ref: 01338076d1a3610858f41fcbcdc7e46fb1109b77
dir: /appl/examples/minitel/README/
Minitel Emulation for Inferno
This directory contains the source of `miniterm', a minitel emulator
for Inferno. Miniterm is written in Limbo. The main components are:
miniterm.m - common constants
miniterm.b - terminal emulator, messaging and Minitel `protocol`
event.[mb] - inter-module message format
keyb.b - Minitel keyboard module
modem.b - Minitel modem module
screen.b - Minitel screen module
socket.b - Minitel socket module
arg.m - basic command line argument handling
mdisplay.[mb] - Videotex display module
swkeyb.[mb] - Minitel aware software keyboard
fonts.tgz which expands into:
fonts/minitel - external and subfont directory (`bind -b' into /fonts)
fonts/minitel/f40x25 - 40 column external font
fonts/minitel/14x17
fonts/minitel/14x17xoe
fonts/minitel/14x17arrow
fonts/minitel/f40x25g1 - 40 column semigraphic external font
fonts/minitel/vid14x17
fonts/minitel/f40x25h - 40 column double height external font
fonts/minitel/14x34
fonts/minitel/14x34xoe
fonts/minitel/14x34arrow
fonts/minitel/f40x25w - 40 column double width external font
fonts/minitel/28x17
fonts/minitel/28x17xoe
fonts/minitel/28x17arrow
fonts/minitel/f40x25s - 40 column double size external font
fonts/minitel/28x34xoe
fonts/minitel/28x34arrow
fonts/minitel/f80x25 - 80 column external font
fonts/minitel/8x12
fonts/minitel/8x12xoe
fonts/minitel/8x12arrow
The fonts subdirectory should be bound into /fonts:
bind -b fonts /fonts
or the directory fonts/minitel copied to /fonts/minitel before invoking the emulator.
The names of the external fonts are
known to the Videotex display module. Similarly, the files:
/dev/modem
/dev/modemctl
are known to the modem module, but you can ignore them if
(as is almost certain) you are using the Internet-minitel gateway
and you haven't got appropriate modem hardware anyway.
To build
mkdir /usr/inferno/dis/wm/minitel
mk install
The code models the structure outlined in the Minitel 1B specification
provided by France Telecom. However, much more interpretation was
required to display the majority of screens currently seen on Minitel.
Additional information (although sketchy) was found on the Internet by
searching for Minitel or Videotex and also by examination of the codes
sent by minitel servers and experimenting with replies. There must be
some more up to date information somewhere!
We don't support downloadable fonts, but correctly filter them out.
The file miniterm.b contains the code for the minitel `terminal' with
which the other modules communicate. The keyboard, modem, socket,
screen and terminal are run as separate threads which communicate by
calling:
send(e: ref Event)
The clue to the intermodule communication is in Terminal.run which
does something like:
for(;;) {
ev =<- t.in =>
eva := protocol(ev);
while(len eva > 0) {
post(eva[0]);
eva = eva[1:];
}
# then deliver any `posted' messages (without blocking)
}
An Event `ev' may typically be an Edata type (say from the modem) or
an Eproto type for internal interpretation. In the call:
eva := protocol(ev)
The function protocol() dissects Edata messages to produce an inline
sequence of Edata and Eproto messages. The function post() queues
messages for delivery to the appropriate modules. For example, data
from the modem might be destined for the screen and the socket module.
Messages are queued until they can be delivered. That way the line:
ev =<- t.in
is executed in a timely way and the other modules can be written to
make blocking writes (via send()) and to service reads when they are
ready.
In many places in the code lines appear with comments like:
if(p.skip < 1 || p.skip > 127) # 5.0
These refer to sections of the Minitel specification which explain the
code.
The mdisplay code provides a Videotex display using Inferno
primitives. The screen, keyboard and modem modules interpret data as
described in the equivalent section of the Minitel specification. The
socket module has not been implemented but currently performs a `null'
function and could easily be added if required.
- Namespace
We always expect the fonts to appear in /fonts and the softmodem
to appear as /dev/modem and /dev/modemctl.
- Invocation
If invoked with no argument, miniterm uses the France Telecom
internet gateway by default (tcp!193.252.252.250!513).
If the argument starts with `modem' then
a direct connection through /dev/modem will be established.
An argument beginning with anything other than `modem' will
be assumed to be an address suitable for dial(). For example:
wm/minitel/miniterm tcp!193.252.252.250!513
will connect to the current France Telecom internet server.
For direct connections a modem `init' string and an optional
phone number can follow the modem prefix, as in:
wm/minitel/miniterm modem!F3!3615
or
wm/minitel/miniterm modem!F3!01133836431414
The `F3' is the code which instructs the softmodem to enable V.23
and needs to be passed when connecting to the FT servers.
To use pulse dialing instead of tone dialing the phone number
can be prefixed with a 'P' as in:
wm/minitel/miniterm modem!F3!P3614
If the parameter specifies a network connection or a direct connection
with a phone number the software will attempt to connect immediately.
If Cx/Fin is used to disconnect and then re-connect it will use the
same IP address for a network connection or prompt for a new
phone number in the case of a direct connection. When prompting
for a new number the top row of the screen is used to allow the user
to edit the last used number. Simple editing is available, and the minitel
keys do the obvious things.
** Notes on the 15th December 1998 Release **
- Software keyboard
A version of the software keyboard which understands some of
the minitel keyboard mappings is included. For example, hitting 'A' results
in a capital 'A' on the screen in spite of the Videotex case mapping.
- Minitel function keys
The minitel keys are displayed on the right hand side of the screen
in 40 column mode on a network connection
and can be swapped to the left hand side by hitting the <- key.
In direct dial mode and 80 column network mode the keys are
displayed at the bottom of the screen.
In network mode they are re-displayed as appropriate on 40 to 80
column mode changes.
Known Omission
-------------
- Error Correction (direct dial only)
There is no screen button to enable error correction in the release.
If a server asks for error correction it will be enabled. It looks as though
we need to include a key to enable it. Without it direct dial screens are
occasionally corrupted.
- Software Keyboard Handling
We need to add some code to update the software keyboard and
bring it to the foreground on a mode change.
- Full 80 column support
I am aware of some screens which don't look correct in 80 column
mode (and others that do). See `EMAIL' then choose USENET and
press SUITE a few times. I believe it behaves as specified but as we
have seen with the 40 column Videotex mode the specification
is not sufficient to display most of the minitel screens correctly.
80 column support needs just a little more work.
It may be, too, that the 80 column font could be made much more
readable by utilising a few more pixels on the screen now that we
are able to cover the toolbar.
- Full toolbar integration
Experimentation will show whether there needs to be more
integration with the toolbar.
Known Bugs
----------
- Softmodem disconnection
Often, the modem does not hangup correctly.
- Choose `USA' from a network connection
USA (from a network connection) gives an `iC' in bottom left hand
corner of screen. Possibly a server issue. Doesn't occur when
connecting directly. The server is really sending this sequence.
Both the FT emulator and their explorer plug-in suffer from it too.
John Bates
Vita Nuova Limited