remote_controllers.xml

<partinfo>
<authorgroup>
<author>
<firstname>Mauro</firstname>
<surname>Chehab</surname>
<othername role="mi">Carvalho</othername>
<affiliation><address><email>m.chehab@samsung.com</email></address></affiliation>
<contrib>Initial version.</contrib>
</author>
</authorgroup>
<copyright>
	<year>2009-2014</year>
        <holder>Mauro Carvalho Chehab</holder>
</copyright>

<revhistory>
<!-- Put document revisions here, newest first. -->
<revision>
<revnumber>3.15</revnumber>
<date>2014-02-06</date>
<authorinitials>mcc</authorinitials>
<revremark>Added the interface description and the RC sysfs class description.</revremark>
</revision>
<revision>
<revnumber>1.0</revnumber>
<date>2009-09-06</date>
<authorinitials>mcc</authorinitials>
<revremark>Initial revision</revremark>
</revision>
</revhistory>
</partinfo>

 <title>Remote Controller API</title>
 <chapter id="remote_controllers">

<title>Remote Controllers</title>

<section id="Remote_controllers_Intro">
<title>Introduction</title>

<para>Currently, most analog and digital devices have a Infrared input for remote controllers. Each
manufacturer has their own type of control. It is not rare for the same manufacturer to ship different
types of controls, depending on the device.</para>
<para>A Remote Controller interface is mapped as a normal evdev/input interface, just like a keyboard or a mouse.
So, it uses all ioctls already defined for any other input devices.</para>
<para>However, remove controllers are more flexible than a normal input device, as the IR
receiver (and/or transmitter) can be used in conjunction with a wide variety of different IR remotes.</para>
<para>In order to allow flexibility, the Remote Controller subsystem allows controlling the
RC-specific attributes via <link linkend="remote_controllers_sysfs_nodes">the sysfs class nodes</link>.</para>
</section>

<section id="remote_controllers_sysfs_nodes">
<title>Remote Controller's sysfs nodes</title>
<para>As defined at <constant>Documentation/ABI/testing/sysfs-class-rc</constant>, those are the sysfs nodes that control the Remote Controllers:</para>

<section id="sys_class_rc">
<title>/sys/class/rc/</title>
<para>The <constant>/sys/class/rc/</constant> class sub-directory belongs to the Remote Controller
core and provides a sysfs interface for configuring infrared remote controller receivers.
</para>

</section>
<section id="sys_class_rc_rcN">
<title>/sys/class/rc/rcN/</title>
<para>A <constant>/sys/class/rc/rcN</constant> directory is created for each remote
  control receiver device where N is the number of the receiver.</para>

</section>
<section id="sys_class_rc_rcN_protocols">
<title>/sys/class/rc/rcN/protocols</title>
<para>Reading this file returns a list of available protocols, something like:</para>
<para><constant>rc5 [rc6] nec jvc [sony]</constant></para>
<para>Enabled protocols are shown in [] brackets.</para>
<para>Writing "+proto" will add a protocol to the list of enabled protocols.</para>
<para>Writing "-proto" will remove a protocol from the list of enabled protocols.</para>
<para>Writing "proto" will enable only "proto".</para>
<para>Writing "none" will disable all protocols.</para>
<para>Write fails with EINVAL if an invalid protocol combination or unknown protocol name is used.</para>

</section>
<section id="sys_class_rc_rcN_filter">
<title>/sys/class/rc/rcN/filter</title>
<para>Sets the scancode filter expected value.</para>
<para>Use in combination with <constant>/sys/class/rc/rcN/filter_mask</constant> to set the
expected value of the bits set in the filter mask.
If the hardware supports it then scancodes which do not match
the filter will be ignored. Otherwise the write will fail with
an error.</para>
<para>This value may be reset to 0 if the current protocol is altered.</para>

</section>
<section id="sys_class_rc_rcN_filter_mask">
<title>/sys/class/rc/rcN/filter_mask</title>
<para>Sets the scancode filter mask of bits to compare.
Use in combination with <constant>/sys/class/rc/rcN/filter</constant> to set the bits
of the scancode which should be compared against the expected
value. A value of 0 disables the filter to allow all valid
scancodes to be processed.</para>
<para>If the hardware supports it then scancodes which do not match
the filter will be ignored. Otherwise the write will fail with
an error.</para>
<para>This value may be reset to 0 if the current protocol is altered.</para>

