[openBmap] Version 0.2.0 released of the GSM cell, GPS logger

Onen onen.om at free.fr
Mon Mar 30 22:58:02 CEST 2009


Hello,

the new version of the logger is out. This is a major step: you can now 
do the complete process (log, upload, delete processed logs) 
graphically! No need to edit any file.

WHAT'S NEW SINCE 0.1?
* Now displays GSM data at startup. No need to wait for network
   update.
* Before upload, login/password graphical interface added.
* After upload, asks about deleting all processed log files.
* Requests CPU ressource to prevent phone from going to suspend (this
depends on the configuration of the phone...).
* Do not log if a call is ongoing. The reasons are:
  - when in a call org.freesmartphone.GSM.Network.GetStatus()
    returns a lower signal strength.
  - org.freesmartphone.GSM.Monitor.GetNeighbourCellInformation()
    returns garbage when in a call.
* Software id and version added in generated logs

Another major point is the "beta" support of neighbour cells logging. 
Following comments made on this list (thanks Yorick, Olivier and Helge 
and sorry if I forget others), I have changed my mind and the code is 
ready in this release. But deactivated. The reasons are:
  - we need to clarify the meaning of some fields
  - we need to clarify if there is no risk of mixing cells and
    MCC/MNC at the borders.
The idea will be to keep track if a logged cell was "serving", or 
"neighbour". This will let us experiment with ways of building coverage 
areas, and specify algorithms.

Thanks Stefan, the application is already in the feeds:
http://downloads.openmoko.org/repository/unstable/armv4t/openbmap-logger_0.2.0-r1_armv4t.ipk
=> opkg install/upgrade openbmap-logger

Ipk, tar, git can be found at:
http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=218065&package_id=310952
http://myposition.git.sourceforge.net/git/gitweb.cgi?p=myposition

Following is a part of the README. You will find a summary of the 
project, and the manual with some details about the configuration file 
if you want total control of your application.

Onen


SUMMARY:
OpenBmap is a free and open map of wireless communicating objects
(e.g. cellular antenna, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth). It provides tools to
mutualize data, create and access this map.
The purpose of this software is to log GSM data, together with
GPS coordinate. This data are sent to the website (www.openbmap.org),
in order to build a free database. In order to keep a high quality
of data, we store GPS quality, speed, GSM signal strength, etc...
Possible use of this database:
* get your location based on the current GSM cell you are connected to.
(GPS needs extra power to function, GSM is always on. Less precise
than GPS, but enough for a lot of usages. Instant location, GPS
needs time to get a fix.)
* speed up GPS first time to fix by providing the location based
on GSM data
* geolocate your photos when taken
* get a map of GSM coverage
* get a map of 2, 2.5, 3G coverage (not yet implemented)
* ...

What you should expect:
* The complete process is done through graphical interface.
* Requests CPU ressource to prevent phone from going to suspend (this
depends on the configuration of the phone...).
* generation of logs (no log during a call)
* Graphical window to enter login/password before upload (possibility
to cancel upload).
* upload of logs
* Graphical window proposing to delete all logs already processed.

MANUAL:
Interface is straightforward.

Note: The GPS is started as soon as the application is launched.
And it keeps running if the application is logging or not. This
is to prevent losing the GPS position if you pause your logging.
You have to exit the application in order to stop the GPS.

* A button to start generating logs. Values will be displayed when
valid. Logs are stored under HOME/.openBmap/Logs by default.

* A button to stop generating logs.

* A button to upload.
This pops a window up, which displays the current login/password.
Please modify it before pressing 'ok' button if needed. You can
cancel upload by pressing 'cancel'.

If you press 'ok', this will block the interface until every log
has been uploaded. This means that if you do not have Internet
connection up and running, the GUI will be frozen until timeout of
the upload part.

After successful upload, the logs are moved to
HOME/.openBmap/Processed_logs by default.

When upload is finished, the result is first displayed (how many logs
have been uploaded out of how many available).
Then a popup window will propose you to delete all (this includes
possible logs from previous upload) the processed logs (located in
HOME/.openBmap/Processed_logs by default).

Warning: you should create an account on realtimeblog.free.fr
website, and fill a correct login/password in the popup window
displayed before upload works.

* A button to exit (if logger is active, it will first stop it
cleanly, and then exit).

Config file and application log are located under HOME/.openBmap
directory by default.

You can modify values in the config files (by editing it). This
way you can have a fine grained control of your logger:
- change the locations of logs
'openbmap logs directory name', 'openbmap uploaded logs directory name'
- change the rate of logging
openbmap logger default scanning speed (in sec.) = 10
- set a minimal speed for logging
gps minimal speed for logging (km/h) = 0
- set a maximal speed for logging
gps maximal speed for logging (km/h) = 150
- please do not modify other values, this could prevent the
logger from working correctly.

If you break your configuration file, just exit the application.
Delete the configuration file (by default: HOME/.openBmap/openBmap.conf).
Launch the application. The configuration file, if not found is
generated with default values.

KNOWN BUGS:
* when you are generating logs, and you press 'Stop' button.
   A popup window let you know you should wait for the logger to
   finish stopping. Under FSO M5, if you press the power
   button, the phone suspends. You press it again it wakes up.
   Nevertheless the GUI is frozen. You will have to kill the
   process.





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