Android application development lends support to an assortment of USB peripherals and Android USB accessories through two major mediums, which includes USB accessory and USB host. Android application developers are aware that in the USB accessory mode, the external USB hardware functions as the USB hosts. Some of the examples for accessories include docking stations, robotics controllers and different types of musical equipment such as kiosks, card readers etc. This enables Android powered devices to interact with USB hardware in the absence of them possessing host capabilities. To facilitate Android application development, it is important that Android USB accessories must be designed in a manner that it works in sync with Android-powered devices and should be able to follow the Android accessory communication protocol.
Whereas in USB host mode, the Android powered device doubles up as the host and some of the examples of devices include keyboards, digital cameras, mice and game controllers. USB devices that are meant for an array of applications can directly interact with Android applications. Primarily, when the android powered device is in host mode, it is responsible for powering the bus and acts as a host mode. On the other hand when Android powered device is in USB accessory mode, the connected USB hardware doubles up as the host and powers the bus.
Android 3.1 directly offers support to USB accessory and host modes and that’s not all, as both the host mode and accessories are supported some of the new platforms. Android application developers can also backport USB accessory mode to Android 2.3.4 as an add-on library to support diverse range of devices. It is up to the device manufacturers to select whether they want to include the add-on library on the device’s system image. However, it is important to note for most Android application development teams, that eventually the support for USB host and accessory is completely dependent on the device’s hardware irrespective of the platform level.
How Android application developers can debug applications that use USB accessory?
When it comes to debugging applications that depend on USB accessory, Android developers will have USB hardware connected to the Android powered device. This will prevent Android application development team from having an adb connection to the Android powered device through the USB. Android application developers will still be able to access adb over a network
connection and therefore to enable adb over a property network connection, the following requirements are essential:
Android application developers need to connect the Android-powered device through USB to the computer
• From the SDK platform-tools/directory, Android application developers need to enter adbtcipip 5555 at the command prompt
• The next step is for the application development team to enter adb connect <device-ip-address>:5555. This command should definitely help the Android application developers to be connected to the Android-powered device and will be able to issue the common adb commands such as adblogcat.
• To allow setting of the device to be able to listen on USB, Android developers would need to enter adbusb.
Whereas in USB host mode, the Android powered device doubles up as the host and some of the examples of devices include keyboards, digital cameras, mice and game controllers. USB devices that are meant for an array of applications can directly interact with Android applications. Primarily, when the android powered device is in host mode, it is responsible for powering the bus and acts as a host mode. On the other hand when Android powered device is in USB accessory mode, the connected USB hardware doubles up as the host and powers the bus.
Android 3.1 directly offers support to USB accessory and host modes and that’s not all, as both the host mode and accessories are supported some of the new platforms. Android application developers can also backport USB accessory mode to Android 2.3.4 as an add-on library to support diverse range of devices. It is up to the device manufacturers to select whether they want to include the add-on library on the device’s system image. However, it is important to note for most Android application development teams, that eventually the support for USB host and accessory is completely dependent on the device’s hardware irrespective of the platform level.
How Android application developers can debug applications that use USB accessory?
When it comes to debugging applications that depend on USB accessory, Android developers will have USB hardware connected to the Android powered device. This will prevent Android application development team from having an adb connection to the Android powered device through the USB. Android application developers will still be able to access adb over a network
connection and therefore to enable adb over a property network connection, the following requirements are essential:
Android application developers need to connect the Android-powered device through USB to the computer
• From the SDK platform-tools/directory, Android application developers need to enter adbtcipip 5555 at the command prompt
• The next step is for the application development team to enter adb connect <device-ip-address>:5555. This command should definitely help the Android application developers to be connected to the Android-powered device and will be able to issue the common adb commands such as adblogcat.
• To allow setting of the device to be able to listen on USB, Android developers would need to enter adbusb.
0 comments: