Using the USB port to communicate with other devices
Posted: Mar 24, 2003 @ 5:45pmWe are looking into developing an application where the PocketPC needs to communicate with another device over the USB cable. The problem I'm facing is that all the documentation talks about ActiveSync, which is not going to be applicable since the other device won't be using Windows. (It will probably be running uCLinux on an embedded chip.)
Books such as 'USB Complete' and 'USB Design By Example' seem to focus on developing new peripherals for the PC, whereas I need to be looking at how to connect something to a PocketPC, which is nearly always a slave device (I think). But they both imply that I may need to write a new driver to do this. I've been looking into USB-On-The-Go so that I don't need a proper host as such, but can't find out whether this requires hardware support or merely a new driver. Usb.org isn't much help either, since it focuses on the hardware side more than the software, which is my area.
Basically, I don't know much about this area, and really want some pointers on what is possible and what is not, and where to look for more information. Any comments appreciated.
Books such as 'USB Complete' and 'USB Design By Example' seem to focus on developing new peripherals for the PC, whereas I need to be looking at how to connect something to a PocketPC, which is nearly always a slave device (I think). But they both imply that I may need to write a new driver to do this. I've been looking into USB-On-The-Go so that I don't need a proper host as such, but can't find out whether this requires hardware support or merely a new driver. Usb.org isn't much help either, since it focuses on the hardware side more than the software, which is my area.
Basically, I don't know much about this area, and really want some pointers on what is possible and what is not, and where to look for more information. Any comments appreciated.