This is a device control server for field test 1 designed to run on a netbook. It provides a UI for configuring a field test, and for also actually performing the field test and storing the results.
The configuration for the server itself is stored in config/system.json The configuration file is in JSON format http://www.json.org/. The available fields in the configuration file are as follows:
// The location of the server logfile
logfile: <string path to log file>
// The location of the data file where field test results are stored
// in CSV format
datafile: <string path to data file>
// Whether to run the server in debug mode
// (currently this gives slightly more verbose logging)
debug: <boolean>
// The location of the server logfile
http_host: <string hostname for http server>
// The location of the server logfile
http_port: <int port for http server>
The server is integrated with init.d and as such should start automatically on boot. It can be manually controlled by: $ sudo /etc/init.d/lavaze-server start | stop | status
In order for the tablet/device and the server to communicate, the device must connect to the Wi-Fi access point provided by the netbook. The access point is provided by the hostapd service. The configuration for the access point is in /etc/hostapd/hostapd.conf. An example is provided in the project directory, etc/hostapd.conf. Hostapd can be controlled via init.d: $ sudo /etc/init.d/hostapd start | stop | status
(If the device is having trouble connecting to the access point, it can sometimes help to restart hostapd)
The default credentials for the Wi-Fi access point are: SSID: EEEPC passphrase: 1234567890
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Boot the netbook and make sure that lavaze-server and hostapd are running. A quick way to check that lavaze server is running is to open a web browser to http://localhost:8080/ (or whatever port you have configured in config/system.json)
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Connect the tablet to the EEEPC Wi-Fi access point
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Start the m-Loma field test 1 r1 application on the tablet
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On the netbook open a web browser to http://localhost:8080/ (or whatever port you have configured in config/system.json)
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Upload the task description file:
- Click the blue "upload" button in the title bar of the "Tasks" panel
- Choose a task description file from the filesystem, and upload.
A list of tasks will be displayed in the "Tasks" panel.
NOTE: the task description file is the same format as the external.dat file that is on the tablet.
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Upload a field test configuration file:
- Click the blue "upload" button in the title bar of the "Configuration" panel
- Choose a field test configuration file from the filesystem and uplod.
The markers specified in the configuration file will be displayed in the "Configuration" panel.
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Create a subject
- Click the blue "new" button in the title bar of the "Subjects" panel
- Enter a subject id and a height in metres. The Subject id can be anything that you want.
- Click "save" to save the subject.
Subjects can be edited or deleted after they have been created.
NOTE: To run a field test at least one subject must exist, and selected. A selected subject is highlighted in blue.
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Select a device The "Devices" panel shows all devices that have successfully established a connection with the server. You must select one of these devices to perform a field test. A selected device is highlighted in blue.
NOTE: you must manually refresh this panel by clicking the amber "refresh" button in the title bar.
Once preparation has been completed as described above, and: - The "Tasks" panel has a list of tasks - The "Configuration" panel has a set of markers - A subject has been selected - A device has been selected
You can begin the field test. Simply click on of the tasks to start.
The tablet should show the first test case. The server UI will automatically move focus to the data entry field in the :"Answers" Panel.
The "Answers" panel is where data gathered from test subjects is entered. It is split into 3 areas.
Answers can be in 2 different forms: 1) an absolute distance estimate, in metres. 2) an estimate relative to a marker, in metres.
There are 3 data entry fields.
To enter an absolute value, just enter the number and press "Enter".
To enter a relative value you need a distance estimate, a marker number, and whether the estimate is before or after the marker. - The first field is the distance estimate. - The second field indicates that the estimate is before or after the marker, denoted by either '<' or '>' respectively. - The third field is the marker number.
e.g. To enter an estimate of "25m after marker 3" you would enter:
25 > 3
To enter an estimate of "25m before marker 6" you would enter:
25 < 6
NOTE: You do not need to manually switch the focus of the data entry text fields. Focus will automatically switch when you type a '<' or '>' character.
There is a timer which records the time spent on the field test. This can be paused/started or reset at any time using the buttons below the timer display.
NOTE: when the data entry fields have focus, the timer can be paused/started by pressing the space bar.
The area on the right of the "Answers" panel shows the last answer that was entered. The display shows: - the actual distance of the test case - the estimate given by the subject - the time spent on that test case
The "Log" panel at the bottom of the server UI displays the server log. This can be checked in the case of errors/etc.
NOTE: you must manually refresh this panel by clicking the amber "refresh" button in the title bar.
- Currently there is very little error handling
- Devices/subjects should be auto-selected if there is only 1
- Possibility of a task type which does not trigger a change on the tablet. This is for "warm-up" estimates at the begining which are estimating the distance of landmarks, etc. These could be numbered 0.0, 0.1, etc.
- Better documentation of usage
- Technical documentation for the system, setup, dependencies. etc.