Forum Discussion

tschak909's avatar
tschak909
Visitor
12 years ago

ECP and is something playing?

Hello. I am improving our integration code for our smart home platform, LinuxMCE. Is there any way to ask the Roku device if something is playing, so that I can update internal state appropriately? I don't need to know WHAT'S playing, but rather if something IS, so that I can send play/pause appropriately when phone calls happen in the home.

-Thom
Roku Developer Program

6 Replies

  • RokuJoel's avatar
    RokuJoel
    Binge Watcher
    12 years ago
    You could implement a simple webserver based on the example in the SDK and use that to return information to the requesting device.

    -Joel
  • EnTerr's avatar
    EnTerr
    Roku Guru
    12 years ago
    "RokuJoel" wrote:
    You could implement a simple webserver based on the example in the SDK and use that to return information to the requesting device.

    RokuJoel,
    The question is how to query Roku player if something is playing, regardless of the "channel". We have no access to modify Netflix, Pandora, Amazon etc, so your answer is not relevant.
  • RokuJoel's avatar
    RokuJoel
    Binge Watcher
    12 years ago
    Hmm, I don't see that level of specificity in the original post.

    The answer is: not at this time.

    - Joel
  • EnTerr's avatar
    EnTerr
    Roku Guru
    12 years ago
    "RokuJoel" wrote:
    The answer is: not at this time.

    So couple of requests for enhancements then:
    1. (my request) Provide functionality so that ECP query can return what channel# Roku is currently "tuned" to (0 if in main menu?). Presumably further detail is up to individual channels to publish (we can discuss and agree on recommended API for that)

    2. (per tschak909 question) Consider adding functionality so that via ECP query it can be determined if video or audio is being played, no matter the channel. (now this is somewhat unclear - while if programmed in B/S, it probably is known to the system if a multimedia control is playing, it may not be so with NDK/else. Also how is pausing to be done here, presumably by shooting ECP pause and hoping the channel pauses?)
  • tschak909's avatar
    tschak909
    Visitor
    12 years ago
    If there was a simple way to send a discrete pause, that always paused, and ignored if it was already paused, as well as a discrete play, this would not be an issue. But I am having to work around it.

    -Thom
  • erl11's avatar
    erl11
    Visitor
    10 years ago
    tschak909, did you ever figure something out for this? I too would like a discrete pause for my home auto system, or even better to query the state. This way i could resume play only if i know the Roku was already playing.