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An HTTP web server opening media files in the server screen, using QR-Codes and a REST architecture

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13 Aug 2012LGPL34 min read 42.4K   513   27   9
A command promt web server that starts an application or opens a file given in as an argument in an HTTP address. Could potentially be used to show media on screen using QR-codes.

Introduction

The idea of presenting media on a screen using mobile phones and QR-codes came up during a brainstorm meeting. There was a need to visualize information of our projects in some interactive way. With information and QR-codes printed on traditional paper sheets together with an interactive flat screen, the result would probably give the visitor some extra curiosity.

An example of an application is a screen connected to a computer with the server application below. On the server you put four different movies. Under the screen you put four QR-codes corresponding to each movie. The visitor can then scan the QR-code with his/her mobile phone and start the corresponding movie on the screen.

To achieve this the server side would need some HTTP web server that listens for HTTP calls and open a file or application locally on the server. The server is then connected to a screen where the chosen application/movie/picture/presentation is shown. The only information possible to store in a QR-code and usable for this purpose is a URL string. Therefore the HTTP server has to be able to open files provided in a URL string, using the REST architecture.

The HTTP has also to be started by an active computer user. If this would be implemented as a service it would not be possible to show anything on a normally configured screen connection in Windows.

The big pros with this approach is that QR-cdes can easily be read by a mobile phone that you always have available. In an exhibition you often want to interact with the system, extra hardware for integration is expensive. Instead you can use your visitor's mobile device as the tool. The only thing you would need is to buy a cheep computer and connect that to a fancy screen. Then you let your visitors scan QR-codes to answering questions, start movies, start presentations, or whatever.

The files that are allowed to be opened are defined in the code as a folder. To open a file in the folder the file name is provided within the arguments provided in the HTTP REST call, e.g., http://Myserver:8080/?file=openme.txt.

Using the code

The code is simple and configurable depending on how you want to show your files. For movies and PowerPoint, I send arguments to expand the media to full screen. Please refer to the specific software manual to get the know of how to interact with the software.

To create a QR-code that will be used for starting an application you use any QR-creator available on the internet, e.g., http://qrcode.kaywa.com/. For the connection string you need the address or IP to the server, the port used, and the file or homepage to show on the server-side, i.e.: http://your-address:your-port/?file=your-file.

To start the server side application you start the exe file in administration mode (needed to listen to ports, at least for me). The default port is 8080 and is changed either in the code or by giving the port as an argument. E.g., create a shortcut and specify the port in the command field for the shortcut properties.

I added support for steaming videos to the requesting device. This is done by adding the argument local=true to the REST call, i.e., http://your-address:your-port/?file=your-file&local=true.

The Code

The main loop basically starts a HttpListener and answers all calls by calling StartProgram with the file provided in the REST argument and responds by "Started" or an exception if the file did not exist or any exception occured.

C#
//Source for videos to play locally on the connected device
private static string httpfilesource = "http://desenergy.selfip.org/";
private static string filefolder = "C:\\Videos\\";

private static void Main(string[] args)
{
    var server = new HttpListener();
    int port;
    if (args != null && args.Length > 0 && int.TryParse(args[0], out port))
        server.Prefixes.Add(@"http://*:" + port + "/");
    else
        server.Prefixes.Add(@"<a href="http://*:8080/">http://*:8080/");
    while (true)
    {
        server.Start();
        HttpListenerContext context = server.GetContext();

        NameValueCollection query = context.Request.QueryString;
        bool local = false;
        string file = query["file"];
        //Play movies locally on the requesting device
        if (query["local"] != null)
            local = "true".ToLowerInvariant() == query["local"].ToLowerInvariant();
        string exc = "";
        string responseString = "";
        try
        {
            if (file != null)
            {
                //Local
                if (local)
                {
                    
                    responseString = "<HTML><BODY><video width=\"320\" height=\""
                                     + "240\" controls=\"controls\">"
                                     + "<source src=\"" + httpfilesource + file 
                                     + "\" type=\"video/ogg\" />"
                                     + "Your browser does not support the video tag."
                                     + "</video></BODY></HTML>";
                }
                else
                {
                    StartProgram(filefolder + file);
                    responseString = "<HTML><BODY> Startad </BODY></HTML>";
                }
            }
        }
        catch (Exception e)
        {
            exc = e.ToString();
        }

        HttpListenerResponse response = context.Response;
        // Construct a response.
        
        if (exc != "")
            responseString = "<HTML><BODY> Exception =" + 
                             exc + " </BODY></HTML>";
        byte[] buffer = Encoding.UTF8.GetBytes(responseString);
        response.ContentLength64 = buffer.Length;
        Stream output = response.OutputStream;
        output.Write(buffer, 0, buffer.Length);
        output.Close();
    }
}

The next step is to implement the StartProgram function.

