry><entry>NTSC (US) encoded Television</entry> + </row><row> + <entry>VIDEO_MODE_SECAM</entry><entry>SECAM (French) Television </entry> + </row><row> + <entry>VIDEO_MODE_AUTO</entry><entry>Automatic switching, or format does not + matter</entry> + </row> + </tbody> + </tgroup> + </table> + <para> + The corresponding VIDIOCSCHAN ioctl allows a user to change channel and to + request the norm is changed - for example to switch between a PAL or an NTSC + format camera. + </para> + <programlisting> + + + case VIDIOCSCHAN: + { + struct video_channel v; + if(copy_from_user(&v, arg, sizeof(v))) + return -EFAULT; + if(v.channel != 0) + return -EINVAL; + if(v.norm != VIDEO_MODE_AUTO) + return -EINVAL; + return 0; + } + + + </programlisting> + <para> + The implementation of this call in our driver is remarkably easy. Because we + are assuming fixed format hardware we need only check that the user has not + tried to change anything. + </para> + <para> + The user also needs to be able to configure and adjust the picture they are + seeing. This is much like adjusting a television set. A user application + also needs to know the palette being used so that it knows how to display + the image that has been captured. The VIDIOCGPICT and VIDIOCSPICT ioctl + calls provide this information. + </para> + <programlisting> + + + case VIDIOCGPICT + { + struct video_picture v; + v.brightness = hardware_brightness(); + v.hue = hardware_hue(); + v.colour = hardware_saturation(); + v.contrast = hardware_brightness(); + /* Not settable */ + v.whiteness = 32768; + v.depth = 24; /* 24bit */ + v.palette = VIDEO_PALETTE_RGB24; + if(copy_to_user(&v, arg, + sizeof(v))) + return -EFAULT; + return 0; + } + + + </programlisting> + <para> + The brightness, hue, color, and contrast provide the picture controls that + are akin to a conventional television. Whiteness provides additional + control for greyscale images. All of these values are scaled between 0-65535 + and have 32768 as the mid point setting. The scaling means that applications + do not have to worry about the capability range of the hardware but can let + it make a best effort attempt. + </para> + <para> + Our depth is 24, as this is in bits. We will be returning RGB24 format. This + has one byte of red, then one of green, then one of blue. This then repeats + for every other pixel in the image. The other common formats the interface + defines are + </para> + <table frame="all"><title>Framebuffer Encodings</title> + <tgroup cols="2" align="left"> + <tbody> + <row> + <entry>GREY</entry><entry>Linear greyscale. This is for simple cameras and the + like</entry> + </row><row> + <entry>RGB565</entry><entry>The top 5 bits hold 32 red levels, the next six bits + hold green and the low 5 bits hold blue. </entry> + </row><row> + <entry>RGB555</entry><entry>The top bit is clear. The red green and blue levels + each occupy five bits.</entry> + </row> + </tbody> + </tgroup> + </table> + <para> + Additional modes are support for YUV capture formats. These are common for + TV and video conferencing applications. + </para> + <para> + The VIDIOCSPICT ioctl allows a user to set some of the picture parameters. + Exactly which ones are supported depends heavily on the card itself. It is + possible to support many modes and effects in software. In general doing + this in the kernel is a bad idea. Video capture is a performance-sensitive + application and the programs can often do better if they aren't being + 'helped' by an overkeen driver writer. Thus for our device we will report + RGB24 only and refuse to allow a change. + </para> + <programlisting> + + + case VIDIOCSPICT: + { + struct video_picture v; + if(copy_from_user(&v, arg, sizeof(v))) + return -EFAULT; + if(v.depth!=24 || + v.palette != VIDEO_PALETTE_RGB24) + return -EINVAL; + set_hardware_brightness(v.brightness); + set_hardware_hue(v.hue); + set_hardware_saturation(v.colour); + set_hardware_brightness(v.contrast); + return 0; + } + + + </programlisting> + <para> + We check the user has not tried to change the palette or the depth. We do + not want to carry out some of the changes and then return an error. This may + confuse the application which will be assuming no change occurred. + </para> + <para> + In much the same way as you need to be able to set the picture controls to + get the right capture images, many cards need to know what they are + displaying onto when generating overlay output. In some cases getting this + wrong even makes a nasty mess or may crash the computer. For that reason + the VIDIOCSBUF ioctl used to set up the frame buffer information may well + only be usable by root. + </para> + <para> + We will assume our card is one of the old ISA devices with feature connector + and only supports a couple of standard video modes. Very common for older + cards although the PCI devices are way smarter than this. + </para> + <programlisting> + + +static struct video_buffer capture_fb; + + case VIDIOCGFBUF: + { + if(copy_to_user(arg, &capture_fb, + sizeof(capture_fb))) + return -EFAULT; + return 0; + + } + + + </programlisting> + <para> + We keep the frame buffer information in the format the ioctl uses. This + makes it nice and easy to work with in the ioctl calls. + </para> + <programlisting> + + case VIDIOCSFBUF: + { + struct video_buffer v; + + if(!capable(CAP_SYS_ADMIN)) + return -EPERM; + + if(copy_from_user(&v, arg, sizeof(v))) + return -EFAULT; + if(v.width!=320 && v.width!=640) + return -EINVAL; + if(v.height!=200 && v.height!=240 + && v.height!=400 + && v.height !