How to check if more input is available on an input stream

GNU Radio
1

Hi,
I have a simple question. I have a block that has 2 input streams and
the
inputs are consumed at different rates. For each 1 input consumed on the
first input stream N inputs are consumed in the second stream.

The forecast function and set_multiple call of this block are as shown
below,

my_new_block::forecast(int noutput_items,gr_vector_int
&ninput_items_required){
assert(noutput_items % N==0); # the

int items_on_first_input_stream = noutput_items;
int items_on_second_input_stream = noutput_items/(8*N);
ninput_items_required[0]=items_on_first_input_stream;
ninput_items_required[1]=items_on_data_input_stream;
}

{
set_output_multiple(8N); # the output items are a multiple
of
8N.

}
For each (8*N) inputs consumed on second stream 1 input is consumed on
first
stream.
If the first stream has uninterrupted supply but the second one doesn’t
then
how should I check if input is available on the second stream. Will the
input_vector contain NULL values when nothing is in it? If it is true
should
i just do

if(second_stream[next_item]==null){
…
}

Please clarify.

Thanks
Ali

2

On Wed, Jan 07, 2009 at 04:44:39AM -0600, Mir A. wrote:

assert(noutput_items % N==0); # the
       set_output_multiple(8*N); # the output items are a multiple of 8*N.

}

Please clarify.

Thanks
Ali

You should be deriving your class from gr_block (you may already be
doing this).
There is no need to call set_output_multiple.

If I understand you correctly, to produce a single output item, you
need a single item on the first input stream, and N (== 8) items on the
second stream.

Assuming I’m understanding you correctly, then your forecast routine
should be:

static const int N = 8;

void
my_new_block::forecast(int noutput_items, gr_vector_int
&ninput_items_required)
{
ninput_items_required[0] = noutput_items;
ninput_items_required[1] = noutput_items * N;
}

You then need to override general_work, not work:

(I’m assuming that your input and output types are float. Change as
required)

float f(const float *a, const float *b)
{
// Produce a single float value by using a[0] and b[0] through
b[N-1]…

return XXX;
}

int
my_new_block::general_work(int noutput_items,
gr_vector_int &ninput_items,
gr_vector_const_void_star &input_items,
gr_vector_void_star &output_items)
{
const float *in0 = (const float *)input_items[0];
const float *in1 = (const float *)input_items[1];
float *out = (float *)output_items[0];

for (int i = 0; i < noutput_items; i++){

out[i] = f(&in0[i], &in1[i * N]);

}

consume(0, noutput_items);
consume(1, noutput_items * N);

return noutput_items;
}

Eric

3

On Wed, Jan 07, 2009 at 02:38:34PM -0600, Mir A. wrote:

The input to the spreading stream is uninterrupted from a sequence generator
block. But the input to the data stream i.e. the second input stream can be
from a file which will exhaust when file is read completely. So i want to
check if any data is available on the second stream(i.e. the data stream) in
the work function each time i am done with the previous data byte.

I hope i make myself clear. Sorry for the confusion earlier.

Thanks
Ali

OK, no problem. Try this:

static const int N = 8;

my_new_block::my_new_block() : …
{
…
set_output_multiple(N);
…
}

void
my_new_block::forecast(int noutput_items, gr_vector_int
&ninput_items_required)
{
ninput_items_required[0] = noutput_items;
ninput_items_required[1] = noutput_items / N;
}

void f(float *out, const float *a, const float *b)
{
// write out[0] through out[N-1] using using inputs a[0] through a[N-1]
and b[0]
…
}

int
my_new_block::general_work(int noutput_items,
gr_vector_int &ninput_items,
gr_vector_const_void_star &input_items,
gr_vector_void_star &output_items)
{
const float *in0 = (const float *)input_items[0];
const float *in1 = (const float *)input_items[1];
float *out = (float *)output_items[0];

assert(noutput_items % N == 0);

for (int i = 0; i < noutput_items; i += N){

f(&out[i], &in0[i], &in1[i/N]);

}

consume(0, noutput_items);
consume(1, noutput_items / N);

return noutput_items;
}

Note that there’s no need to “check for input”. That’s what forecast
does for you. general_work won’t be called until everything is OK.
You will have enough input to compute noutput_items.

Eric

4

Hi Eric,

I actually forgot to mention one more thing.

I use N items of first stream and one item on second stream to produce N
items on output stream.
I am actually spreading data. If the spreading code is N-character bytes
long, then each bit of data input byte (i.e. a total of 8 bits on input
byte
on second stream) will produce 8*N output items.

The input to the spreading stream is uninterrupted from a sequence
generator
block. But the input to the data stream i.e. the second input stream can
be
from a file which will exhaust when file is read completely. So i want
to
check if any data is available on the second stream(i.e. the data
stream) in
the work function each time i am done with the previous data byte.

I hope i make myself clear. Sorry for the confusion earlier.

Thanks
Ali