Software Development Question - API's to access ETA etc.

rich_d_thomas · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jan 25, 2004 Posts: 46

Hi,

This is a real geeky question, so please bear with me on it.

Has anyone written or does anyone know of the relevant API's to "probe" TomTom 5 to retrieve the ETA and estimated journey time?

It maybe that TomTom continuously writes this into to a file, but if it does, I don't know what it is.

I'm looking to write something that once it's got this info, it could use my bluetooth-gprs-internet connection to populate a web site with my ETA etc.

If anyone has got any pointers on this, I'd appreciate it.

Thanks in advance.

Richard.

lbendlin · Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2006 3:35 pm Post subject:

the GetRouteInfo API call will give you these details.
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rich_d_thomas · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jan 25, 2004 Posts: 46

Hi Lutz,

Thanks for your reply.

I realise now that I am no where near as equipped as I need to be to make use of the GetRouteInfo API call.

I don't have the TomTom SDK nor do I have a compiler. I was hoping to use PERL, but it looks like it's not possible to use PERL.

Do you know of anyone who has got a compiler and TomTom SDK who would be kind enough to write a small app to make use of the GetRouteInfo API call?

What I am looking for is something that calls GetRouteInfo and firstly examines the RouteStatus value. If the flag that has the weighting of 16 is set (time and distance to destination are available), then it writes to a text file the following:

Last Updated: (date and time of last successful GetRouteInfo)
Time to Destination: (RouteTimeToDestination in hh:mm format)

Each time it writes to the text file, just overwrite it.

Having updated the text file, I would like it FTP'd to a web server.

So, I'd imagine a little config file to go along with the app which would contain the FTP server's IP address/domain name, username and password, local file name, remote directory and remote filename.

If anyone would be prepared to write something like this, then please could you let me know.

Thanks very much.

Richard

lbendlin · Posted: Sun Jul 02, 2006 9:46 pm Post subject:

you can use Perl if you reall ywant. Hell, even pure shell scripting.

Have a read here (yes, it's in German, but you will get the idea)

http://www.pocketnavigation.de/board/tid76950-sid.htm

No need for the SDK.
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rich_d_thomas · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jan 25, 2004 Posts: 46

Hi Lutz,

Thanks for your reply.

This thread looks really good, it's basically saying that you can interact with TomTom by placing files with special names with special content and what will happen it TomTom will then "reply" by placing additional files with special names with special content. I'm OK with writing in PERL to do this, it's just that I need to understand exactly what "bill_gehts?" is saying.

I understand the structure of the filenames and content.

What I really can't understand in German is how we get the process ID of TomTom. TomTom's process ID is part if the filename used to interact with TomTom this way.

Have you got any ideas on what they are saying on how to find out the process ID of TomTom?

Thanks,

Richard.

lbendlin · Posted: Sun Jul 02, 2006 11:38 pm Post subject:

you don't need to. All you need is a UNIQUE process ID. Take your pick.
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rich_d_thomas · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jan 25, 2004 Posts: 46

Hi Lutz,

Sorry I've been a long time replying, I've working on this, then on holiday and then having trouble logging into this forum.

Thanks ever so much for helping me with this, I've got it doing exactly what I want.

Just to summarise what I have done:

I have bought a good Pocket PC scheduler, which launches my PERL script in non console mode, when it detects that TomTom has started. It's called SKSchema.

My PERL script enters a while(1) loop and the first thing it does is to sleep for 10 minutes. This gives TomTom time to calculate the route, download traffic information, re-plan if necessary etc.

It then issues the GetRouteInfo command using the method of placing special text into special files.

It reads the result, splits the fields as they are delimited with the | character, to read the remaining time.

It then creates a small text file having converted the number of seconds to Hours and Minutes.

This text file is then FTP'd to a web site of mine which is hosted for free.

It then goes round the loop again, waiting for 10 minutes.

So, now anyone wanting to know how long it's going to take me to get anywhere, they can look at the text file web page and find out.

If the traffic gets bad and it's going to take me much longer, then the text file gets updated and people know.

Thanks again, I'm really pleased I have managed to do this.

Richard.

lbendlin · Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2006 4:45 pm Post subject:

Would you maybe be able to write a little review about that? Certainly interesting for more people than just you and me.
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rich_d_thomas · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jan 25, 2004 Posts: 46

Hi Lutz,

Sure, I'd be please to do a review.

Please could you point me in the direction of existing reviews that I can use as an example.

Also, to know what format would be useful (word, html, pdf etc.)

Thanks,

Richard.

lbendlin · Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2006 11:31 pm Post subject:

The home page has a link to a review I just did.

Simple HTML is good, but Word will do as well (you'll have to provide the images too)
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rich_d_thomas · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jan 25, 2004 Posts: 46

Hi Lutz,

Sorry it has taken so long, but I have finally finished writing a review document about this.

Would you mind checking it for me?

I've got it in a zip file, so would it be possible for me to send this to you for checking?

Thanks,

Richard.

martint123 · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jun 28, 2005 Posts: 8

Reading this thread makes me have to ask this question:-

I use TT3 on a MIO168 PDA, often when riding a motorcycle, with it tucked into my shirt pocket with earbuds under the helmet. Normally spoken directions are fine, but there are quite a few situations where no spoken guidance is given but turning off the main road is required - where the 'side' road goes straight on.
What would be very useful would be some audio or visual indicator of the 'next turn' arrow on the screen. Maybe a low tone for left, high for right. I'm not sure about interfacing to a pair of LEDs or similar.

So, is there an API or somesuch that cold extract the 'next turn arrow' info from a running tt3. If so, I see a winter project approacing.

Thanks.
Martin

rich_d_thomas · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jan 25, 2004 Posts: 46

Hi Martin,

It doesn't look like it's possible to do what you're looking for.

I've been looking through the API calls and can't find anything along these lines.

The API document can be found http://www.tomtom.com/lib/doc/ttnavsdk3_manual.pdf

Cheers,

Richard.

martint123 · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jun 28, 2005 Posts: 8

Thanks Rich - I'll away to have a read.

Martin

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