=480) + return -EINVAL; + memcpy(&capture_fb, &v, sizeof(v)); + hardware_set_fb(&v); + return 0; + } + + + + </programlisting> + <para> + The capable() function checks a user has the required capability. The Linux + operating system has a set of about 30 capabilities indicating privileged + access to services. The default set up gives the superuser (uid 0) all of + them and nobody else has any. + </para> + <para> + We check that the user has the SYS_ADMIN capability, that is they are + allowed to operate as the machine administrator. We don't want anyone but + the administrator making a mess of the display. + </para> + <para> + Next we check for standard PC video modes (320 or 640 wide with either + EGA or VGA depths). If the mode is not a standard video mode we reject it as + not supported by our card. If the mode is acceptable we save it so that + VIDIOCFBUF will give the right answer next time it is called. The + hardware_set_fb() function is some undescribed card specific function to + program the card for the desired mode. + </para> + <para> + Before the driver can display an overlay window it needs to know where the + window should be placed, and also how large it should be. If the card + supports clipping it needs to know which rectangles to omit from the + display. The video_window structure is used to describe the way the image + should be displayed. + </para> + <table frame="all"><title>struct video_window fields</title> + <tgroup cols="2" align="left"> + <tbody> + <row> + <entry>width</entry><entry>The width in pixels of the desired image. The card + may use a smaller size if this size is not available</entry> + </row><row> + <entry>height</entry><entry>The height of the image. The card may use a smaller + size if this size is not available.</entry> + </row><row> + <entry>x</entry><entry> The X position of the top left of the window. This + is in pixels relative to the left hand edge of the + picture. Not all cards can display images aligned on + any pixel boundary. If the position is unsuitable + the card adjusts the image right and reduces the + width.</entry> + </row><row> + <entry>y</entry><entry> The Y position of the top left of the window. This + is counted in pixels relative to the top edge of the + picture. As with the width if the card cannot + display starting on this line it will adjust the + values.</entry> + </row><row> + <entry>chromakey</entry><entry>The colour (expressed in RGB32 format) for the + chromakey colour if chroma keying is being used. </entry> + </row><row> + <entry>clips</entry><entry>An array of rectangles that must not be drawn + over.</entry> + </row><row> + <entry>clipcount</entry><entry>The number of clips in this array.</entry> + </row> + </tbody> + </tgroup> + </table> + <para> + Each clip is a struct video_clip which has the following fields + </para> + <table frame="all"><title>video_clip fields</title> + <tgroup cols="2" align="left"> + <tbody> + <row> + <entry>x, y</entry><entry>Co-ordinates relative to the display</entry> + </row><row> + <entry>width, height</entry><entry>Width and height in pixels</entry> + </row><row> + <entry>next</entry><entry>A spare field for the application to use</entry> + </row> + </tbody> + </tgroup> + </table> + <para> + The driver is required to ensure it always draws in the area requested or a smaller area, and that it never draws in any of the areas that are clipped. + This may well mean it has to leave alone. small areas the application wished to be + drawn. + </para> + <para> + Our example card uses chromakey so does not have to address most of the + clipping. We will add a video_window structure to our global variables to + remember our parameters, as we did with the frame buffer. + </para> + <programlisting> + + + case VIDIOCGWIN: + { + if(copy_to_user(arg, &capture_win, + sizeof(capture_win))) + return -EFAULT; + return 0; + } + + + case VIDIOCSWIN: + { + struct video_window v; + if(copy_from_user(&v, arg, sizeof(v))) + return -EFAULT; + if(v.width > 640 || v.height > 480) + return -EINVAL; + if(v.width < 16 || v.height < 16) + return -EINVAL; + hardware_set_key(v.chromakey); + hardware_set_window(v); + memcpy(&capture_win, &v, sizeof(v)); + capture_w = v.width; + capture_h = v.height; + return 0; + } + + + </programlisting> + <para> + Because we are using Chromakey our setup is fairly simple. Mostly we have to + check the values are sane and load them into the capture card. + </para> + <para> + With all the setup done we can now turn on the actual capture/overlay. This + is done with the VIDIOCCAPTURE ioctl. This takes a single integer argument + where 0 is on and 1 is off. + </para> + <programlisting> + + + case VIDIOCCAPTURE: + { + int v; + if(get_user(v, (int *)arg)) + return -EFAULT; + if(v==0) + hardware_capture_off(); + else + { + if(capture_fb.width == 0 + || capture_w == 0) + return -EINVAL; + hardware_capture_on(); + } + return 0; + } + + + </programlisting> + <para> + We grab the flag from user space and either enable or disable according to + its value. There is one small corner case we have to consider here. Suppose + that the capture was requested before the video window or the frame buffer + had been set up. In those cases there will be unconfigured fields in our + card data, as well as unconfigured hardware settings. We check for this case and + return an error if the frame buffer or the capture window width is zero. + </para> + <programlisting> + + + default: + return -ENOIOCTLCMD; + } +} + </programlisting> + <para> + + We don't need to support any other ioctls, so if we get this far, it is time + to tell the video layer that we don't now what the user is talking about. + </para> + </sect1> + <sect1 id="endvid"> + <title>Other Functionality</title> + <para> + The Video4Linux layer supports additional features, including a high + performance mmap() based capture mode and capturing part of the image. + These features are out of the scope of the book. You should however have enough + example code to implement most simple video4linux devices for radio and TV + cards. + </para> + </sect1> + </chapter> + <chapter id="bugs"> + <title>Known Bugs And Assumptions</title> + <para> + <variablelist> + <varlistentry><term>Multiple Opens</term> + <listitem> + <para> + The driver assumes multiple opens should not be allowed. A driver + can work around this but not cleanly. + </para> + </listitem></varlistentry> + + <varlistentry><term>API Deficiencies</term> + <listitem> + <para> + The existing API poorly reflects compression capable devices. There + are plans afoot to merge V4L, V4L2 and some other ideas into a + better interface. + </para> + </listitem></varlistentry> + </variablelist> + + </para> + </chapter> + + <chapter id="pubfunctions"> + <title>Public Functions Provided</title> +!Edrivers/media/video/videodev.c + </chapter> + +</book> |
