Greg KH wrote: > On Fri, Sep 28, 2007 at 07:38:17PM +0200, Hans de Goede wrote: >> Greg KH wrote: >>> On Fri, Sep 28, 2007 at 02:13:37PM +0200, Bertrik Sikken wrote: >>>> Many webcam drivers are consequently maintained out of the >>>> official kernel and *DO* include decompression and bayer >>>> conversion to at least get webcams into a workable state. >>>> (Examples, there are many more: >>>> * Philips PWC driver: http://www.saillard.org/linux/pwc/ >>>> * Various other drivers: http://www.linux-projects.org >>>> * Spca driver: http://mxhaard.free.fr/spca5xx.html ) >>>> >>>> Some ideas: >>>> * create a user-space library for webcams that reads the compressed >>>> data from a v4l(2) device file, decompresses and unbayers it, >>>> then exposes it through a standard API to applications. >>>> * as above, instead of library, use gstreamer plug-ins (each compressed >>>> webcam format would have its own plugin, with perhaps a single plugin >>>> for unbayering). >>>> * bypass the kernel drivers entirely and use libusb to talk to the >>>> webcams. A problem is that (AFAIK) libusb does not support isochronous >>>> USB transfers and many cameras use this transfer mode. >>>> >>>> Any thoughts on how to improve Linux webcam support? >>> Yes, work with the existing Linux video driver developers. They need >>> all the help they can get. >>> More information about them can be found at http://linuxtv.org >>> That being said, I have no objection to people helping on this project >>> to take some of the current out-of-tree drivers and cleaning them up to >>> get them included in the main kernel source tree. That would be an >>> immense help that the people here could provide. >>> Does anyone want to pick up one of the above mentioned drivers, or any >>> of the other ones floating around on the net, and do this? >> Actually I've been toying with the idea to work on the UVC webcam driver to >> make it suitable for upstream / mainstream kernel merging. I haven't >> contacted the UVC developers about this yet, as I've been swamped with >> other stuff. > > There is already a developer, Brandon (on the CC:) who is actively > working on this. You might want to work with him, if he needs any help. > His response might be delayed as he is traveling this weekend across > the globe... > Cool, Brandon anything I can do to help? I've some kernel driver writing experience (2 in kernel hwmon drivers are maintained by me, 3th and 4th one pending) and plenty of embeddedsystems and generic C programming experience. >> But if the linuxdriverproject could help me in someway to do this that >> would be great! >> >> Actually I think that helping existing drivers reach the mainline might be >> a very worthwhile goal to add to the list of goals for this projects in >> general. > > I agree, feel free to edit the wiki and propose some drivers here on the > list that fall under that category. Off the top of my head, I know of a > few... > I'm afraid my list currently is only 1 long: UVC, but I think adding a list of candidates for this to the wiki is a great idea! Regards, Hans
