Questions about my idea (for gsoc)
Hi! I'm a student that want to do a google summer of code with you during this summer. My idea is to write a Linux driver for a proprietary network protocol used by the outdoor Gemtek antennas(which are essentially a LTE modem) to communicate over ethernet+LLC to the indoor Gemtek Access Points. My goal is to allow anyone to use any Linux-based router (like a Turris Omnia/openwrt) instead of a Gemtek Access Point. I think it's a great idea but I have some questions. -In which area my idea is located? networking? -Should the idea implemented as Linux driver or as userspace program?
On Mon, Apr 01, 2019 at 06:19:12PM +0200, Andrea Laisa wrote:
Hi!
I'm a student that want to do a google summer of code with you during this summer.
Who is "you" here? What project specifically are you looking to apply to that asked you to post on the kernelnewbies list?
My idea is to write a Linux driver for a proprietary network protocol used by the outdoor Gemtek antennas(which are essentially a LTE modem) to communicate over ethernet+LLC to the indoor Gemtek Access Points. My goal is to allow anyone to use any Linux-based router (like a Turris Omnia/openwrt) instead of a Gemtek Access Point.
I think it's a great idea but I have some questions.
-In which area my idea is located? networking? -Should the idea implemented as Linux driver or as userspace program?
Step back and answer these questions: - do you have documentation for how this protocol works? - do you have access to hardware where you could test these kernel changes? If you don't have that, then this might not be the best project to work on :( thanks, greg k-h
On Mon, 01 Apr 2019 18:19:12 +0200, Andrea Laisa said:
My idea is to write a Linux driver for a proprietary network protocol used by the outdoor Gemtek antennas(which are essentially a LTE modem)
This may be a legal mine field. To create a *usable* Linux driver, you'll need to have one that's free of licensing restrictions. If Gemtek claims one or more patents on the protocol, you may be unable to implement the protocol without dealing with the licensing issues. And I'm reasonably sure that Gemtek won't be too interested in helping you write the driver, because its existence would cut into their sales of access points. Note that this is *different* than the question of reverse engineering hardware or software for interoperability. Patents cover any use whatsoever of the patented intellectual property, and if you reverse engineer and then implement, you can't claim accidental infringement (which happens a lot, especially if the patent ofice is lax on enforcing the "non-obvious" requirement) and you're squarely in willful infringement territory, which in the US can get you hit with triple damages... (Note - I am not a laywer, just somebody who reads enough about intellectual property law to know that anytime you see "proprietary", you are *guaranteed* to hit some sort of intellectual property law issue.
On 4/1/19, Valdis Klētnieks <valdis.kletnieks@vt.edu> wrote:
On Mon, 01 Apr 2019 18:19:12 +0200, Andrea Laisa said:
My idea is to write a Linux driver for a proprietary network protocol used by the outdoor Gemtek antennas(which are essentially a LTE modem)
This may be a legal mine field. To create a *usable* Linux driver, you'll need to have one that's free of licensing restrictions. If Gemtek claims one or more patents on the protocol, you may be unable to implement the protocol without dealing with the licensing issues.
And I'm reasonably sure that Gemtek won't be too interested in helping you write the driver, because its existence would cut into their sales of access points.
I was thinking possibly pretty much the same thing. The hcfmodem/hsfmodem dialup modem family is what comes to mind. I'm online right this second k/t Puppy Linux. If it wasn't for their old Wary5.5, I'd probably still be offline fighting trying to get something working... and that's after YEARS of experience attempting exactly that. :) Yes, I know... Maybe Gemtek would say, "SURE, we'll help you (take money out of our pockets)." If they don't, it could possibly just evolve into another hsfmodem kind of deal. That has always sounded like it generated a lot of static from both sides, the users and the proprietary owners, with the Developers out there in the middle. Things have FINALLY lightened up these many years later. I assume that's likely only because there are comparatively few of us on dialup now, e.g. my local hometown provider occasionally hints that mine might be *almost* the only dialup account they serve. They once confessed that "my" server gets completely forgotten while it sits off in a corner somewhere. :) In a way, this Gemtek thing sounds like there might be a WHOLE lot more money at stake than there was with old $10, $20, even $50 dialup modems. That would certainly amplify any potentially anticipated opposition in a case like this. Cindy :) -- * runs with birdseed *
participants (4)
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Andrea Laisa -
Cindy-Sue Causey -
Greg KH -
Valdis Klētnieks