I'm wondering about a cheap and dirty way to get a Windoze GUI for PIC
projects. Is there any way to direct a URL request from a browser to a
COMM port? Say, instead of the http:// or file:// prefix, we did a com1://
prefix (perhaps a URL of com1://mydevice/analog?chan=1). Instead of
sending the request out to the specified IP address over ethernet, it'd
send the GET or POST request out the specified EIA232 port. Our PIC would
just respond to the request. The mydevice in the above URL would be
meaningless, though perhaps the PIC device could ignore requests not
addressed to it (not respond), allowing other devices on a tri-state or
open collector EIA232 bus to respond. I've done "open collector" EIA232
buses by having a pull-down to -12 and a diode between the driver and the
bus. Any device can drive the bus positive (space condition), and the bus
idles at -12V (mark condition). This would be a master/slave arrangement,
since no device gets on the bus unless asked for a response, so contention
would not be an issue.

So, any "wedge" or something that can be put on a Windoze machine so a URL
prefix of com1: com2: etc. would work?

Just kicking around the idea.

THANKS!

Harold



-- 
FCC Rules Updated Daily at http://www.hallikainen.com
-- 
http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive
View/change your membership options at
http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist