IrDA session with HP LaserJet 6MP

This program allows to check the communication between a Palm III or a PalmPilot Professional with IrDA extension and other IrDA devices or another PalmPilot. The current version tries to access a IrCOMM port. This is present in most printers and Palm devices with PalmOS >= 3.3. IR Ping uses the built-in IrDA stack of these devices and allows to play around with various IrDA functions and commands:

Discover

This command starts a discovery on the IrDA medium. All devices within the range are displayed with hardware address, hint bits and device name. The first device discovered will be used for the connect/test commands.

Connect IrLap

With 'Connect IrLap' a IrLap connection is set up to the first device discovered during the discovery.

Discon Irlap

Disconnect a running IrLap connection

Connect TP

Tries to set up a TinyTP connection. Therefore requests the receivers TinyTP-Lsap from the IAS data base of the receiver and on receipt requests the TinyTP connection.

Connect LMP

Sets up a IrLMP session. Requests the receivers IrLMP-Lsap from its IAS data base and requests a IrLMP connection. Some devices (e.g. the windows95 ir stack) have a short timeout between setup of the IrLap connection and the TP/LMP connection has to be set up shortly after the IrLap connection is established. Otherwise the device sends a disconnect.

TestReq

With this function a IrDA test is requested.

SendReq

The transmission of a data packet is requested. IR Ping sends 16 bytes (0x00, 0x01, 0x02 ... 0x0f) to the connected machine.

RxSize

The command displays the maximum packet size, the connected machine will transmit.

TxSize

This command displays the maximum paket size that can be transmitted.

DeviceName

This command requests the DeviceName from the receiver IAS data base. The answer is displayed with the next IAS callback.

Additional sources

About IrDA and 3Coms implementation of the IrDA stack see:

• All documents found at www.IrDA.org, especially:
  • IrDA Serial Infrared (SIR) Data Specifications
  • IrDA Control Specification (Formerly IrBus)
  • IrDA Infrared Communications Protocol (IrCOMM)1.0
  • IrDA Infrared Tiny Transport Protocol (TinyTP) 1.1
  • IrDA Minimal IrDA Protocol Implementation (IrDA Lite)
• PalmOS-SDK, Memory and Communications Management

To work with the IrDA capabilities of your Win95 notebook you need to have the IrDA-Tools for Win95 installed. To get a IrCOMM connection you must have a program like hyperterm running that accesses the COM emulation of IrCOMM. (the thanks for this hint go to Peter Shirley)

This program is intended as a base for real IrDA applications. Just use IR Ping to check if your printer, cellular phone, notebook or PDA really talks the IrDA protocol and start writing an application like:

• printer driver for IR printer
• interactive (action) games
• internet communication over cellular phones
• backup, restore or HotSync to IrDA notebooks
• or just code segements like a selector box showing all IrDA devices in range and let the user select one
• ...

• Download the executable
• Download the source for gcc (compiles with gcc and pilrc, needs PalmOS3 includes)
• Download the source for CW4 (translation by Markus Schmidt)