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MCFE FieldNote User Manual(Newton version)Version 1.0 (incomplete draft)
Table of Contents
1 BackgroundMore to come here 2 ArchitectureThe FieldNote system includes the following components:
3 InstallationInstall the TrackerManager (trackman.pkg) and required Tracker (e.g. gps_tsip.pkg) modules using Newton Connection Utilities (NCU), or other package installer. The auxiliary Tracker button for Notes is installed automatically with the TrackerManager. If you are using Newt'sCape, the web pages can be copied to Notes (we normally file these in a separate folder called 'Forms'). If the Newton has a network connection, Newt'sCape can be used to load these pages from an HTTP server and then file them in Notes. 4 The TrackerManager ModuleThe TrackerManager is used to organise a number of trackers on a single machine. It is optional in the sense that tracker modules may work as stand-alone programs (see below), but it is a core component of the FieldNote architecture as it provides a central registry of installed components. The NoteTrigger module and FieldNote Applications use the TrackerManager to determine which Trackers are available and to initiate communication with them.
Figure 1: TrackerManager: using the GPS Tracker picker to set the default to TSIP protocol. The manager presents a simple user interface that allows the user to select the default tracker module for each registered class of tracker (location, attitude, etc.). For example, several GPS trackers may be present, one for each of several communication protocols (NMEA, Trimble or CMC binary). 5 Tracker ModulesTracker modules monitor external sensors. Typically, these sensors are connected to the computer via a serial, infra-red, PC card or CompactFlash card interface, and a separate tracker module is required for each type of external device. More than one tracker module may be active at any time, monitoring different aspects of the user’s environment. The main purpose of the tracker modules is to provide a common interface to contextual information across a wide range of external sensors. Trackers can be switched between a foreground (visible) and a background (invisible) mode. When invoked by a FieldNote Application, they will usually start up in the foreground, but can then be switched to operate in the background mode, supplying data to the application. To support the foreground mode and stand-alone operation, trackers provide a user interface that displays the current state of their tracked variables and allows the user to set any operational preferences. 5.1 Pseudo TrackerThe PseudoTracker is intended to act as sources of ‘logical’ or ‘pretend’ context. Typically, there will only be one such tracker in use supplying all logical context information. Unlike the constrained sets of capabilities of most physical sensors, the possible range of this type of contextual information is essentially open-ended. For this reason, a simple generalised interface is provided. Note: the PseudoTracker is not included in this release. 5.2 Location TrackersThere are two forms of Location Trackers:
5.2.1 Location Name TrackersLocation Name Trackers can provide a name for the user's current location. This may, for example, be derived from an active badge system within a building, or a mobile phone, wireless or infra-red network cell-name. Alternatively, it might be implemented by table lookup in a Position Coordinate Tracker. Note: no Location Name Trackers have been implemented for the Newton. 5.2.2 Position Co-ordinate TrackersPosition Co-ordinate Trackers are typically, but not exclusively, trackers that work with GPS receivers. Figure 2 shows the user interface of a typical GPS Tracker as it appears before establishing a connection with the GPS receiver.
Figure 2: GPS Tracker before receipt of data from receiver. Figure 3 shows the interface in normal operation. The main part of the display shows information collected from the GPS receiver. The size of the display and the amount of information shown can be adjusted via the preferences slip (see below). At the bottom of the display is a control bar with control buttons and status displays.
Figure 3: GPS Tracker, showing all elements of the user-interface. From left to right the controls are as follows:
Setting preferencesFigure 4 shows the preference slip for the TSIP protocol tracker. Some of the options shown may not be available for other GPS trackers. The main distinction here is between the NMEA tracker and those designed for use with binary protocol receivers. Although many receivers can produce NMEA output, the NMEA Tracker is intended primarily for use with simple hand-held receivers such as the Garmin GPS-45, GPS-12 or GPS-II+. The NMEA tracker options (Figure 5) deal only with input from these devices. Datum settings, for example, should be configured using the receiver's own user-interface.
Figure 4: GPS Tracker preferences slip (TSIP binary protocol).
Figure 5: GPS Tracker preferences slip (NMEA protocol).
Binary protocol receivers such as the Trimble SveeSix and SK-8, or Canadian
Marconi Allstar, can both output raw measurements and can be configured by the
tracker. The additional tracker options cover receiver configuration. In the following
descriptions, options in italics are normally available only on binary protocol trackers.
Coordinates: Trackers can display the latitude & longitude or ECEF XYZ
coordinates supplied by the GPS receiver, or convert them to UTM or British National
Grid. The resulting display formats are shown in Figure 6.
Figure 6: GPS Tracker; the different coordinate formats.
Figure 7: GPS Tracker with Time, DOP, SVs and Velocity output turned off. OperationOnce suitable preferences have set, the GPS tracker can be used in stand-alone mode.
Whether connected or not, the display can be hidden using the Hide button and subsequently restored using the Newton "Notify Icon" at the top centre of the screen (Figure 8).
