Re: [RFC PATCH 0/3] bluetooth/gnss: GNSS support for TiWi chips

From: Adam Ford
Date: Mon Nov 27 2023 - 09:14:24 EST


On Sun, Nov 26, 2023 at 1:47 PM Andreas Kemnade <andreas@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> Some of these chips have GNSS support. In some vendor kernels
> a driver on top of misc/ti-st can be found providing a /dev/tigps
> device which speaks the secretive Air Independent Interface (AI2) protocol.
> Implement something comparable as a GNSS interface.
>
> With some userspace tools a proof-of-concept can be shown. A position
> can be successfully read out. Basic properties of the protocol are
> understood.
>
> This was tested on the Epson Moverio BT-200.

Can you tell me which WiLink chip this uses?

I'd like to try it on the WL1283, but I want to understand which
WiLink chips you're targeting.

adam
>
> This is sent out as an early RFC to ensure I am going onto the right
> track:
>
> So the main questions I see:
> - is the approach right to abandon drivers/misc/ti-st?
>
> - Output at /dev/gnssX:
> AI2 vs. NMEA
> The chip can be configured into sending AI2-encapsulated NMEA,
> or proving data in a binary format.
> Some research has to be done yet for the details.
> A pile of logs is waiting for further analysis...
>
> Arguments for/against NMEA:
> + Userspace is prepared to handle it
> + Power management can be easily done by the kernel
> - Less functionality can be used.
>
> Arguments for/against AI2:
> + Full functionality can be accessed from userspace (incl. A-GPS,
> maybe raw satellite data)
> - Userspace has to behave to have proper power management
> - No freely (not even as in beer) tool available to fully use AI2,
> so there will be only a real advantage after long "French Cafe"
> sessions.
>
> More detailed tings:
> - Some live cycle management is left out. Since it depends
> on the decisions above, I have not put much thought into it.
> - Should some pieces go into drivers/gnss?
> - detection for GNSS availability: For now the node name is
> used. But the device should be there if the chip supports it
> and things are wired up properly.
>
> Andreas Kemnade (3):
> gnss: Add AI2 protocol used by some TI combo chips.
> bluetooth: ti-st: add GNSS support for TI Wilink chips
> drivers: misc: ti-st: begin to deorbit
>
> drivers/bluetooth/hci_ll.c | 154 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++-
> drivers/gnss/core.c | 1 +
> drivers/misc/ti-st/Kconfig | 2 +-
> include/linux/gnss.h | 1 +
> 4 files changed, 156 insertions(+), 2 deletions(-)
>
> --
> 2.39.2
>
>