Files provided to the StartProgram function are by default executed by the server. Windows file association will take care of how to execute the file. However, in this implementation I need to start some files in full screen, e.g., start movies, PowerPoint, WordFiles, and homepages in full screen from start.

To achieve the full screen the application sends start argument to the actual application itself. The arguments send depend on the application used, but the actual document or media is always provided as one of the arguments.

The default program for special programs is defined in constant strings. Be aware that the strings to open specific programs differ from installation to installation. If you want a more rigid design you can access the Registry to get the file folders.

The method basically first cleans the filename for some problems with Nordic letters, then analyses the string and starts it with the correct application. If there is no default application for the file type, the application tries to start the file itself.

C#
//Define Your Paths
private const String Reader = @"C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Acrobat 10.0\Acrobat\Acrobat.exe";
private const String Explorer = @"C:\Program Files (x86)\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe";
private const String PowerPoint = @"C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office14\POWERPNT.EXE";
private const String WinWord = @"C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office14\winword.exe";
private const String WMPlayer = @"C:\Program Files\Windows Media Player\wmplayer.exe";


private static void StartProgram(string s)
{
    string file = String.Copy(s);
    if (file != null)
    {
        file = file .Replace("ö", "ö");
        file = file.Replace("ä", "ä");
        file = file.Replace("Ã¥", "å");
    }

    string t;
    try
    {
        t = file.Remove(0, file.LastIndexOf(".", StringComparison.Ordinal));
    }
    catch
    {
        t = s;
    }

    if (file.StartsWith("http://"))
    {
        StartProcess(Explorer,
                     "-k " + "\"" + file + "\"");
    }
    else
    {
        switch (t.ToLowerInvariant())
        {
            case ".ppt":
            case ".pptx":
                StartProcess(PowerPoint,
                             "/S " + "\"" + file + "\"");
                break;
            case ".doc":
            case ".docx":
                StartProcess(WinWord,
                             "/fullscreen " + "\"" + file + "\"");
                break;
            case ".mpg":
            case ".mpeg":
            case ".mp4":
            case ".avi":
            case ".ogg":
                StartProcess(WMPlayer,
                             "\"" + file + "\"" + " /fullscreen");
                break;
            case ".pdf":
                StartProcess(Reader,
                             "\"" + file + "\"");
                break;
            default:
                StartProcess(file, null);
                break;
        }
    }
}

The last part closes the previous process and and starts the new one. The previous process is stored in a static field and can therefore be closed before the next process is started.

C#
private static Process _process;

private static void StartProcess(string program, string argumentfile)
    try
    {
        if (_process != null)
            _process.CloseMainWindow();
    }
    catch (Exception)
    {
    }
    _process = new Process
                   {
                       StartInfo =
                           {
                               FileName = program,
                               Arguments = argumentfile,
                               WindowStyle = ProcessWindowStyle.Maximized
                           }
                   };
    // Configure the process using the StartInfo properties. 
    _process.Start();
}

Points of Interest

If you do not want to open up your computers to the outside world you can have an open wireless network that provides the only way to connect to servers.

License

This article, along with any associated source code and files, is licensed under The GNU Lesser General Public License (LGPLv3)


Written By
Software Developer SharpedNET
Sweden Sweden
I have a development company called SharpredNET focusing on smaller project with high delivery precision on customer need and time. The solution always uses modern frameworks, is good looking and easy to use.

I am also a reseracher in Production System giving me specialization on implementation for manufacturing industry.

Comments and Discussions

 
QuestionWhat is QR-Codes ? Pin
Tridip Bhattacharjee13-May-15 21:25
professionalTridip Bhattacharjee13-May-15 21:25 
AnswerRe: What is QR-Codes ? Pin
Jon Larborn12-Jan-16 20:26
Jon Larborn12-Jan-16 20:26 
GeneralMy vote of 4 Pin
Moshe Ventura11-Feb-12 22:38
Moshe Ventura11-Feb-12 22:38 
QuestionUse QR code to launch app locally Pin
Kevin_19678-Feb-12 12:54
Kevin_19678-Feb-12 12:54 
AnswerRe: Use QR code to launch app locally Pin
Jon Larborn8-Feb-12 23:10
Jon Larborn8-Feb-12 23:10 
GeneralRe: Use QR code to launch app locally Pin
Kevin_19679-Feb-12 10:07
Kevin_19679-Feb-12 10:07 
GeneralRe: Use QR code to launch app locally Pin
Jon Larborn9-Feb-12 20:31
Jon Larborn9-Feb-12 20:31 
GeneralMy vote of 5 Pin
DidiKunz30-Jan-12 11:21
DidiKunz30-Jan-12 11:21 
GeneralRe: My vote of 5 Pin
Jon Larborn31-Jan-12 8:24
Jon Larborn31-Jan-12 8:24 
I will tell that to my colleagues. Smile | :)

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