Re: [RFC] Should we create a raw input interface for IR's ? - Was:Re: [PATCH 1/3 v2] lirc core device driver infrastructure

[Dmitry Torokhov]

On Mon, Nov 23, 2009 at 03:14:56PM +0100, Krzysztof Halasa wrote:
> Mauro Carvalho Chehab <mchehab@xxxxxxxxxx> writes:
> 
> > Event input has the advantage that the keystrokes will provide an unique
> > representation that is independent of the device.
> 
> This can hardly work as the only means, the remotes have different keys,
> the user almost always has to provide customized key<>function mapping.
> 

Is it true? I would expect the remotes to have most of the keys to have
well-defined meanings (unless it is one of the programmable remotes)...

> 
> Perhaps the raw RCx data could be sent over the input layer as well?
> Something like the raw keyboard codes maybe?
>

Curreently the "scan" codes in the input layer serve just to help users
to map whatever the device emits into a proper input event code so that
the rest of userspace would not have to care and would work with all
types of devices (USB, PS/2, etc).

I would not want to get to the point where the raw codes are used as a
primary data source.

> We need to handle more than one RC at a time, of course.
> 
> > So, the basic question that should be decided is: should we create a new
> > userspace API for raw IR pulse/space
> 
> I think so, doing the RCx proto handling in the kernel (but without
> RCx raw code <> key mapping in this case due to multiple controllers
> etc.). Though it could probably use the input layer as well(?).
> 

I think if the data is used to do the primary protocol decoding then it
should be a separate interface that is processed by someone and then fed
into input subsystem (either in-kernel or through uinput).

Again, I would prefer to keep EV_KEY/KEY_* as the primary event type for
keys and buttons on all devices.

-- 
Dmitry
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