lirc and kernel - and lirc_zilog/lirc_pvr150

[Dale P. <DEP...@ed...>]

Hopping off-thread for a related question...

For a long time, lirc has been out-of-kernel.  Beyond that, lirc_zilog
(or lirc_pvr150) has been out-of-lirc.  I've gotten one explanation of
this, that lirc_zilog has a binary blob of code for the embedded Z8, and
the copyright status of that blob keeps it out of the mainline.

In and around this time, the kernel portion of nouveau is also getting
merged, and it has (or had) a binary blob.  For that matter, lirc_zilog
also works with the hvr-1600, and it has 3 binary blobs.

The kernel has a firmware loader mechanism to handle this, everything is
already architected, with plenty of examples.  Can lirc_zilog be made to
use this mechanism, and get into the mainstream?  Obviously this binary
blob is extracted, not provided, so its status is still questionable.
Still, the pure code should be able to be merged, and the binary blob
should be distributable under whatever terms lirc_zilog/lirc_pvr150 is
being distributed now.

I guess according to kernel protocols, I shouldn't ask such questions,
because the best way is to submit a patch.  I'm not terribly qualified,
but I guess if that's what I need to do, I should start looking at code.
 In the meantime, if it's a cake-walk for someone else...

Dale Pontius