Case in Point

In this case study, we will delve into the development of a total photo viewer and browser solution for an esteemed customer, a well-known OEM in the automotive industry. SmartBytes was responsible for implementing various features and functionalities, including thumbnail creation and browsing, HMI simulation, slideshow logic, pinch and zoom, image rotation, touch driver enhancement, wallpaper settings, and image decoding. The project utilizes the C programming language, RTC Eclipse as the development environment, Linux as the RTOS, and tools such as GDT Tool and IBM RTC source control. Additionally, open-source libraries like libjpg and libpng are used for image decoding.

Objective:
The objective of this case study is to highlight the development process and the significant contributions made by the software developer in enhancing the user experience of the automotive photo viewer application.

Challenges:

• Implementing a robust and efficient photo thumbnail creation and browsing system.
• Simulating the HMI using QT on an X86 machine to accurately represent the final user interface on the automotive infotainment system.
• Developing a slideshow feature that provides a seamless and visually appealing transition between photos.
• Implementing advanced touch functionality to support multi-touch events, enabling intuitive pinch and zoom gestures.
• Enhancing the touch driver to optimize performance and responsiveness.
• Implementing user-defined wallpaper settings and integrating them into the system.
• Developing JPEG and PNG format decoders to enable compatibility with various image file types.

Solution:

• Implementation of a highly efficient photo thumbnail creation and browsing system, ensuring quick access to a large number of images with minimal resource consumption.
• QT-based HMI simulation on an X86 machine allowed for accurate visualization of the final user interface, facilitating easier development and testing.
• The slideshow feature was implemented with smooth transitions, providing an immersive viewing experience for users.
• The developer incorporated pinch and zoom functionality, enabling users to zoom in and out of photos using touch gestures for a more detailed view.
• The touch driver was enhanced to support multi-touch events, enabling intuitive and precise user interactions.
• User-defined wallpaper settings were implemented, allowing users to personalize their automotive infotainment system by selecting their preferred wallpapers.
• JPEG and PNG format decoders were developed and seamlessly integrated with the host system, ensuring compatibility with commonly used image file types.

Conclusion:
Through the development of a total photo viewer and browser solution, this case study highlights the comprehensive approach required to create a feature-rich and user-friendly photo-viewing experience in automotive infotainment systems. By leveraging programming skills in C, utilizing RTC Eclipse as the development environment, and incorporating various tools and libraries, a highly functional and visually appealing photo viewer can be realized. This case study demonstrates the importance of analyzing requirements, designing a robust architecture, implementing key features, and conducting thorough testing to ensure a successful solution.