Gateway Visual Feedback
System
The Subnet MasqueRAIDers
Agenda
• Introductions
• Project Summary
•What Do the Tests Do?
•Project Background
•Database Script
•Raspberry GPIO
•LED Control
•Obstacles
•Unexpected Issues
•Accomplishments
•Budget
•Conclusion
Introductions
Colby Brunner
• 20 years old
• Documentation and formatting specialist
• Lead website designer
• Hardware and software assistant
Introductions
Alex Rollick
• 19 years old
• Lead hardware specialist
• Gantt chart extraordinaire
• Team mediator
Introductions
Matthew Baskharion
• 20 years old
• Script specialist
• Software expert
Project Summary
• Retrieve test results of Gateway from local Access database and
send it to the Raspberry Pi 2, which would illuminate the LEDs a
certain color depending on the test results.
• A gateway is Shaw’s Cable HDPVR device for consumers [2]
Source: [1]
What Do the Tests Do?
The Shaw Distribution Center refurbishes and repacks used gateway
devices.
• A series of 4 tests must be performed on each of these devices to
ensure that the device can successfully connect to the network and
deliver data to the user.
Project Background
Shaw sponsorship
Source: [3]
• Arose from the needs of an actual Shaw department
• Matthew’s parents work at Shaw
• Matthew connected with an employee to see what were some
improvements Shaw desired
• Employee stated there was no visual way to view if tests performed
on devices had succeeded or failed
Obstacles
• ODBC function parameters and connection
•Enabling the database script to connect required very specific parameters.
Source: [4]
Unexpected Issues
• Outfile Encryption
• Appending to an encrypted file
• Router
• No Static IP assignment
Database Script
• Microsoft provides an interface known as Microsoft Open Database
Connectivity (shortened to ODBC). [5]
• Allows programs to interact with various databases, such as ones
made through Microsoft Access. [5]
• The database script was written in Python 3 using PyODBC. [6]
Database Script
• The script sends a query to the database for the results of either a
specified gateway, or all gateways.
• The results are sent to a file on the shared Drive.
LED Control Script
• Python script using GPIOZero to control the LEDs
• Green for Pass, Red for Fail.
• Appends to either a plaintext outfile or an encrypted outfile.
Source: [7]
Raspberry Pi GPIO
• Power is sent from the Raspberry Pi through the GPIO into the
breadboard.
• The GPIO pin specified in the script corresponds with which wire
receives power.
Source: [8]
GPIO Schematic
•
•
•
•
•
First LED: RGB - GPIO 5,13,6
Second LED: RGB - GPIO 17,22,27
Third LED: RGB - GPIO 23,25,24
Fourth LED: RGB - GPIO 12,26,16
Ground Wire: Pin 34
Source: [9]
Accomplishments
• The biggest accomplishment was getting Shaw to approve the
sponsorship of our project
• Getting the script to take user entered inputs and create a usable
infile for the LEDs
• Creating a visually appealing website
• Using the tri-coloured LED’s to display either red or green along with
the results of the test
Recommendations
If an individual were attempting to recreate this project, several
things we’d recommend to improve efficiency would be to:
•
•
•
•
•
Create everything as one script from the start
Ensure there is effective communication throughout the WHOLE project
Work as a team – do not let each other down
Walk each other through what you completed
Comment all code
Budget
Estimated Cost
Actual Cost
Variants
Hardware
$799
$1,824
+$1,025
Software
$0
$119
+$119
Labour
$9,160
$8,080
-$1,080
• Our hardware cost was more than our estimated cost, because we
had forgotten to include the Laptop running the Microsoft system.
• We also had a software cost included because of our Microsoft
Access Data Management System
Conclusion
Closing Thoughts
This project changed much over its duration. There were some
elements we had to expand on that we hadn’t planned for.
Other elements had to be removed, simply because they didn’t
work or were overly complicated for our project.
We really had to learn how to work as a team and communicate
effectively amongst each other.
Thank you!
Any Questions?
Source: [10]
References
• [1]"Free Image on Pixabay - Led, Icon, Logo, Business, Light", Pixabay.com, 2017. [Online].
Available: https://pixabay.com/p-1715226/?no_redirect. [Accessed: 07- Apr- 2017].
• [2]"Gateway HDPVR Terminal and Portals | Gateway - Shaw.ca", Shaw.ca, 2017. [Online].
Available: https://www.shaw.ca/gateway/. [Accessed: 10- Apr- 2017].
• [3]"Log In - Shaw Conference Service", Conferencing.shawbusiness.ca, 2017. [Online]. Available:
http://conferencing.shawbusiness.ca/. [Accessed: 12- Apr- 2017].
• [4]"QlikView ODBC Connection", stylus, 2017. [Online]. Available:
http://www.stylus.co.za/qlikview-odbc-connection/. [Accessed: 12- Apr- 2017].
References - Continued
• [5]"Microsoft Open Database Connectivity (ODBC)", Docs.microsoft.com, 2017. [Online].
Available: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/odbc/microsoft-open-database-connectivityodbc. [Accessed: 10- Apr- 2017].
• [6]"pyodbc", Mkleehammer.github.io, 2017. [Online]. Available:
https://mkleehammer.github.io/pyodbc/. [Accessed: 10- Apr- 2017].
• [7]r. (webmaster@reichelt.de), "RASPBERRY PI A+ - Raspberry Pi A+, 512MB, USB,
HDMI, 40pin GPIO", Elektronik und Technik bei reichelt elektronik günstig bestellen, 2017.
[Online]. Available: https://www.reichelt.nl/Single-board-computer/RASPBERRY-PI-A/3/index.html?ACTION=3&GROUPID=6666&ARTICLE=150492. [Accessed: 12- Apr- 2017].
• [8]"Raspberry Pi.png", Logopedia, 2017. [Online]. Available:
http://logos.wikia.com/wiki/File:Raspberry_Pi.png. [Accessed: 12- Apr- 2017].
References - Continued
• [9]H. 2, "Help to build Mini PCI-E add-on card for Raspberry Pi 2",
Raspberrypi.stackexchange.com, 2017. [Online]. Available:
https://raspberrypi.stackexchange.com/questions/47088/help-to-build-mini-pci-e-add-on-cardfor-raspberry-pi-2. [Accessed: 10- Apr- 2017].
• [10]"Portal de cable para multi-medios DCX3635 | ARRIS", Es.arris.com, 2017. [Online].
Available: http://es.arris.com/productos/dcx-3635-57d/. [Accessed: 12- Apr- 2017].