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A web enabled compact flash card reader

eeble

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Weeble Team

Chris Foster Nicole DiGrazia Mike Kacirek

E-Mail

weeble@scunder.com

Website

http://www.scunder.com/weeble

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Problem

Digital camera images primarily stored on flash cards

Transferring images from flash cards is often achieved through a tedious user interface with many steps

It is difficult to share large numbers of images via web Must transfer files to PC first, then upload files

to a web server

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Solution: Weeble

Puts pictures within reach of any web-enabled computer

Combines embedded network computer with flash card reader

Provides a single step solution for viewing and serving digital pictures

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Assumptions

User has: Network Connectivity Power Web Browser Flash card with stored images

Card is formatted with a standard file system Images are in a standard image format

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Weeble Requirements

Software DHCP Client User Configurability Thumbnail Creation Web server that

supports dynamic content

Hardware 10/100 BaseT Ethernet

Jack Flash card Reader

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Technologic Systems - TS-5300

Type I CompactFlash Card Reader

133 MHz AMD Elan Processor (x86 platform)

10 BaseT Ethernet Up to 144 Megabytes

DiskOnChip 16 Megabytes of

SDRAM standard 32 or 64 Megabytes

optional

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Software

TSLinux - Provided by Technologic Systems Multi-threaded and supports multiple concurrent

accesses Packaged with Apache HTTP Server

PHP and CGI ready Linux Telnet Server for remote configuration ProFTP FTP Server

DJPEG – Provided by the Independent JPEG group Open Source JPEG library

Encoding and Scaling JPEG images

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Hardware Compromises

Only supports Type I CompactFlash Cards Tradeoff of size and cost for all-in-one

solution Smaller and cheaper solutions were available

however would have required integration of multiple components

Computer must be rebooted every time CompactFlash card is either inserted or removed

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Software Compromises

Planned on using DOS Problems using memory above one Megabyte

Poor support for himem.sys driver on the TS-5300 which is required for RamDisk and extended memory

To access upper memory DOS must run in protected mode.

Conventionally DOS uses a pin from the keyboard controller as a flag when switching out of protected mode.

TS-5300 does not have a keyboard controller causing major problems.

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Software Compromises (Cont.)

Linux Recently switched to using Linux Concerns to date

Longer Boot Time The hardware requires a reboot every time a

CompactFlash card is either inserted or removed There will be a long pause in which a user cannot

access the Weeble

DJPEG Used for creating thumbnails

Algorithm takes time to create image thumbnails

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Taking Advantage of the TS-5300

Some of the capabilities of the TS-5300 that we plan to use include: LCD Screen Support

Can be used to display IP Address and system status to the user

40 Digital Input / Output Lines Buttons

Mount and un-mount compact flash card Toggle LCD display

LEDs Display status of system to the user

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Implementation

PHP CGI Bourne Shell Scripting C++

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Weeble – Initial Setup

When the Weeble is powered on for the first time an initial setup screen is displayed. The user must configure the Weeble before normal operation.

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Weeble – Initial Setup

The User must decide between using a Static IP Address and obtaining a Dynamic Address from a DHCP server. In the case that DHCP is selected, yet the Weeble can not obtain an IP address, the static values will be used.

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Weeble – Initial Setup

The User can select what thumbnail size they would like to use as well as the number of thumbnails per page they would like displayed.

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Weeble – Initial Setup

User Accounts can be created. Administrators will be able to change the Weeble configuration, whereas guests can only view the images.

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Weeble – Initial Setup

After the setup is complete the Weeble will restart itself for settings to take effect.

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Weeble – Normal Operation

During normal operation, when a user points their browser to the Weeble they will be greeted with a login screen.

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Weeble – Normal Operation

At the main page users can see the statistics of the CompactFlash Card as well as download images by clicking on its thumbnail.

If the number of images displayed per page is less the number if images on the card, there will be a “Next Page” button at the bottom of the screen.

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Weeble – Normal Operation

If the user logged in with an Admin Account there will be an “Administrate Weeble” link at the bottom of the page.

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Weeble – Admin Functions

The Weeble Setup page has the same features as the Initial Setup pages, with the following additions: Modify User Delete User Administrate

CompactFlash Card

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Weeble – Admin Functions

From the CompactFlash Card page an Admin can: Reformat the

card Change the

card’s name Remove images

from the card

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Weeble – Admin Functions

On the Remove Image page the information for each image is displayed along with a thumbnail and a “Delete” button.

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Configuration Files

Stores System Settings Network settings Thumbnail settings User account information

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DHCP Client and SNMP

DHCP – Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol Optionally enabled to provide a Dynamic IP

address to the Weeble. SNMP – Simple Network Management

Protocol An option we are investigating; when

implemented, SNMP would allow the user to configure the Weeble even if they do not know its current IP address.

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Conclusion

The current hardware configuration serves only as a prototype and is not feasible as a product as the hardware alone costs over $250.00

We intend to develop Weeble in such a manner that it can be easily moved to any equivalent platform.

Weeble could even be integrated into a common Cable/DSL router.

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Conclusion

Mock up of Weeble User Interface: http://www.scunder.com/weeble/mockup

Weeble’s current address: http://192.168.0.50/index.html

Technologic Systems TS-5300: http://www.embeddedx86.com/epc/ts5300-spec.php