# 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