universal-pi

universal-pi is an application that adapts signals sent from infrared remotes and combines them into one interface. Remotes are configured via lirc, a linux-based package for interpreting infrared signals, and signals are sent via a Raspberry Pi to a specified device.

Remote commands can be initiated by making http requests to https://universal-pi.herokuapp.com at remote-specific endpoints.

Initial Raspberry Pi setup to interact with lirc requires very specific and somewhat verbose instructions--those can be found at the bottom of the readme file. For convenience, commands are outlaid near the beginning of this readme.

Getting Started

To install, simply clone down the project repo and use npm i to install dependencies listed in the package.json file. Both of these commands will need to be performed on the Raspberry Pi as well.

Interacting with a Device

All commands are requested through a heroku endpoint. Provided a device is configured (see below at Raspberry Pi Setup), and Raspberry Pi's IR transmitter is in reach of the device, requests can be made from a computer anywhere with an internet connection.

• Prior to submitting a command, the Raspberry Pi must be ready to receive. To do so, run the following command from the Raspberry Pi in the project folder

  node app

• Then, simply perform a request from a computer. For example: using the command line, the following command would turn on/off the tv.

  curl https://universal-pi.herokuapp.com/api/remote/Vizio/KEY_POWER

For simplicity, a command line interface (CLI) has been created. With the project directory as the present working directory, the following line would execute the same command.

node c key Vizio power

CLI Directions

• node and c (the name of the CLI file) must always be the first two arguments
• key as the third argument, indicates that a remote command will be used
• The fourth argument refers to the device, in this case, the Vizio tv
• The fifth argument refers to the button, here KEY_POWER

An example list of all buttons configured to this device can be found in the project at programmed_buttons.txt, this listing mirrors the /etc/lirc/lircd.conf file found on the Raspberry Pi

User Accounts

Simple implementation of user accounts has been included for universal-pi; however, this feature is currently in public beta. Admin privileges grant the capacity to remove other users.

Future versions would aim to add users to groups related to specific devices. If a user didn't belong to a particular group, that user wouldn't be authorized to utilize that device.

Raspberry Pi Setup

By nature, Raspberry Pi offers an incredibly diverse palette of implementation. As such, it ships in a very customizable state--that being said, some initial customization is necessary in order to be prepped for universal-pi.

Needed for lirc to function is an IR transmitter connected to the Raspberry Pi, this is a very simple solution: Raspberry Pi IR Shield.

Below are the quickstart directions to be completed in the command line for getting a Raspberry Pi ready for universal-pi.

Pi Pre-Prep, Presuming the Raspbian OS

• Update Raspbian to the Latest Version

  sudo apt-get update
  sudo apt-get upgrade
  sudo apt-get dist-upgrade
  

• Upgrade Raspberry Pi Firmware

  sudo apt-get install git-core
  sudo wget http://goo.gl/1BOfJ -O /usr/bin/rpi-update && sudo chmod +x /usr/bin/rpi-update
  sudo rpi-update
  

• lirc Setup

  • lirc Download

    sudo apt-get install lirc

  • lirc Configuration Files

    • Make sure the following lines are included in the /etc/modules file

    12c-dev
    lirc_dev
    lirc_rpi
    

    • Modify the /etc/lirc/hardware.conf file in a text editor (default Leafpad) to appear as below

      # /etc/lirc/hardware.conf
      #
      # Arguments which will be used when launching lirc
      LIRCD_ARGS=""
      
      #Don't start lircmd even if there seems to be a good config file
      #START_LIRCMD=false
      
      #Don't start irexec, even if a good config file seems to exist.
      #START_IREXEC=false
      
      #Try to load appropriate kernel modules
      LOAD_MODULES=true
      
      # Run "lircd --driver=help" for a list of supported drivers.
      DRIVER="default"
      # usually /dev/lirc0 is the correct setting for systems using udev
      DEVICE="/dev/lirc0"
      MODULES="lirc_rpi"
      
      # Default configuration files for your hardware if any
      LIRCD_CONF=""
      LIRCMD_CONF=""
      

    • Make sure the following lines are included in the /boot/config.txt file

      dtoverlay=lirc-rpi
      
      # hardware
      dtparam=i2c_arm=on
      dtparam=is2=on
      dtparam=spi=on
      dtoverlay=lirc-rpi
      

    • Restart the Raspberry Pi for the configurations to take effect

      sudo reboot

  • Initializing a Remote

    • To test that an IR receiver is properly connected to the Raspberry Pi, type the following commands into the command line then aim a remote at the IR receiver and press any button on the remote

      sudo /etc/init.d/lirc stop
      mode2 -d /dev/lirc0
      

      The command line should output several lines similar to below

      space 3136090
      pulse 9147
      space 4305
      pulse 728
      space 385
      pulse 734
      

    • Configuring a Remote

      • The below commands will free up the lirc driver for recording, create a new configuration file, and restart the lirc driver to be used again

      sudo /etc/init.d/lirc stop
      irrecord -d /dev/lirc0 ~/lircd.conf
      sudo mv /etc/lirc/lircd.conf /etc/lirc/lircd_original.conf
      sudo cp ~/lircd.conf /etc/lirc/lircd.conf
      sudo /etc/init.d/lirc start