The "Rundfunker"
By The Rundfunker Team
Posted on February 18, 2006
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User application

On this system runs an entirely self-developed and implemented Java program, that scans the WLAN for audio files, is able to play them and lets the listener control the device. Our software design focused on a strictly object oriented and easily extensible structure. The remote control applet we implemented in our web interface is just one possible extension. You could think of implementing a Java class for integrating an IR-remote control, an interface recognising your voice and thousands of other pretty things. If you want to show the capability of software you develop a common way is to show screen shots. In this special case we didn't really have a screen - but here are some pictures of our LCD display:

The Rundfunker

The Rundfunker's standard-screen during playback (previous/next song when turning jog-dial)

The Rundfunker

List of artists - browsing and selecting via jog-dial (ALPS rotary encoder)

The Rundfunker

The most comfortable way of choosing an artist from a huge list of entries: Rundfunker's speller functionality

Hardware/Software

Hardware:

  • VIA EPIA MS Mini-ITX Motherboard (1 GHz CPU, 256 MB RAM)
  • LCD Display (4 x 20 characters)
  • Self-developed circuit board with electronic components to connect display, buttons, LEDs and Jog-Dial
  • Microcontroller to control the hardware
  • 2-way speaker system with good audio characteristics

Software:

  • Microcontroller software (developed in C) to control the hardware
  • Java program to handle user input, play back audio files and scan the WLAN
  • PHP web interface for configuration and controlling Rundfunker by remote

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