[grimstoner]

Because of the external interfaces that XBMC exposes (like the JSON-RPC API), it's easy to get at information like "What's playing now?" or "What menu am I navigating?".

Displaying this information on a character LCD is somewhat harder, requiring the use of a PIC or similar controller. While I'm using a PIC, I might as well add a infrared receiver to the circuit, to be able to use my Xbox remote to control XBMC.

This will be a high-level overview of how to do it/how I did it.

Firstly, I want it to connect via USB (serial is dead). Which brought me to Simon Inn's site here.

I also want to program it using C#, so I'll be using destriktiv's JSON-RPC library.

That gave me the basic circuit layout, as well as the USB connection part with HID drivers :



(this is on a 16x2 character display. Waiting for delivery of 20x4, blue backlight)

Next step... add the infrared hardware. The Xbox uses a 56Khz carrier frequency. Off to the shops!

[grimstoner]

Got a new 20x4 blue backlit LCD display... Incorporated it.

The hardest so far was decoding the IR protocol used by the remote control that I want to use, the XBOX 360 Universal Media Remote.

According to LIRC, it uses RC6, but it does not. It actually uses RC6B. And the end result :

http://www.flickr.com/photos/51233782@N05/5331026565/

Onto the XBMC interface...

[defiler]

Interesting. I'd thought about the possible applications of an LCD or VFD on the front of the box, so I'll be looking forward to seeing how you get on.

[bigdog66]

very interesting indeed...yes please keep us updated

[grimstoner]

Display layouts so far...

Connected:



Idle/Main menu:



After having navigated to the Movies library (the name marquees between the < and >) :



Now playing (name also marquees) :



Volume change: