NEW: Use Android for Data Acquisition with PCs or MACs

New Version!

As of today the new version of GetBlue, an Android app for automated data aquisition, is available.

GetBlue collects device data in the background and forwards captured data to adjustable destinations. The following devices and interfaces are supported in V2.8:

• Bluetooth SPP (server and client mode),
• TCP/IP sockets (server and client mode),
• HTTP,
• 3rd party camera scanners like the app Barcode Scanner from ZXing

Captured device data can be displayed, saved, uploaded or forwarded to

• adjustable target devices or target applications (PCs with Microsoft Windows, MAC computers, Google Docs spreadsheets, other Bluetooth devices, web applications, ...),
• files on the SD card,
• or injected into 3rd party applications (software wedge mode).

Highlights of the new Version:

• Bluetooth server support
  Previous GetBlue versions worked exclusively in Bluetooth client mode. Client mode is required to connect to other Bluetooth servers like a Bluetooth barcode scanner. The new Bluetooth server mode can now be used for establishing PC connections: Data captured or scanned with the Android device can automatically sent to a PC for further processing. Server mode is supported for TCP/IP connections as well.
• Licensing without Android Market
  For users without access to Android Market or for bulk-licensing requirements GetBlue can now be licensed by manually installing license certificates. In order to use this feature you need to download GetBlue from tec-it.com and contact TEC-IT for a certificate (price on request). Please note that the version available on Android Market does not support manual licensing.
• Transparent Proxy
  As mentioned above GetBlue works as transparent proxy between devices and/or protocols. Data from a Bluetooth device can be forwarded via TCP/IP or HTTP. This behavior is freely adjustable by means of data-source and data-sink configuration.

Give it a try!

Download GetBlue from Android market or from TEC-IT.COM. TEC-IT supports this app, in case of questions, problems or feature requests just get in touch with us!

About TEC-IT

About TEC-IT
TEC-IT Datenverarbeitung GmbH provides high quality software in the areas of automated data acquisition and data collection, bar-coding, barcode extensions for ERP systems, label and form printing and report generator software. TEC-IT products are available for all major platforms, thus customers benefit from complete and versatile software solutions for all possible requirements. The company is located in Austria / Europe and can be reached via www.tec-it.com.
All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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How to use Microvision ROV Barcode Scanners with Android - Update!

Bluetooth Data Acquisition on Android

Currently TEC-IT offers two Android apps for data acquisition with Bluetooth devices:

• GetBlue provides universal data acquisition and device communication with Bluetooth SPP, TCP and camera scanners. GetBlue communicates with serial Bluetooth devices (Serial Port Profile like SPP/RFCOMM barcode readers), TCP/IP devices and camera scanners. Captured data is displayed, saved (File, Google Docs), forwarded (HTTP, TCP) or injected as virtual keystrokes into Apps (GetBlue virtual keyboard).
• BluePiano extends all Apps with automated Bluetooth data acquisition. This new input method provides a Bluetooth-enabled soft-keyboard. This virtual keyboard captures data from Bluetooth SPP devices (serial port profile) and forwards the received data to input fields of arbitrary apps.

Microvision ROV Bluetooth Scanners

Problem:
Some users are experiencing the following issue: once a bar code is scanned with the Microvision ROV barcode scanner the bar code data is sent over and over again.
Cause:
This problem is because the scanner by default requires an acknowledgement of the receiving party (the Android device). The current versions of GetBlue and BluePiano do not acknowledge received data, thus you need to adapt the configuration of the Microvision device.
Solution:
The required acknowledgement can be switched off by configuring the scanner accordingly.
To do this please check out the Microvision ROV PDF user manual (page 74) for the configuration barcodes. You need to set the following values:

• ForceSerializationOverBT
  must be set to false to force compatibility mode and to disable serial numbers. Scan the Set FSOBT,0 = Force Serialization Over BlueTooth barcode.
• BCDataACK
  must be false so no ACK is required. Scan the Set Ack,0 = Bar Code Data Acknowledgement is False barcode.
• SeqNum
  must be false to disable serial numbers. Scan the Set Seq,0 = Sequence Number is False barcode.
• AutoDownload
  must be true to send scanned barcodes immediately to the Android device. Scan the Set ADl,1 = Auto Download is True barcode.

The Microvision ROV scanner user manual as compressed CHM file may also be of interest. Refer to this blogpost for displaying this file on Windows 7. Use the search function in the manual and search for Bar Coded Menu Cards.

Please note that the configuration information above was posted based on user feedback of TEC-IT's Android apps. If there are any problems let us know. Thanks!

Feedback

TEC-IT hopes this article is valuable for you. If there are any questions please feel free to contact us via email or MSN (support@tec-it.com).

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GetBlue Bluetooth SPP Problems: Android Troubleshooting

Bluetooth SPP Data Acquisition

GetBlue is an Android App which captures data from a data-source (Bluetooth SPP, TCP and Camera Scanners) and forwards the collected data to an adjustable data-sink (TCP, HTTP, File, Display, Online Spreadheets provided by Google Docs, GetBlue virtual keyboard). Data collection is done completely in the background.

Bluetooth SPP Connection Problems

Recently some users reported problems when using Bluetooth SPP (Serial Port Profile) devices with GetBlue: A Bluetooth SPP device can be paired without problems but GetBlue is unable to connect to it.

A Possible Solution

In order to avoid the connection problems please do the following in EXACTLY the given order:

a) Disable all GetBlue functions: Set datasink to "None", do NOT use keyboard output and deactivate the GetBlue keyboard in Android settings (required only if previously enabled).
b) Reboot the phone
c) Enable Bluetooth
d) Pair the Bluetooth device with your handset (Android settings)
e) Start GetBlue
f) Adjust datasource - select the device just paired
g) Press start in GetBlue

Background

The reason for this nasty behavior is a buggy Bluetooth implementation in the firmware of the handsets. HTC Desire, HTC Legend, HTC Wildfire, SonyEricson X10, Samsung Galaxy S and possibly more models are affected.
Google G1, G2 and Motorola Milestone work perfectly.

Please let us know your smart-phone model if you are experiencing this bug. We will update the list above accordingly.

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Android Bluetooth Reader, Keyboard Wedge

In the past few months TEC-IT developed an Android App for data acquisition with Bluetooth and TCP. The good feedback of the Android community motivated us to further enhance this app. The result: an universal data acquisition app including keyboard wedge functionality.

The app is named GetBlue. The final version is available as slightly restricted freeware as well as commercial application. Here are the highlights:

• Android Keyboard Wedge / Virtual Keyboard:
  Captured device data can be entered into any application.
• Supported Input Devices: 
• Bluetooth SPP/RFCOMM, TCP (e.g. RFID controllers), HTTP applications and camera scanners apps like the ZXing Barcode Scanner.
• Supported Data-Sinks:
  Bluetooth SPP/RFCOMM, plain TCP, HTPP via Get and Post, Google Docs Spreadsheets, File.
• Data Acquisition Proxy / Data Switchboard:
  Acquired data can be forwarded to any supported data-sink.

Universal Data Acquisition App

Use GetBlue like an universal data switchboard: capture data from a data-source and forward it to an arbitrary data-sink. As an example you can adjust GetBlue to collect data from a Bluetooth barcode scanner and forward this data immediately to a Google Docs spreadsheet (refer to the drawing).

What is a Virtual Keyboard?

A virtual keyboard replaces the standard soft-keyboard of Android. Captured data is always made available to this virtual keyboard. Thus, data acquired from a Bluetooth barcode scanner or an RFID tag can be entered into any application which is accepting user input. This works completely independent from the selected datasource and the target app.

Call for Requests!

The internals of GetBlue are very simply to extend (e.g. new protocols, new devices, ...). Just let us know your requirements. Whenever possible we will provide you with a solution. Leave us a comment or send an email to office@tec-it.com.

Free Trial!

Install GetBlue using Android Market on your handset. Search for GetBlue manually or use this link: market://search?q=pname:com.tecit.datareader.android.getblue.demo.

We are looking forward to hearing from you!

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