video4linux API question

[Alexandre Pereira Nunes]

Hi,

In v4l v1 api, is there a way to get the "active" (current) video input (channel)?
I mean, I can use VIDIOCSCHAN to tell the channel i want, but I can't 
use (i.e.) VIDIOCGCHAN to see what is the selected channel between different programs.
It seems that it could be of some use, since there is already some state stored
in the driver (at least in bttv I can use for example one interactive program for setting
input parameters (bright/contrast/whatever) and then let these settings in effect for another,
non-interactive capture daemon, for example.

Of course there are some implications in doing it this way, but that is exactly my question: if there are some
provisions for something like that (settings remaining throught multiple sessions) planned in th API,
or if I can't rely in this behaviour at all.

Also, are there any provisions for multiple programs open()ing the same device simultaneously?

What about v4l 2, in both issues?

Thanks in advance,

Alexandre