Cybook PID

[Manichean]

I just remembered that at least some part of the source code is available from Bookeen. If it contains the code for the menu, it should be possible to see how the Cybook itself reads its PID.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Manichean

I just remembered that at least some part of the source code is available from Bookeen. If it contains the code for the menu, it should be possible to see how the Cybook itself reads its PID.

No, it's just the base o/s code, display drivers, that kind of thing. It doesn't include any of the "high-level" application code such as the library manager.

[slayda]

I believe that Harry may be right and the PID is, at least, associated with or generated from data in the firmware. On the Hanlin V3 family, the PID gets changed each time the firmware gets updated. This implies that not only is their PID associated with the firmware but that their SW writers screwed up and put the association in a place that gets changed with each update.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by slayda

I believe that Harry may be right and the PID is, at least, associated with or generated from data in the firmware. On the Hanlin V3 family, the PID gets changed each time the firmware gets updated. This implies that not only is their PID associated with the firmware but that their SW writers screwed up and put the association in a place that gets changed with each update.

It doesn't do that on the CyBook - thank goodness! You can reflash the firmware and the PID doesn't change.

[pilotbob]

We've had this discussion before. The PID is derived from hardware serial number (of CPU?) in the device. It can not be changed... for good reason. The PID of your PC is derived from the primary hard drives serial number.

BOb

[Manichean]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

We've had this discussion before. The PID is derived from hardware serial number (of CPU?) in the device. It can not be changed... for good reason. The PID of your PC is derived from the primary hard drives serial number.

Yes, but I believe the question was how to read the PID via USB.

[bwaldron]

Originally Posted by Manichean

Yes, but I believe the question was how to read the PID via USB.

Well, I believe that did answer the question. The PID is generated from hardware info, not stored somewhere on the device.

[slayda]

Originally Posted by bwaldron

Well, I believe that did answer the question. The PID is generated from hardware info, not stored somewhere on the device.

Yes but knowing how it is generated, can one read/derive/generate it via a USB connection?

[bwaldron]

Originally Posted by slayda

Yes but knowing how it is generated, can one read/derive/generate it via a USB connection?

Sure, the Mobipocket software does that, so there is a way (whether it is a known algorithm I am unaware). But the original question was more narrow in focus.

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by bwaldron

Sure, the Mobipocket software does that, so there is a way (whether it is a known algorithm I am unaware). But the original question was more narrow in focus.

Right... so I am going to say the answer to the original question is..

No there is no file on the device with this info in it.

BOb

[Manichean]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

Right... so I am going to say the answer to the original question is..

No there is no file on the device with this info in it.

In that case, allow me to ask a new, slightly different question:
How do you read the PID via a USB connection? It should be possible, since, as noted before, the Mobipocket Reader is doing it.

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by Manichean

In that case, allow me to ask a new, slightly different question:
How do you read the PID via a USB connection? It should be possible, since, as noted before, the Mobipocket Reader is doing it.

I don't think you can. I think the s/n that is reported on the volume is hashed or somethiing in some way to come up with the ID. Of course, mobipocket knows that algorithm. At least I think this is how Igorsky said it worked.

you may want to plug it in and sniff the convertion the mobireader has and see if maybe the PID is on the machine somewhere... but I doubt you will see the PID in the conversation.

BOb

[Justy]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

We've had this discussion before. The PID is derived from hardware serial number (of CPU?) in the device. It can not be changed... for good reason. The PID of your PC is derived from the primary hard drives serial number.

Perhaps that is how it works for the PC version, I've not updated mine in a while. But every time I have to reset my PDA and install a new version of Mobipocket, I get a new PID. So it's not based on anything as permanent as a hardware ID for the PDA, this seems to be the same as is happening for the Hanlin V3 family. I've gone through at least 4 PIDs on my iPaq in the last 5 years. It's very frustrating. Thankfully I've only had 1 PID for my Cybook in 1.5 yrs, so that is an improvement!

[slayda]

Originally Posted by Justy

Perhaps that is how it works for the PC version, I've not updated mine in a while. But every time I have to reset my PDA and install a new version of Mobipocket, I get a new PID. So it's not based on anything as permanent as a hardware ID for the PDA, this seems to be the same as is happening for the Hanlin V3 family. I've gone through at least 4 PIDs on my iPaq in the last 5 years. It's very frustrating. Thankfully I've only had 1 PID for my Cybook in 1.5 yrs, so that is an improvement!

I think it would be better said that "it's not based entirely on anything as permanent as a hardware ID."

[Manichean]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

you may want to plug it in and sniff the convertion the mobireader has and see if maybe the PID is on the machine somewhere... but I doubt you will see the PID in the conversation.

To be honest, I lack the technical knowledge to do that, though it would be interesting. And I personally think that the PID should be readable in the datastream- it's not supersecret like credentials for onlinebanking or some such, so I doubt Mobipocket went to any length in protecting the data.