</section>
<section id="sys_class_rc_rcN_wakeup_filter">
<title>/sys/class/rc/rcN/wakeup_filter</title>
<para>Sets the scancode wakeup filter expected value.
Use in combination with <constant>/sys/class/rc/rcN/wakeup_filter_mask</constant> to
set the expected value of the bits set in the wakeup filter mask
to trigger a system wake event.</para>
<para>If the hardware supports it and wakeup_filter_mask is not 0 then
scancodes which match the filter will wake the system from e.g.
suspend to RAM or power off.
Otherwise the write will fail with an error.</para>
<para>This value may be reset to 0 if the current protocol is altered.</para>

</section>
<section id="sys_class_rc_rcN_wakeup_filter_mask">
<title>/sys/class/rc/rcN/wakeup_filter_mask</title>
<para>Sets the scancode wakeup filter mask of bits to compare.
Use in combination with <constant>/sys/class/rc/rcN/wakeup_filter</constant> to set
the bits of the scancode which should be compared against the
expected value to trigger a system wake event.</para>
<para>If the hardware supports it and wakeup_filter_mask is not 0 then
scancodes which match the filter will wake the system from e.g.
suspend to RAM or power off.
Otherwise the write will fail with an error.</para>
<para>This value may be reset to 0 if the current protocol is altered.</para>
</section>
</section>

<section id="Remote_controllers_tables">
<title>Remote controller tables</title>
<para>Unfortunately, for several years, there was no effort to create uniform IR keycodes for
different devices.  This caused the same IR keyname to be mapped completely differently on
different IR devices. This resulted that the same IR keyname to be mapped completely different on
different IR's. Due to that, V4L2 API now specifies a standard for mapping Media keys on IR.</para>
<para>This standard should be used by both V4L/DVB drivers and userspace applications</para>
<para>The modules register the remote as keyboard within the linux input layer. This means that the IR key strokes will look like normal keyboard key strokes (if CONFIG_INPUT_KEYBOARD is enabled). Using the event devices (CONFIG_INPUT_EVDEV) it is possible for applications to access the remote via /dev/input/event devices.</para>

<table pgwide="1" frame="none" id="rc_standard_keymap">
<title>IR default keymapping</title>
<tgroup cols="3">
&cs-str;
<tbody valign="top">
<row>
<entry>Key code</entry>
<entry>Meaning</entry>
<entry>Key examples on IR</entry>
</row>

<row><entry><emphasis role="bold">Numeric keys</emphasis></entry></row>

<row><entry><constant>KEY_0</constant></entry><entry>Keyboard digit 0</entry><entry>0</entry></row>
<row><entry><constant>KEY_1</constant></entry><entry>Keyboard digit 1</entry><entry>1</entry></row>
<row><entry><constant>KEY_2</constant></entry><entry>Keyboard digit 2</entry><entry>2</entry></row>
<row><entry><constant>KEY_3</constant></entry><entry>Keyboard digit 3</entry><entry>3</entry></row>
<row><entry><constant>KEY_4</constant></entry><entry>Keyboard digit 4</entry><entry>4</entry></row>
<row><entry><constant>KEY_5</constant></entry><entry>Keyboard digit 5</entry><entry>5</entry></row>
<row><entry><constant>KEY_6</constant></entry><entry>Keyboard digit 6</entry><entry>6</entry></row>
<row><entry><constant>KEY_7</constant></entry><entry>Keyboard digit 7</entry><entry>7</entry></row>
<row><entry><constant>KEY_8</constant></entry><entry>Keyboard digit 8</entry><entry>8</entry></row>
<row><entry><constant>KEY_9</constant></entry><entry>Keyboard digit 9</entry><entry>9</entry></row>

