Help Need help controlling a POS Android system

[Liam Higgins]

Hi, I'm having a few issues trying to connect to a point of sale shop sign that is running on android. It's a 42" display that can be controlled via USB and WiFi. However, when connecting the device via USB, all it does is charge my laptop, and does not appear on the connected devices list on both my MacBook and Surface Book.

When trying to access the machine over WiFi, it just does not appear to be on the network at all, even though the engineers who set it up definitely did connect it.

As far as the specs go for the machine... I have no idea. All I know, is when you turn it on, it boots up with an android logo. I have no information on what version the OS is etc... I'm completely stumped here... any ideas?

Any help is appreciated.

 

[mikedt]

FWIW I've seen Android been used as the embedded OS in a few different things now, namely the Donview classroom electronic whiteboards at the school I teach at, the treadmills and ellipticals at the gym, and in-flight entertainment screens on aircraft. And quite frankly I don't think that any of these have an easy way into them via USB or WiFi etc. What these run is a heavily customised version, tailored to their specific purposes.

It could be these PoS screen devices are accessed on a specific port, using some proprietary protocol than only the manufacturer knows. They could even be accessed or programmed by Bluetooth, using some hand-held terminal that the manufacturer makes.

 

[Liam Higgins]

FWIW I've seen Android been used as the embedded OS in a few different things now, namely the Donview classroom electronic whiteboards at the school I teach at, the treadmills and ellipticals at the gym, and in-flight entertainment screens on aircraft. And quite frankly I don't think that any of these have an easy way into them via USB or WiFi etc. What these run is a heavily customised version, tailored to their specific purposes.

It could be these PoS screen devices are accessed on a specific port, using some proprietary protocol than only the manufacturer knows. They could even be accessed or programmed by Bluetooth, using some hand-held terminal that the manufacturer makes.

That was my main concern when I began trying to connect. The screen is owned by a company that is advertising in my shop for a product I sell, but they recently cut off the contract and said we can keep the display, and said we can put whatever we want on it... without telling us how to do it. Seems a bit odd that they would do that if only they can access it. I'll probably do a bit more digging and see what I can do. Thanks for the help.

 

[Deleted User]

Is it possible that you need to enable developer options on this device. As you would normally do on an Android phone, to enable the ability to do things like connecting via adb. This isn't possible until you enable those developer options in the settings.

 

[mikedt]

That was my main concern when I began trying to connect. The screen is owned by a company that is advertising in my shop for a product I sell, but they recently cut off the contract and said we can keep the display, and said we can put whatever we want on it... without telling us how to do it. Seems a bit odd that they would do that if only they can access it. I'll probably do a bit more digging and see what I can do. Thanks for the help.

Did you see how the company connected to them before. Although they could be Internet connected to a company server, and are administered, controlled and updated remotely. I've seen store screens myself usually promoting something, and they have a cellular modem in them with a colinear antenna on top, so no local access is required at all.

 

[mikedt]

That was my main concern when I began trying to connect. The screen is owned by a company that is advertising in my shop for a product I sell, but they recently cut off the contract and said we can keep the display, and said we can put whatever we want on it... without telling us how to do it. Seems a bit odd that they would do that if only they can access it. I'll probably do a bit more digging and see what I can do. Thanks for the help.

Did you see how the company connected to them before. Although they could be Internet connected to a company server, and are administered, controlled and updated remotely. I've seen store screens myself usually promoting something, and they have a cellular modem in them with a colinear antenna on top, so no local access is required at all.

 

[bcrichster]

Any possibility of needing a mfgr specific app for the sign..??

 

[Liam Higgins]

Is it possible that you need to enable developer options on this device. As you would normally do on an Android phone, to enable the ability to do things like connecting via adb. This isn't possible until you enable those developer options in the settings.

Problem is, I have no way of accessing the machine to enable developer options.

Did you see how the company connected to them before. Although they could be Internet connected to a company server, and are administered, controlled and updated remotely. I've seen store screens myself usually promoting something, and they have a cellular modem in them with a colinear antenna on top, so no local access is required at all.

Wasn't in the store at the time they did it, but it being controlled remotely seems more logical, as it would give them the ability to change what's appearing remotely to reflect new prices etc... Saving them the time and money of having to send engineers to do it whenever they need to change soemthing. Since they discontinued the contract they're probably going to stop support for it soon, which should hopefully open up more opportunities for me to configure it myself.

Any possibility of needing a mfgr specific app for the sign..??

Possible, but given the device has a 3G antenna and a WiFi antenna, it seems like they must be doing it remotely.

 

[TexasGonzo]

When someone mentioned enabling developer options, thats to be done on YOUR phone, not what you're trying to connect to... its a very simple procedure, which I always activate, then turn on and off as needed (not good to leave dev ops on full time, rassa-frackin' hackers).

You mentioned that when you try to USB into the sign, it charges your laptop... you may need an OTG (On The Go) cable, which is totally a one-way thing (wrong direction charges, right one connects), adding an extra connection in 1 end of the USB cable. I ran into that fun lil fact trying to tie a smartphone to my DJI Spark remote. It refuses to work without that special cable.

Also, have you tried simply asking the company about connecting? Pour on the "nice guy in need" routine and see where it gets ya! I used to work in the tech field with *highly* proprietary software (Canon business class multifunction copiers) and I've turned a lot of customers onto certain functions and how to access them if they were nice to me when I came for service calls (only if they could handle it to start with). Its amazing what a little sugar can do...

Just my 3 cents, which is worth about 1... hah. If nothing else, maybe this will spark a different train of thought for someone, and we'll come up with an answer for you! Gotta love collective wisdom. (Sans that whole Borg thing!)

 

[Liam Higgins]

When somwone mentioned enabling developer options, thats to be done on YOUR phone, not what you're trying to connect to... its a very simple procedure, which I always activate, then turn on and off as needed (not good to leave dev ops on full time, rassa-frackin' hackers).

You mentioned that when you try to USB intk thw sign, it charges your laptop... you may need an OTG (On The Go) cable, which is totally a one-way thing (wrong direction charges, right one connects). I ran into that fun lil fact trying to tie a smartphone to my DJI Spark remote.

Also, have you tried simply asking the company about connecting? Pour on the nice guy in need routine.and see where it gets ya! I used to work in the tech field with highly proprietary software (Canon business class multifunction copiers) and I've turned a lot of customers onto certain functions and how to access them if they were nice to me when I came for service calls (and if they could handle it to start with). Its amazing what a little sugar can do...

Just my 3 cents, which is worth about 1... hah. If nothing else, maybe this will spark a different train of thought for someone, and we'll come up with an answer for you! Gotta love collective wisdom. (Sans that whole Borg thing!)

The representative of the company didn't have a clue about how to operate it, and the engineers who installed it were a third party company, so no way of contacting them for instructions. Looks like I'll have to use one of those cables.

Also you're well worth 3 cents...

Actually have another

 

[TexasGonzo]

Well thanky for the coppers there Liam, they're always handy. Figures on the corporate to third party nonsense... its rare to find anything serviced by the seller.

Hope the OTG cable helps get you on track. They're super cheap and all over Prime. Just check those review ☆☆☆'s!

 

[Jfalls63]

Any manufacturer data located on it? Brand name and model number may help figure out what USB drivers might be needed to get it to connect to your PC.