Barcode plugin (1 Viewer)

[Fjoms]

I have an idea for a plugin, which I hope to be able to realize somehow: With a barcode reader connected to the computer (possibly using a regular webcam), I would like to start music I have on the computer by scanning the barcode on the corresponding CD cover. My physical CD covers are still more convenient to look through than the mp3-collection, in my opinion At the same time, it would be nice not having to switch discs in the CD player all the time...

Now, I don't have any experience programming in C++ or programming for MediaPortal, but I'll just post the idea, and maybe someone will pick it up, or maybe I'll be able to work something out myself in a while. Some ideas and feedback would be nice, anyway.

Some barcode reader software is already available.

• Libra is not open source, but seems to have some interesting features. Libra | DVD, Book, Audio CD, Game library organizer software
• Kevin Hoyt is developing an open source solution: Yet Another Webcam Barcode Scanner | Kevin Hoyt

Any thoughts, ideas, tips?

 

[tomtom21000]

Fjoms,

there has been some discussions (some time back) about concepts going into the same direction as your thoughts. Might be worth a quick reading. There was never any code coming out of this afaik.

tomtom

https://forum.team-mediaportal.com/...e-implementation-design-comments-please-7914/

 

[and-81]

It's a great idea, and as long as we didn't need to write our own barcode scanner software (that is, if we could just be given the bar code number from another component) then it would just be a matter of linking a bar code number to a playlist ... easy !

Of course the real problem is finding a dev with enough time to do it ... But if someone outside the dev team wanted to jump in and do this .....

Cheers,

 

[Marcusb]

bar codes are pretty simple really. Nearly every bar code scanner just parses the info to the PC as a string of numbers.
Newer USB ones do this via HID protocols and earlier ones just used the PS2 interface to emulate typing the numbers in on a keyboard.
The idea of using a webcam is interesting. I had never heard of that before, but based on the name of the above software it seems pretty common nowadays...

 

[druffski]

Having worked in the area of library automation a few years ago, I agree with MarcusB.

If you had notepad open and scanned a barcode, it would simply enter the number according to the barcode. It would also put a carriage return at the end, automatically pressing "enter" for you.

If you look at ebay, you can pick up barcode scanners for approx AUD$30 (not including postage).

 

[and-81]

yep, it's easy stuff, all we need is a plugin to link bar codes to music/video playlists...

A more advanced plugin could look up the CD and download track listings off the internet, then make a playlist out of your mp3 collection from the internet track listing...

But that's just a possible evolutionary path of the plugin, not necessary from the start.

So who wants to give it a try?

 

[Fjoms]

Like and-81 says, there are different paths of evolution. The thread that tomtom21000 mentioned is a discussion on structure, principal questions and possible problems. Personally I like to work the other way around: First find something that works, then deal with the issues. OK, might be dirty, but then maybe someone else can give a hand with structure etc.

I'd like to give it a try myself, but as I mentioned earlier - lack of experience with C++ and with MP, combined with lack of time will probably not make the process very quick

Anyway, I thought about an issue raised in that other thread, and gave it some thinking. One problem would be (I guess) - how would the barcode software be able to trigger off the right action in MP?

The way I thought could deal with this would be the following:
A key command is assigned to the new plugin in MP. Hold the CD in front of your webcam or barcodereader, and then press the key (preferably on the remote).
Pressing the key makes MP trigger the barcode software, which then makes the snapshot and works out the barcode number. MP then fetches the number (from a textfile, for example), searches the corresponding CD from the library and starts playing it.

This way, the barcode software doesn't have to trigger MP, as MP will trigger the software itself, and take the right action once the barcode software has done it's task. Also, the barcode software doesn't have to be running constantly, but will be launched on demand.

 

[facesad]

can i ask which barcode type is the cd. because different barcode type need differnet barcode plugin. here is the barcode software in c# i'd like to introduce because it is able to scan various barcode images. give a try.

 

[cindy313]

er.. i think it is 2d barcode , i know a multifunctional barcode scanner, which scan qr code, pdf-417,data matrix