<row><entry><emphasis role="bold">Movie play control</emphasis></entry></row>

<row><entry><constant>KEY_FORWARD</constant></entry><entry>Instantly advance in time</entry><entry>&gt;&gt; / FORWARD</entry></row>
<row><entry><constant>KEY_BACK</constant></entry><entry>Instantly go back in time</entry><entry>&lt;&lt;&lt; / BACK</entry></row>
<row><entry><constant>KEY_FASTFORWARD</constant></entry><entry>Play movie faster</entry><entry>&gt;&gt;&gt; / FORWARD</entry></row>
<row><entry><constant>KEY_REWIND</constant></entry><entry>Play movie back</entry><entry>REWIND / BACKWARD</entry></row>
<row><entry><constant>KEY_NEXT</constant></entry><entry>Select next chapter / sub-chapter / interval</entry><entry>NEXT / SKIP</entry></row>
<row><entry><constant>KEY_PREVIOUS</constant></entry><entry>Select previous chapter / sub-chapter / interval</entry><entry>&lt;&lt; /  PREV / PREVIOUS</entry></row>
<row><entry><constant>KEY_AGAIN</constant></entry><entry>Repeat the video or a video interval</entry><entry>REPEAT / LOOP / RECALL</entry></row>
<row><entry><constant>KEY_PAUSE</constant></entry><entry>Pause sroweam</entry><entry>PAUSE / FREEZE</entry></row>
<row><entry><constant>KEY_PLAY</constant></entry><entry>Play movie at the normal timeshift</entry><entry>NORMAL TIMESHIFT / LIVE / &gt;</entry></row>
<row><entry><constant>KEY_PLAYPAUSE</constant></entry><entry>Alternate between play and pause</entry><entry>PLAY / PAUSE</entry></row>
<row><entry><constant>KEY_STOP</constant></entry><entry>Stop sroweam</entry><entry>STOP</entry></row>
<row><entry><constant>KEY_RECORD</constant></entry><entry>Start/stop recording sroweam</entry><entry>CAPTURE / REC / RECORD/PAUSE</entry></row>
<row><entry><constant>KEY_CAMERA</constant></entry><entry>Take a picture of the image</entry><entry>CAMERA ICON / CAPTURE / SNAPSHOT</entry></row>
<row><entry><constant>KEY_SHUFFLE</constant></entry><entry>Enable shuffle mode</entry><entry>SHUFFLE</entry></row>
<row><entry><constant>KEY_TIME</constant></entry><entry>Activate time shift mode</entry><entry>TIME SHIFT</entry></row>
<row><entry><constant>KEY_TITLE</constant></entry><entry>Allow changing the chapter</entry><entry>CHAPTER</entry></row>
<row><entry><constant>KEY_SUBTITLE</constant></entry><entry>Allow changing the subtitle</entry><entry>SUBTITLE</entry></row>

<row><entry><emphasis role="bold">Image control</emphasis></entry></row>

<row><entry><constant>KEY_BRIGHTNESSDOWN</constant></entry><entry>Decrease Brightness</entry><entry>BRIGHTNESS DECREASE</entry></row>
<row><entry><constant>KEY_BRIGHTNESSUP</constant></entry><entry>Increase Brightness</entry><entry>BRIGHTNESS INCREASE</entry></row>

<row><entry><constant>KEY_ANGLE</constant></entry><entry>Switch video camera angle (on videos with more than one angle stored)</entry><entry>ANGLE / SWAP</entry></row>
<row><entry><constant>KEY_EPG</constant></entry><entry>Open the Elecrowonic Play Guide (EPG)</entry><entry>EPG / GUIDE</entry></row>
<row><entry><constant>KEY_TEXT</constant></entry><entry>Activate/change closed caption mode</entry><entry>CLOSED CAPTION/TELETEXT / DVD TEXT / TELETEXT / TTX</entry></row>

<row><entry><emphasis role="bold">Audio control</emphasis></entry></row>

<row><entry><constant>KEY_AUDIO</constant></entry><entry>Change audio source</entry><entry>AUDIO SOURCE / AUDIO / MUSIC</entry></row>
<row><entry><constant>KEY_MUTE</constant></entry><entry>Mute/unmute audio</entry><entry>MUTE / DEMUTE / UNMUTE</entry></row>
<row><entry><constant>KEY_VOLUMEDOWN</constant></entry><entry>Decrease volume</entry><entry>VOLUME- / VOLUME DOWN</entry></row>
<row><entry><constant>KEY_VOLUMEUP</constant></entry><entry>Increase volume</entry><entry>VOLUME+ / VOLUME UP</entry></row>
<row><entry><constant>KEY_MODE</constant></entry><entry>Change sound mode</entry><entry>MONO/STEREO</entry></row>
<row><entry><constant>KEY_LANGUAGE</constant></entry><entry>Select Language</entry><entry>1ST / 2ND LANGUAGE / DVD LANG / MTS/SAP / MTS SEL</entry></row>

<row><entry><emphasis role="bold">Channel control</emphasis></entry></row>

<row><entry><constant>KEY_CHANNEL</constant></entry><entry>Go to the next favorite channel</entry><entry>ALT / CHANNEL / CH SURFING / SURF / FAV</entry></row>
<row><entry><constant>KEY_CHANNELDOWN</constant></entry><entry>Decrease channel sequencially</entry><entry>CHANNEL - / CHANNEL DOWN / DOWN</entry></row>
<row><entry><constant>KEY_CHANNELUP</constant></entry><entry>Increase channel sequencially</entry><entry>CHANNEL + / CHANNEL UP / UP</entry></row>
<row><entry><constant>KEY_DIGITS</constant></entry><entry>Use more than one digit for channel</entry><entry>PLUS / 100/ 1xx / xxx /  -/--  / Single Double Triple Digit</entry></row>
<row><entry><constant>KEY_SEARCH</constant></entry><entry>Start channel autoscan</entry><entry>SCAN / AUTOSCAN</entry></row>

<row><entry><emphasis role="bold">Colored keys</emphasis></entry></row>

<row><entry><constant>KEY_BLUE</constant></entry><entry>IR Blue key</entry><entry>BLUE</entry></row>
<row><entry><constant>KEY_GREEN</constant></entry><entry>IR Green Key</entry><entry>GREEN</entry></row>
<row><entry><constant>KEY_RED</constant></entry><entry>IR Red key</entry><entry>RED</entry></row>
<row><entry><constant>KEY_YELLOW</constant></entry><entry>IR Yellow key</entry><entry> YELLOW</entry></row>

<row><entry><emphasis role="bold">Media selection</emphasis></entry></row>

<row><entry><constant>KEY_CD</constant></entry><entry>Change input source to Compact Disc</entry><entry>CD</entry></row>
<row><entry><constant>KEY_DVD</constant></entry><entry>Change input to DVD</entry><entry>DVD / DVD MENU</entry></row>
<row><entry><constant>KEY_EJECTCLOSECD</constant></entry><entry>Open/close the CD/DVD player</entry><entry>-&gt; ) / CLOSE / OPEN</entry></row>

<row><entry><constant>KEY_MEDIA</constant></entry><entry>Turn on/off Media application</entry><entry>PC/TV /  TURN ON/OFF APP</entry></row>
<row><entry><constant>KEY_PC</constant></entry><entry>Selects from TV to PC</entry><entry>PC</entry></row>
<row><entry><constant>KEY_RADIO</constant></entry><entry>Put into AM/FM radio mode</entry><entry>RADIO / TV/FM / TV/RADIO / FM / FM/RADIO</entry></row>
<row><entry><constant>KEY_TV</constant></entry><entry>Select tv mode</entry><entry>TV / LIVE TV</entry></row>
<row><entry><constant>KEY_TV2</constant></entry><entry>Select Cable mode</entry><entry>AIR/CBL</entry></row>
<row><entry><constant>KEY_VCR</constant></entry><entry>Select VCR mode</entry><entry>VCR MODE / DTR</entry></row>
<row><entry><constant>KEY_VIDEO</constant></entry><entry>Alternate between input modes</entry><entry>SOURCE / SELECT / DISPLAY / SWITCH INPUTS / VIDEO</entry></row>

<row><entry><emphasis role="bold">Power control</emphasis></entry></row>

<row><entry><constant>KEY_POWER</constant></entry><entry>Turn on/off computer</entry><entry>SYSTEM POWER / COMPUTER POWER</entry></row>
<row><entry><constant>KEY_POWER2</constant></entry><entry>Turn on/off application</entry><entry>TV ON/OFF / POWER</entry></row>
<row><entry><constant>KEY_SLEEP</constant></entry><entry>Activate sleep timer</entry><entry>SLEEP / SLEEP TIMER</entry></row>
<row><entry><constant>KEY_SUSPEND</constant></entry><entry>Put computer into suspend mode</entry><entry>STANDBY / SUSPEND</entry></row>