Figure 8: Tapping on the Notify Icon produces a popup menu of hidden processes. In this case, tapping on "GPS Tracker" will bring the tracker into the foreground. Preferences may be changed whilst the tracker is connected. When the preference slip is closed, the display is reset to its initial state until new data arrives from the GPS receiver. For use with other applications such as the built-in Notes and with web browsers such as Newt'sCape, see later sections. GPS Simulator TrackerThe GPS Simulator Tracker is a simple tool that can be used in place of a GPS tracker to provide position and time data to other programs such as those described below. Figure 9 shows the user interface of the Simulator, and Figure 10 shows its associated preferences slip.
Figure 9: GPS Simulator Tracker
Figure 10: GPS Tracker preferences slip (Simulator). 5.3 Attitude TrackersAttitude Trackers monitor azimuth and elevation angles supplied by external sensors. Typically the sensor would be either attached to the computer, or head mounted and the returned values would be used to indicate the user’s direction of view. By adding a range measurement function, such trackers could also function with laser range- finders or similar equipment as a means of recording the location of distant objects relative to that of the user. Note: no Attitude Trackers have been implemented for the Newton. 5.4 Environment TrackersEnvironment Trackers are intended to monitor a range of sensors providing information about the current atmospheric conditions in the immediate vicinity of the user or computer. Typical sensors would measure variables such as temperature, humidity, wind speed, ambient light level, etc. Note: no Environment Trackers have been implemented for the Newton. 6 FieldNote ApplicationsWe describe the programs that use the services provided by Tracker, TrackerManager and NoteTrigger modules as FieldNote applications. Typically these are purpose- written programs such as the mapping and note creation module, FieldMap, described below. However, the interpreted NewtonScript environment and semi-open nature of much of the built-in software of this machine have also enabled us to provide interesting extensions to the built-in Notes program. NewtonScript functions can also be embedded in HTML and interpreted by the Newt'sCape web browser. 6.1 Tracker ButtonIn common with many PDAs, the Newton offers simple notepad and diary programs. In both cases it is possible to extend the user interface of these programs by adding buttons or menu items, and this has been widely used as a means of adding functionality. For example, several available web browsers add an 'Open in Browser' option to the Notepad, thus enabling users to edit their HTML source with this built-in editor and switch to the browser to view the results. In our case, we have added options to insert data from our Tracker modules into notes entries. When the TrackerManager has been installed, the Tracker Button appears in the button bar of the Notes application:
Clicking on the Tracker button produces a popup menu that gives access to the TrackerManager or to the different types of data available from installed Trackers. If the TrackerManager is not installed, an apropriate error message is displayed and no menu appears. If the TrackerManager is present, but no Trackers have been selected, only the Trackers option is presented. Tapping on this will invoke the TrackerManager dialog.
Here, a GPS Tracker is available. Two options are presented; Position is available with all location trackers, but GPS data only appears when the the Tracker can provide raw pseudorange or carrier phase output. Additional options appear if Pseudo, Attitude or Environment Trackers are installed and have been selected in TrackerManager.
Figure 11: Notes with Tracker Button - the tracker is displayed and the captured data written to the note at the current caret position. To use these options to insert position or raw GPS data into a note:
The Tracker may now be stopped, hidden or closed using its own interface buttons. With the Tracker out of the way, the Notes display appears as in Figure 12. Notice the Notify Icon at the top of the screen.
Figure 12: With the tracker hidden, the full note is visible. Notice the Notify Icon at top centre. The information inserted into the note depends on the capabilities of the Tracker. This example uses the TSIP Tracker (Trimble binary protocol) Notes:
6.2 Newt'sCape FormsNewt'sCape, a shareware web browser developed by Steve Weyer offers a Newton based alternative to JavaScript and other more conventional methods of embedding functionality in web pages. This release includes an example HTML form with embedded NewtonScript objects that can be used together with our trackers and TrackerManager for data collection. The PhotoForm includes a number of input elements derived in whole or in part from examples provided with Newt'sCape. Additionally we have provided a similar function to that offered by the Tracker Button in the Notes application (see above). The form itself is stored as a note. When Newt'sCape is installed, a "Newt'sCape Open" option is added to the Notes routing button, and this can be used to open the web page in the browser.
Figure 13: NewtsCape Photographic Record form with active GPS data area. The resulting form is shown in Figure 13. If the Tracker is running when the form opens, position data is inserted automatically in the GPS data area. Otherwise, tapping in this area can retrieve the data. As with the Tracker Button, the tracker is opened if it is not already running (Figure 14).
Figure 14: NewtsCape Photographic Record form after tapping on active GPS data area. Pressing the form's submit button posts the form content to the "Unfiled Notes" folder of the built-in Note program. Here it is stored as a collection of Name: value pairs as shown in Figure 15.
Figure 15: NewtsCape Photographic Record form output "posted" to Notes. 6.3 FieldMapThe FieldMap application is not included in this release
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