Active Server Pages, Script & the Web Cam

1. Active Server Pages, Script & the Web Cam By: Shara Rell CS 460: Senior Capstone Experience in CS Dr. David Pankratz May 8, 2001

2. Project Definition • Description: • Design and launch a web server that uses active server pages in an application General Requirements: • Research and purchase or secure the necessary equipment and software to implement ASP • Learn VB Script or Java Script and write a test web server • Server must collect specific requests from clients (input) and react based on that input • Design and implement a real-time web server using ASP • Animate the application over time

3. What is ASP? • Definition: • Files that contain both HTML and script code (VB Script or Java Script) and can make calls to components in other languages like database tables or ActiveX objects • Technology built directly into Microsoft Web servers • Script is automatically compiled when page is loaded • Java Script VS VB Script • Client Side Script: executed on the client • Server Side Script: executed on the server • What difference does it make where the script is executed?

4. Why Not Video Streaming? • Other sites with Web Cams • Did find a single site with actual video streaming • Some had automatic update while others had a refresh button • Much too complex • Graduate programs that deal only with video streaming • Madison: sending only some of the information and then using algorithm to fill in the missing areas • Didn’t have the appropriate equipment • Needed encoder and decoders • School lab doesn’t have the equipment to support it

5. Strategy for Success • Basic Idea Image Copy Program Web Cam Capture Program VB program that will copy the image taken from the camera to one of 100 files. Camera software that will automatically take the picture and upload it to the web server. Client Loaded with most current pic. Every ? Seconds, automatically updated with newest pic. Or have button that will get newest pic for user. Client Web server Loaded with most current pic. Every ? Seconds, automatically updated with newest pic. Or have button that will get newest pic for user. Contains the pictures, html, ASP.

6. Problems • Not sure how to store the images for later use • Camera program will automatically take an image and store it in a file but keeps storing in same file • Racing Conditions • Have camera program save image in one file and then have another program copy that image to a bunch of different files? • can’t read and write to same file at the same time • How do we get the image files on the web server? • FTP from computer to computer • What web server are we going to use? • SNCUW, PWS, NT, YAHOO, ….

7. Personal Web Server (PWS) • What is PWS? • Turns your computer into a miniature web server • Creates virtual directories that can be linked to anywhere on your computer (C:\MyDocuments or G:\Pankdc) • Where to get PWS? • Comes with Windows 95, 98 • Why use PWS? • Can work on projects at home without constantly uploading them to a web server • Others can see what you’re working on if connected to network • Easy to install and use

8. Image Swapping • No Good VB Script samples • Document.Write(“IMG SRC=“Image1.jpg”>) • Java Script Samples • WM_ImageSwap(ImageName, NewSource) • OverMouse Hyperlink <AHREF="#picture"onmouseover=document.visible.src=imgSrc[0].src > • Document.Write(“<IMG SRC=“Image1.jpg”>”) • creates a new image on the page with the given source • Document.ImageName.Src = “Image1.jpg” • changes the source of the image called ImageName

9. Java Movie Player Launch() Animate() Fwd() Stop() Rev() AnimateFwd() GoToImage() AnimateRev() ChangeSpeed() ChangeMode() Array of Images 1 2 3 ... + -

10. setTimeout(function, delay) Similar To: Update( ) While (True) { Statement; Statement; Update(); Alarm(delay); } Statement; Statement; Statement; Statement; setTimeout (“Update();”, delay); ALARM

11. Server View Web Cam FreeCam.exe C:\Inetpub\Asp\Capture.jpg Image Capture Program C:\Inetpub\Asp\Pic0.jpg …… Pic99.jpg VB Copy Program Image Image Image 30 Seconds Later… FreeCam.exe Web Cam C:\Inetpub\Asp\Capture.jpg Image Capture Program C:\Inetpub\Asp\Pic0.jpg …… Pic99.jpg VB Copy Program Image Image

12. Client View Web Server C:\Inetpub Client 1 Launch() Stop() StartUpdate() Play Stop Image + - Client 2 Update() ChangeSpeed() Launch() Stop() StartUpdate() Play Stop + - Update() ChangeSpeed()

13. QUESTIONS ? ? ? What?! ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

14. Learning & Development Process • Best Learning Technique - where I found answers • INTERNET!!!! • Other People • Knowledge - what MT/CS courses were most helpful • Further Research or Enhancements?! • Video Streaming??? • Advice for Next Year Seniors • Don’t put things off • Can’t get it, just ask! • Overall Experience

15. Capture Programs • Easy Free Web Cam • http://www.msagentsoftware.com/easyfreewebcam/index.html • Written by college group in Germany • IBM Net Camera • Free with IBM Net Camera • WebMedia • www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/en/wm7/encoder.asp • Couldn’t get it to work properly

16. Resources • Books • Active Server Pages by Morneau and Batistick • Useful Web Sites • http://www.realnetworks.com/products/producer/info.html • http://www.playstream.com/home/3minute.asp • http://www.vivo.com/products/playfree/vaplayer.htm • http://msdn.microsoft.com/scripting/default.htm?jscript • http://www.4guysfromrolla.com/webtech/ • http://www.faqts.com/knowlegde-base/index.phtml/fid/53/ • http://www.deja.com/usenet/ • http://www.webmonkey.com

17. Web Cam • PC Cam VS Web Cam • Make sure it supports video streaming • Record small video file or capture still frames • .AVI (Microsoft) files or .RAM files (RealPlayer) • .JPG, .BMP ??? • USB Hook Up • Other Specifications • Resolution • Speed • Picture quality