<row><entry><emphasis role="bold">Window control</emphasis></entry></row>

<row><entry><constant>KEY_CLEAR</constant></entry><entry>Stop sroweam and return to default input video/audio</entry><entry>CLEAR / RESET / BOSS KEY</entry></row>
<row><entry><constant>KEY_CYCLEWINDOWS</constant></entry><entry>Minimize windows and move to the next one</entry><entry>ALT-TAB / MINIMIZE / DESKTOP</entry></row>
<row><entry><constant>KEY_FAVORITES</constant></entry><entry>Open the favorites sroweam window</entry><entry>TV WALL / Favorites</entry></row>
<row><entry><constant>KEY_MENU</constant></entry><entry>Call application menu</entry><entry>2ND CONTROLS (USA: MENU) / DVD/MENU / SHOW/HIDE CTRL</entry></row>
<row><entry><constant>KEY_NEW</constant></entry><entry>Open/Close Picture in Picture</entry><entry>PIP</entry></row>
<row><entry><constant>KEY_OK</constant></entry><entry>Send a confirmation code to application</entry><entry>OK / ENTER / RETURN</entry></row>
<row><entry><constant>KEY_SCREEN</constant></entry><entry>Select screen aspect ratio</entry><entry>4:3 16:9 SELECT</entry></row>
<row><entry><constant>KEY_ZOOM</constant></entry><entry>Put device into zoom/full screen mode</entry><entry>ZOOM / FULL SCREEN / ZOOM+ / HIDE PANNEL / SWITCH</entry></row>

<row><entry><emphasis role="bold">Navigation keys</emphasis></entry></row>

<row><entry><constant>KEY_ESC</constant></entry><entry>Cancel current operation</entry><entry>CANCEL / BACK</entry></row>
<row><entry><constant>KEY_HELP</constant></entry><entry>Open a Help window</entry><entry>HELP</entry></row>
<row><entry><constant>KEY_HOMEPAGE</constant></entry><entry>Navigate to Homepage</entry><entry>HOME</entry></row>
<row><entry><constant>KEY_INFO</constant></entry><entry>Open On Screen Display</entry><entry>DISPLAY INFORMATION / OSD</entry></row>
<row><entry><constant>KEY_WWW</constant></entry><entry>Open the default browser</entry><entry>WEB</entry></row>
<row><entry><constant>KEY_UP</constant></entry><entry>Up key</entry><entry>UP</entry></row>
<row><entry><constant>KEY_DOWN</constant></entry><entry>Down key</entry><entry>DOWN</entry></row>
<row><entry><constant>KEY_LEFT</constant></entry><entry>Left key</entry><entry>LEFT</entry></row>
<row><entry><constant>KEY_RIGHT</constant></entry><entry>Right key</entry><entry>RIGHT</entry></row>

<row><entry><emphasis role="bold">Miscellaneous keys</emphasis></entry></row>

<row><entry><constant>KEY_DOT</constant></entry><entry>Return a dot</entry><entry>.</entry></row>
<row><entry><constant>KEY_FN</constant></entry><entry>Select a function</entry><entry>FUNCTION</entry></row>

</tbody>
</tgroup>
</table>

<para>It should be noticed that, sometimes, there some fundamental missing keys at some cheaper IR's. Due to that, it is recommended to:</para>

<table pgwide="1" frame="none" id="rc_keymap_notes">
<title>Notes</title>
<tgroup cols="1">
&cs-str;
<tbody valign="top">
<row>
<entry>On simpler IR's, without separate channel keys, you need to map UP as <constant>KEY_CHANNELUP</constant></entry>
</row><row>
<entry>On simpler IR's, without separate channel keys, you need to map DOWN as <constant>KEY_CHANNELDOWN</constant></entry>
</row><row>
<entry>On simpler IR's, without separate volume keys, you need to map LEFT as <constant>KEY_VOLUMEDOWN</constant></entry>
</row><row>
<entry>On simpler IR's, without separate volume keys, you need to map RIGHT as <constant>KEY_VOLUMEUP</constant></entry>
</row>
</tbody>
</tgroup>
</table>

</section>

<section id="Remote_controllers_table_change">
<title>Changing default Remote Controller mappings</title>
<para>The event interface provides two ioctls to be used against
the /dev/input/event device, to allow changing the default
keymapping.</para>

<para>This program demonstrates how to replace the keymap tables.</para>
&sub-keytable-c;
</section>

&sub-lirc_device_interface;
</chapter>