channels

CHANNEL_CONTROL.md

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+# Channel Control Commands
+
+This document describes the command-line tools for controlling the video player service.
+
+## Quick Usage
+
+### Simple Channel Change
+```bash
+# Change to random channel
+./channel
+
+# Change to specific channel
+./channel 5
+```
+
+### Advanced Control
+```bash
+# Change to random channel
+python3 change_channel.py
+
+# Change to specific channel
+python3 change_channel.py 5
+
+# Show current channel
+python3 change_channel.py --current
+
+# List all available channels
+python3 change_channel.py --list
+
+# Stop video player service
+python3 change_channel.py --stop
+```
+
+## Features
+
+- **Random Channel Selection**: If no channel is specified, automatically selects a random channel
+- **Service Communication**: Communicates with the running video player service via Unix socket
+- **Real-time Control**: Changes channels instantly without restarting the service
+- **Channel Information**: Shows current channel and available channels
+
+## Requirements
+
+- Video player service must be running
+- Control socket must be available at `/tmp/video_player_control.sock`
+- Python virtual environment activated (on server)
+
+## Examples
+
+```bash
+# On the server (tulivision@192.168.1.160)
+cd rpi-tulivision
+source venv/bin/activate
+
+# Quick random channel change
+./channel
+
+# Change to channel 7
+./channel 7
+
+# Check what's currently playing
+python3 change_channel.py --current
+```
+
+## Technical Details
+
+The channel control system uses:
+- Unix domain sockets for inter-process communication
+- JSON-based command protocol
+- Thread-safe command processing
+- Automatic error handling and timeouts